California Surveyors Forums

After looking at some hand written field notes, I realize that we need to take a look at what good hand lettering really is. It sort of defeats the purpose if I have to wait for the crew to come back to have them tell me if its a 7 or a 2 or what the heck that means.

When I first started, my first boss gave me a green booklet that was an odd size, but in a landscape orientation. The cover was greenish. It had exercise after exercise to print letters and numbers.

Does anyone remember what I'm talking about?

Does any remember the name of the book (it was something like Richmond Hand Lettering Exercise Tablet)?

Does anyone HAVE one they might be willing to part with/scan/share?

Looking forward to meeting up with everyone at the conference. I'll be transfering 3 cases of 22 oz bombers (1- Brown Ale, 1 - Rye Porter, 1- Brown Porter and a mixed case of 12 oz long necks).

See y'all soon!

I will be greeting your vehicle as you arrive, perhaps even hijacking said vehicle prior to your arrival at the hotel.

See you soon!

Here is a sample.

This is what my first party chief gave me before he would let me take field notes. That was back in 1974 ...

I picked up a copy of "Noteforms for Surveying Measurements" back in the late 70s while studying for the LSIT. This 1957 booklet had example field notes for all the different types of surveys. They emphasized:

• neat lettering
• accuracy
• not over crowding
• taking notes at the time measurements are made
• no erasures
• complete title pages
• placing north at the top
• advanced planning to insure clarity

Good notes combine the art with the engineering. Here's a page for a stadia topo:

Lee,

Yep, those examples came later. Lettering was the easy part - being concise, yet complete, was/is the key to good notekeeping.

Ian Wilson wrote:After looking at some hand written field notes, I realize that we need to take a look at what good hand lettering really is. It sort of defeats the purpose if I have to wait for the crew to come back to have them tell me if its a 7 or a 2 or what the heck that means.

When I first started, my first boss gave me a green booklet that was an odd size, but in a landscape orientation. The cover was greenish. It had exercise after exercise to print letters and numbers.

Does anyone remember what I'm talking about?

Does any remember the name of the book (it was something like Richmond Hand Lettering Exercise Tablet)?

Does anyone HAVE one they might be willing to part with/scan/share?

Looking forward to meeting up with everyone at the conference. I'll be transfering 3 cases of 22 oz bombers (1- Brown Ale, 1 - Rye Porter, 1- Brown Porter and a mixed case of 12 oz long necks).

See y'all soon!

Sadly, I don't have the old drafting book I used to use for that.

Also sadly, I won't be there to sample your wares and even if I were there, it would behoove me to only try one. Can't properly use sugar anymore.

SJ

I have a copy of the lettering guide we used for mylars but don't know how to send a jpg copy on here.

Thanks, all!

I've printed out the samples.

I'd still like to find that old workbook, though.

It was called RIchleau's Lettereing Work book, or something similar. I'm guessing that you'd have to be in your late 50's to even remember the bloody thing.

Tom: End me the jpg in an email and I'll pots it here for all.

I have had the good fortune of working under the most beautiful/exemplary note-keeper surveyors . . . John Bolin, (LS 4047); George Colson (LS 2654); Jim Thompson (LS 3801).

Reference: "Handbook of Survey Note-keeping" by F. William Pafford, (John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 62-17467

I realize you're looking for penmanship . . . but knowing and employing the note-keeping standards of yesteryear is as important to leaving a legacy and understanding old field notes. I'm saddened by today's surveyor's not keeping notes, save, the notes in their data-collectors. Especially on boundaries!

Hope everyone enjoys the conference . . .

Best,

Phil - Sonoma

Mr. Butcher,

Maybe you tried this already, but if you click on the "Go Advanced" button at the bottom of the "Quick Reply" window, there is a "manage attachment" function that is fairly easy to navigate that lets you upload your jpeg or whatever other files. It doesn't always work for me though, sometimes resulting in a "fail" message. Hate it when that happens!

Available in the Central Valley Chapter Library -

Under the"after 1900" tab

http://californiacentralvalleysurveyors ... %20ian.pdf

Ian,
I am with "Hellsangle" on the recommendation to a publication by Pafford (Called Survey Notekeeping). This is what I used in the day, and was part of the Santa Ana College Survey Program. I have an old copy, and if you want, can scan any parts of it for you?

Ian you have mail

I worked with a surveyor whose son went into architecture, he said he had beautiful printing until he went to architecture school and they ruined it. LOL

7702. Thanks that might work. Just have to remember where it's at. It worked

Butcher . . . your post brought back my drafting day memories!

I'd slip that same lettering guide under the vellum, mylar or cloth which gave me guidelines without "penciling up" the medium. I could even rotate it and draw on a slope. I love it so much that I created my own that was an 18"x26" lettering guide for record of surveys, parcel maps, and subdivision maps.

Wow! Thanks for triggering memories of better days, Butcher! (and pounce . . . erasing shields . . . electric erasers and OH BOY - let's not forget that newfangled rechargeable cordless eraser! That was the cat's meow! LOL)

Phil - Sonoma

hellsangle

With cad and texting nobody writes any more.

During my early years I moonlighted doing maps and plans so I made a travel case. In the lid I could store maps and such.

Beats the heck outta my stripped down plastic fishin' tackle box! LOL

Thanks for sharin', Butcher!

Phil - Sonoma

That is a Nice case.

Have Plat - will travel ...

Palladin

Thanks, it worked well and I still have it sitting on top of the filing cabinet.