I have some technical questions about the little Birdies, which are on the door glass of some 1st gens. When someone saw mine, they were interested in buying something similar for their Bird. I found some decals which look similar, but are larger. >>>>>YES, I realize that the originals are not decals.<<<<<
Here are my questions:
(1) Do any of you guys know if there are any similar decals, for sale, in the same size as the originals. If so, please post a link to that info.
(2) Some Pontiac folks started a discussion about possibly having a large quantity of decals made, which will look very similar to the original birdies. So, they ask me questions about mine, the answers to which I am not positive. So, EXACTLY what color are the originals ? TJ says they are just plain white. So, are they any certain shade of white, OR ???
(3) Are these EXACT images patented, therefore can't legally be reproduced in decal form, OR ???
(4) If the image is patented, how much of a variation to it, (How much different would it need to be), in order for it to be legal ?
For any who can answer any of the questions, WITH ABSOLUTE CERTAINTY, please share your answers on this thread.
If these fellow Bird owners can get some decent decals made, for a reasonable price, how many of you would be interested in buying some for your Bird ?
There was talk of someone making glass done that way, i.e. a repop that would be reasonably close to the originals. I think that was 3 or 4 years ago. Not sure what happened.
I got my set of 'bird glass by buying a car up in Michigan with them, I then parted out the car and kept the glass. You could see them in the picture of the car, I was a bit surprised no one else had thought of the windows being bird glass. I paid maybe 800 for the car and made a bit more than that from parting it out.
(3) Are these EXACT images patented, therefore can't legally be reproduced in decal form, OR ??? You would have to provide the images to the Patent and Trademark Office to verify that it was trademarked. And if the trademark had been maintained. Alternately, you could contact an attorney to do the work for you. I had some Pontiac logos with the red arrowhead printed on vinyl a few years ago. I called up GM and asked to speak to their licensing department who put me in touch with a vendor who was paying GM for the right to print Pontiac image on vinyl. I had him make a few for me and couple friends. He was hoping I was going to do more than that with them, i.e. resell them myself, but I just wasn't into the hassle..
This was it in an 18"x18" size, I embedded it into the epoxy of my garage floor.
(4) If the image is patented, how much of a variation to it, (How much different would it need to be), in order for it to be legal ?
This is where you would have to contact an attorney in my humble opinion. Not the answer you want to hear, but it would be a debate in court with the trademark holder if one exists about consumer confusion and how you were using it.
Most of my experience is with getting patents done which is a very different arena compared to trademarks.
1968 400 Coupe, verdoro green, black vinyl top 1968 400 Convertible, verdoro green, black top 1971 Trans Am, cameo white, auto 1970 Buick Skylark Custom Convertible 350-4(driver)
(1) Do any of you guys know if there are any similar decals, for sale, in the same size as the originals. If so, please post a link to that info.
I have not seen any, if I had, I would have bought some irrespective of the size.
To further elaborate on my prior responses, I would contact whomever made the larger decals regarding licensing issues. If they are on the up and up, they would have had to do the same research. More likely, they are a small shop who doesn't produce in "mass" quantity so likely would not draw any scrutiny and complying with the law may not be on the top of their list of things to do.
1968 400 Coupe, verdoro green, black vinyl top 1968 400 Convertible, verdoro green, black top 1971 Trans Am, cameo white, auto 1970 Buick Skylark Custom Convertible 350-4(driver)
"...I have not seen any, if I had, I would have bought some irrespective of the size..."
Well, you may be in luck. This place has some, in several colors, and sizes starting at 3 inches. No, they're not exact duplicates. But, they look very similar.
The windows can be bought here in Minnesota. I have a set in my car. They can also date the glass. http://www.autocityclassic.com/
I just went to this site. They show the same door glass to fit a Camaro and a Firebird. Don't see a thing mentioned about dating or Bird glass. So, how would one check out your claim ? Would it take a phone call or is there some way to find the info online ?
How big do these birds for the windows need to be? I could probably make them (if you aren't in a hurry. )
If you draw horizontal lines across the outer tips of his tail feathers, and across the tips on his head, it measures almost exactly 1 1/8", from top to bottom.
From bottom corner to bottom corner of the wing tips measures almost exactly 1 1/2".
From top corner to top corner of the wings measures aprox 1 3/8".
OK, those are smaller than I expected. I can try cutting some out of white vinyl, but it will take some time as I am swamped with work, and it can take a long time to set up the picture for cutting. These would stick on the inside of the glass, right?
-=>Lee<=- Due to budget constraints the "light at the end of the tunnel" has been turned off!
I made a couple of these, but they are a real pain in the a$$ to make. Not exactly the same image as the one posted above. (plus if you stick it on the inside of the glass the bird will face left, from the outside, unless I reverse the image.)
-=>Lee<=- Due to budget constraints the "light at the end of the tunnel" has been turned off!
I was the one that got Auto City to actually create a stencil and print the emblem onto a RH window using an original piece of bird glass to sample. They can do bird glass and date the glass too.
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