New York World's Fair, DuPont Sign

A few years ago, I acquired a large-ish group of slides that featured photos from the 1964 New York World's Fair. It has some great stuff! But first, let's take a look at this previously-posted scan featuring the DuPont pavilion - take special note of the sign to the left.

Amazingly, there was a whole series of photos (date-stamped "March 1964") showing that very sign being built, from the earliest steps (seen below) to installation at the Fair. One of the red ellipses (there would be three of them, remember) that surrounded the text is placed on the wood floor of the establishment, held together with spring clamps at various junctions - presumably where pieces were glued (?) together. 

It takes a steady hand to do whatever the heck this guy is doing. Looking closely, there seems to be at least one brass rod to help align the pieces, or perhaps to add strength to the joint. The lettering is laid out on what looks like brown craft paper. 

Next we can see two of the three pieces of the sign at different stages of progress. Fluorescent tubes can be seen inside. Another sign that says "CHESAPEAKE" is in the dark background. As you all know, Chesapeake is the name of my pet goldfish.

I wish I knew more about the actual process of how this sign was put together, but I'll just have to make something up. "I don't know why we're sticking this thing together with schoolroom mucilage, it's going to melt in the first rain". "Who cares! By then we will have cashed the check and will be drinking Mai Tais on a beach in Miami". "You know, you always say the right things, Jack".  

Is that fellow to the right smoking in spite of the prominent "NO SMOKING" sign seen in the second image? I would imagine that all sorts of flammable solvents and other fun chemicals were plentiful in that place. Maybe he was just enjoying a nice candy cigarette.

In PART TWO, we'll learn a little about the place where this sign was built, and see photos of it as it was being installed, along with a few photo of the Fair as it was under construction.