Restoring Etched Aluminum Emblems and Tags

What about putting some sort of masking on the raised parts then paint? It would be a pain. Or maybe lightly sand the raised areas after paint?

What I need is actual experienced advice. I forgot the gentleman's name who did the other Mainline on here and remember it got stolen and then a couple years later it was returned??? I think he was able to restore his. I gave him one of them as a matter of fact. I'd like to hear from him but forgot his name on here.

I have done many emblems but not on a Mainline.

I agree it was probably silkscreened originally. You could probably use any of the methods here, paint and sand, paint and squeegee, but I'd probably use a thin brush, thick paint and a toothpick to get it into all the cracks. A relaxing evening of crafting akin to me cutting vinyl decals with an xacto instead of doing it the correct or easy way.

Believe it or don't. Years ago I was the layout artist and did the camera work for local company that did stencils, nameplates, trophies etc. We did lots of manufactures name and I.D. tags. Some complete with sequential numbering etc. All nameplates like these are done in sheets with multiple tags per sheet of stock. After the acid bath and rinse, they are spray painted entirely then lightly BLOCK sanded with fine wet or dry type paper. The ones that are square or rectangular are then sheared apart on a stomp shear. Round or oval get stamped out with a set of blanking dies. Then mounting holes get punched in with a punch and die. I hated having to sit and punch mounting holes on runs of several hundred plates, but it paid the bills at the time!

I don't think plastic or stickers on a restored 40s Mainline would be appropriate. The emblems are in excellent condition. I say paint and then clean the letters.

Good luck and let us know how it works!