Colored letters on Tabs

[gzlmn@iwaynet.net (Paul Gunzelmann)]

Thompson suggests using a crayon to rub some color into the engraving of a
tablet when needed.  That's all fine as long as the organ never sits in
direct sunlight.  Doesn't take much to get a Crayola running like colored
oil, making stains all over, which many a mommy has had to deal with when
li'l one leaves crayons on the window sill, in a pocket in the dryer, and
so on.  Also the color of the crayon is not very intense, so that I haven't
been satisfied with the appearance.

The people who do that tablet lettering stuff have actually devised special
crayons for exactly that purpose.  It has a touch of solvent in it when in
its original pencil stick form, protected by a sealing outer tube.  After
you've rubbed it in and cleaned off the excess, it then dries and hardens
with exposure to air, and is quite cleaning resistant.  One of the
companies that sells the stuff (in various colors) is the Hermes Company
that makes and sells the Hermes engraving machines that I've seen in
jewelers and several organbuilding shops.  I'll see if I can't find their
address and post it.

Another solution:  A friend uses auto touch up colors.  Paints it on.  Lets
it set up ever so slightly, and wipes the excess off the "flat" of the tab
with a hardly damp solvent cloth.  He's done whole consoles with lots of
tilting tabs in many colors (many too many, for my taste) with absolutely
professional result.  (He uses Sherwin-Williams.)

Cheers.  Paul.