# Translation Help (possibly Russian?) **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 20, 2006, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/translation-help-possibly-russian/365282 "2006-07-20T03:28:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Una\_Persson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/una_persson/32/346_2.png) [@Una\_Persson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Una_Persson)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2006, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/translation-help-possibly-russian/365282/1 "2006-07-20T03:28:19Z")
I have this old advert I want to add to my online gallery, but I know close to nothing about it. AFAIK it’s some sort of advert about paints, and I think it’s Russian. Does anyone know at least the gist of what it’s saying? Here is a link on my server - it’s a 400kb JPG. [http://www.coalgoddess.net/files/Old\_Painting\_Advert\_1904.jpg](http://www.coalgoddess.net/files/Old_Painting_Advert_1904.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Eva\_Luna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e495f1/32.png) [@Eva\_Luna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eva_Luna)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2006, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/translation-help-possibly-russian/365282/2 "2006-07-20T03:33:11Z")
[QUOTE=Una Persson] I have this old advert I want to add to my online gallery, but I know close to nothing about it. AFAIK it’s some sort of advert about paints, and I think it’s Russian. Does anyone know at least the gist of what it’s saying? Here is a link on my server - it’s a 400kb JPG. [http://www.coalgoddess.net/files/Old\_Painting\_Advert\_1904.jpg](http://www.coalgoddess.net/files/Old_Painting_Advert_1904.jpg) [/QUOTE] It’s in Russian, but in prerevolutionary spelling (there were a few letters lopped out of the alphabet under Lenin), so it’s a bit weird to read for those used to modern print. And yes, it’s an ad for a place in Moscow that sells paints, lacquers, and chemicals. ---
**Author:** ![Una\_Persson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/una_persson/32/346_2.png) [@Una\_Persson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Una_Persson)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2006, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/translation-help-possibly-russian/365282/3 "2006-07-20T03:51:50Z")
Does the business have a name, or is there something descriptive in the work? I want to give it a proper title if I can… ---
**Author:** ![Eva\_Luna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e495f1/32.png) [@Eva\_Luna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eva_Luna)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2006, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/translation-help-possibly-russian/365282/4 "2006-07-20T04:29:19Z")
It’s abbreviated, but it’s the Brothers F. and A. Shemshurin Company. Not sure what first names the F. and A. stand for - either could be one of a variety of things. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2006, 10:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/translation-help-possibly-russian/365282/5 "2006-07-20T10:39:06Z")
I collect old Russian posters, is this just a computer image, or do you own it (and is it for sale)? I’m a huge RSG (Russian Studies Geek). ---
**Author:** ![Una\_Persson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/una_persson/32/346_2.png) [@Una\_Persson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Una_Persson)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2006, 12:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/translation-help-possibly-russian/365282/6 "2006-07-20T12:32:07Z")
[QUOTE=madmonk28] I collect old Russian posters, is this just a computer image, or do you own it (and is it for sale)? I’m a huge RSG (Russian Studies Geek). [/QUOTE] It’s a scan of an IRL poster that I bought on a CD of public domain images (scans of public domain images are public domain too, at least in the United States, see _Bridgeman v. Corel_…). Feel free to download and share the scan, but I have no idea at all where the original poster is, I fear. Thank you, **Eva Luna** , for the translation help.