The "Canada Decal" - sizes?

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Who knows in which sizes the "Canada Decal" came? I am particularly interested in the sizes used on vehicles.



From our website http://www.mapleleafup.net/decal.html

This unique logo was a widely-produced decal printed during WW2 to identify Canadian-made war production. Over the years we have found it on weapons, vehicles, ammunition boxes and all manner of hard kit. It is printed in English, Russian and Chinese, to represent three of the main recipients of our equipment. No self-respecting Long Branch Browning Hi-Power or Bren is complete without one!
Canadian peace-time industries adapted amazingly well to war production once retooling was completed.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

David's guess is approx. 5 inches?

Originally Posted by David Dunlop

With regards to markings for this series of HUP, if memory serves correctly, the only thing that ever got applied to them by Chevrolet was the Bridging ID on the front and the round 'Canada' decal centred on each front door, just below the window sill. Not sure what size that decal was but would guess it was in the 5 inch diameter range.

[Brian Gough]

Hanno,

I have seen diameters of 6", 3" and 1".

Brian

[Bruce Parker (RIP)]

Just my observation, the 1" ones as seen on radios tend to be gold/copper leaf and the larger ones have that replaced with more yellows and tan.

[Mike Gurr]

If it can wait to the weekend I will measure the one on my Carrier which is still original.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Thanks for the input!

I’m asking because Kevin Goodwin asked:

“I have found a company that can reproduce the Canada Lend Lease circular decals, in a water slide format, I have currently asked for a cost on a 4” size smaller sizes could be produced also, is there any interest for these in this group?”

[Hanno Spoelstra]

This is one of the reproductions made by Notton & Ballard (I think), fitted to Gordon Thomas’ Lynx. Diameter 11 cm, approx 4”:

[tankbarrell]

I have an original on a Chorehorse, I'll measure it.

[Kevin Goodwin]

I have spoken to the company that can reproduce these water slide transfers and mentioned an interest in 6”,4”,3” & 1” noting that the 1” has a different background colour.
The transfer I uncovered on my Dodge door was 4”
Once I get some prices I will let you all know

[Bruce Parker (RIP)]

Originally Posted by Kevin Goodwin

I have spoken to the company that can reproduce these water slide transfers and mentioned an interest in 6”,4”,3” & 1” noting that the 1” has a different background colour.
The transfer I uncovered on my Dodge door was 4”
Once I get some prices I will let you all know

Work up a set for the Inglis Browning High Powers and you'll sell a bunch. I'm pretty sure they are one inch but with solid colours more like the bigger ones instead of the gold leaf look like on radio ones.

Here as a scan of a 1" off the face of a radio set.

[rob love]

Clive Law's book "The Inlgis Diamond" has a copy of the original bulletin to the Canadian Manufacturer's association about the decals. See page 104.
It lists 4 sizes: 6, 3, 1-1/2, and 1".

[David Dunlop]

If you are doing 1-inch glitter type, I am interested.

David

[Mike Gurr]

It is possible to make these yourself as a friend of mine has made some for me. The artwork is available on line as is proved in this thread. Waterslide printer paper is also available on line, if not through high street shops, which allows you to print the waterslide transfer using your own computer printer in the same way you can print photos onto photograph paper. Once applied to the surface a coat of clear lacquer will seal it. I cannot tell yet if fading may be an issue but so far so good.

[Kevin Goodwin]

Here are the sample pictures from the company for the available water slide decals, they will be available with either the tan background or the yellow background, unfortunately the gold effect cannot be produced
1”-£3
3”-£5
4”-£7
6”-£9
All plus postage at cost
As Mike has suggested you could do them yourself with the materials etc, clearly this company is in business to make something to cover their time and costs, anyone interested please let me know what you want and you location including post or zip code

[Bruce MacMillan]

here's a photo of an original decal I have. The decal itself is 6.5" square and from the outer red circle side to side is 6.25". No makers mark but says Copyright Registered 1943.

I have a copy of a similar touched up decal that I got years ago but don't know who did it.

[Alex van de Wetering]

Kevin, great initiative!
The company did a good job with copying the original decal to a (vector) file they can use. It's not uncommon to see reproductions with a completely different font, like the WS19 decals that were available some years ago.
These seem to be properly done and I would certainly be interested in a couple.
One nitpick; the "K" in the lower left is partly missing (same in Hanno's picture by the way!)

Alex

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Kevin, did you copy the Ballard & Notton reproduction?

That has a number if known faults, one is the script pointed out by Alex, the other is the tan colour which should be more yellowish (resembling the gold flake) as can be seen in the pictures above.

What Ballard & Notton did was a good effort at the time, but we may want to improve on it this time?

[Hanno Spoelstra]

This is what triggered Kevin’s interest: it is approx 4” in diameter and is applied to the door of his Dodge truck:

[Michael R.]

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

Kevin, did you copy the Ballard & Notton reproduction?

That has a number if known faults, one is the script pointed out by Alex, the other is the tan colour which should be more yellowish (resembling the gold flake) as can be seen in the pictures above.

What Ballard & Notton did was a good effort at the time, but we may want to improve on it this time?

Agreed.
Why would we make a copy of a poor quality copy produced earlier?

[Alex van de Wetering]

Here are the sample pictures from the company for the available water slide decals, they will be available with either the tan background or the yellow background, unfortunately the gold effect cannot be produced
1”-£3
3”-£5
4”-£7
6”-£9
All plus postage at cost

Kevin,

I understand from Hanno that you have updated the decal(?). Could you post a picture of the updated one?
Are the sizes and prices mentioned above still up to date?

regards,
Alex

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Now that Kevin has sorted the reproduction of the decal, we should collect more pics of placement & sizing.

Here’s a picture of one on the side of the Cab 43 of a F60B. I reckon this is the 3” size?

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Mike Gurr

If it can wait to the weekend I will measure the one on my Carrier which is still original.

Mike, could you make a picture of its placement and measure the diameter?

Thanks!

[Mike Gurr]

Will do Hanno, though it will be next Saturday before I can get there.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Mike Gurr

Will do Hanno, though it will be next Saturday before I can get there.

Thanks Mike!

[Mike Gurr]

Hanno,
The decal on my Carrier is 3" diameter. From the centre of the decal to the rear edge of the armour is 36" and centre to top of the side amour 12". Although the Carrier has been painted green over the original brown it seems that the original decal has always been painted around.

[Kevin Goodwin]

Hi all,
Here a couple of pictures of the reproduced decals - 4” & 6” they have turned out really well and it has been worth the effort. I have got some 4”,3”,2”&1” at the moment (the supplier done some 2” to make use of the available space on the paper)
Hopefully the pics have uploaded
Kevin

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Kevin Goodwin

Hi all,
Here a couple of pictures of the reproduced decals - 4” & 6” they have turned out really well and it has been worth the effort. I have got some 4”,3”,2”&1” at the moment (the supplier done some 2” to make use of the available space on the paper)
Hopefully the pics have uploaded
Kevin

Here are the pics you uploaded on FB, Kevin.

You may want to post an ad in the For Sale subforum: http://www.mapleleafup.net/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=15

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Mike Gurr

Hanno,
The decal on my Carrier is 3" diameter. From the centre of the decal to the rear edge of the armour is 36" and centre to top of the side amour 12". Although the Carrier has been painted green over the original brown it seems that the original decal has always been painted around.

Mike, thanks for posting these details. Great to see the original decal was preserved!

Now we need to look for more pics of the size & placement of these decals so Kevin can sell a bunch of them

[Mark Cornwell]

Did all Canadian vehicles carry them? I know the 1945 Windsor I used to own had a pair.

[Bruce Parker (RIP)]

Originally Posted by Mark Cornwell

Did all Canadian vehicles carry them? I know the 1945 Windsor I used to own had a pair.

Good question. Certainly early vehicles didn't (the decal wasn't around then) but when did they start and were they on everything? Certainly every radio set, chorehorse and spares box and Inglis pistol had them. I once had a R.E.L. Canadian rangefinder that did.