I believe they are painted on.

Try this link, they may be able to help you if you give them a call.

Here is a link that might be useful: Wonderful Graffiti

You could use a stencil to paint the number in glue and then add sheet gold leaf, which will stick to just the glued areas and brush off the rest of the glass.

I bought them 22 years ago from Benny who had a building materials business started with his brother in the early 1930's. Benny spent a half hour and then I spent an hour going through many boxes of those numbers before I found the 3 I needed. Benny thought he had purchased the numbers in the 1940's or 50's. He charged me 15 cents each because he thought that's what he originally charged for them. They look just like the expensive custom painting that they are mimicing. I never found them anywhere else. I bought a whole lot of stuff from Benny the first year I owned my house. He was usually 'too busy' to add up what I bought and just kept a running tab; he didn't know me from a hole in the wall. Periodically I would force him to take some money towards my account. This is New York City. Benny is long gone and the building has since been rebult as apartments. I guess I'm free associating and all that had nothing to do with your question.

judeny-
Yes, free associating...but a more interesting story than many I've read in these forums!

Well then kudzu, let me tell you more about Benny ...

The building was huge with high ceilings and loft space. It was filled and piled high with building materials in no order whatsoever but Benny knew the general location of things. When you asked for something he would disappear into the depths sometimes for 30 minutes, eventually return with what you asked for and barely charge enough for it to cover his time. The trade off was you had to spend a lot of time. When I described this place to my father and my uncle they looked at each other and said, 'Benny !'. When they were kids back in the 1930's my father's uncle (who was only a few years older than my father) did body work on cars. Car paint faded back then and would need to be custom matched. Dad's uncle would send the younger kids to Benny with a piece of the car and Benny could match any color.

When I was ready to paint I could not find the exact shade I was looking for but I could picture it. Benny mixed a quart from my verbal description. I tried it, gave him feedback and he tweaked it to the exact color I had in mind. He then expanded it to gallon size and gave me the formula. Charged me his regular discounted price for the paint and that's it. Of course I did buy exactly 50 gallons of primer, finish paint and gold leaf paint from him.

Thanks for the story of Benny. Did you know that NYC was rated as the most polite city in the US recently? I can't remember who did the study, but it was interesting.

Hi - if you are interested in historically accurate, real gold transom house numbers please check out The House Number Lab. We are the only place online that designes and manufactures these numbers custom. We offer 22k gold, gold metallic, chrome, etched look, and vinyl. Highest quality at a very reasonable price. The House Number Lab - http://www.housenumberlab.com

Here is a link that might be useful: The House Number Lab

I found a company in England www.fanlightnumbers.co.uk, well I didn't my wife found them! They had all different colors. we went for the gold with a shadow. lots of our friends have commented on how good they look in the transom. We had previously tried a local printer but he was charging too much. These however look like real gold leaf and only cost $45. Now we're looking for an original knocker for the door, I think they're called doctors knocker anyone got any ideas?