Dennis Storzek wrote:

The ARA at one time recommended a tack-board sized rectangle to be painted black, in an attempt to minimize damage to the siding, or at least confine the damage to one place, but not all roads did this, either. This recommendation dates back to 1914; I haven't bothered to try to determine when it was dropped.

I have a wonderful photo of a PFE reefer with such a black rectangle, and there are remnants of cards tacked almost everywhere AROUND the rectangle, and just a couple IN the rectangle.

Tony Thompson Editor, Signature Press, Berkeley, CA
2906 Forest Ave., Berkeley, CA 94705 www.signaturepress.com
(510) 540-6538; fax, (510) 540-1937; e-mail, thompson@...
Publishers of books on railroad history