I need to pick your brain...

[Forty Rod]

Who knows of a source that can show or describe "hobo signs" like 'bos and tramps used to leave on gate and fence posts, corners of buildings, and utility poles?  Symbols like 'bad dog', 'friendly family', 'good cook', and 'no police'.

I'd also like to know how early they were used.

[Marshal Will Wingam]

Here are a few links for ya, pard:
http://www.worldpath.net/~minstrel/hobosign.htm
http://www.slackaction.com/signroll.htm
http://www.angelfire.com/folk/famoustramp/signs.html
The third one says it started in the 1880's.

[Silver Creek Slim]

Is that the same thing as hobo scat? 

Slim

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[Forty Rod]

The second one has the symbols I recall seeing when I was a kid.

Lumberjacks used to have a similar system  that they used in the off season when they were travelling around, but the symbols were different.

[deucedaddyj]

You know, in the last couple issues of Backwoodsman, they've had a few articles on hobos, written by a former hobo who's dad was also a hobo. Pretty good stuff too. Backwoodsman is my favorite magazine, if you haven't seen it, you ought to check it out. Been reading it constanly for 2 years now, and have yet to read a bad issue.

[Forty Rod]

Never heard of it, but I'll take a look.

Thanks.

[Queasy Dillo]

They have a pretty good magazine.  I've read one from time to time - usually something interesting to be had. 

They also have a website here : http://www.backwoodsmanmag.com/