Brother Brian Smith asked, "Does anyone know of a company that makes
stamped metal nameplates with raised letters like the escutcheon plates
in some pianos?

I wonder if these could be made by etching rather than stamping.  The
cost to produce a die would be rather high, especially if the design
was anything more than a couple of words.  But, to make an etched
plate, you'd only need to make a graphic mask like they have for
silk-screens.

I've done it in a manner similar to making a circuit board.   You make
the artwork on a computer or by hand and then take it to a photo shop
and get a silver negative.  (Other transparencies may work, but I think
a xerographic or Inkjet copy will not, because they are not dense
enough.)   Anyway, you expose the photo-resist through the negative mask
and then etch it with chemicals just like a PCB.

Another way is to have someone make rub-on transfers from the artwork
or negative, which can be rubbed directly on the cleaned metal and will
act as a resist; or you can have them screen the design directly on the
metal in exactly the same way they'd make the rub-on (if you only need
one or two).

I once made a die out of brass to use to make an embossed logo on
paper.  Worked just fine.

Regards,
Craig Smith