I’m a big fan of vintage signage that has some history to it. The Travelers Cafeteria used to say “Post House Cafeteria” and was next to the Greyhound Station in Big Spring Texas during the late 50s. Odell Chevrolet was a stake bed advertisement. No pics of it in use but it was too cool to pass up.
When I first started collecting signs in the 70's you could get them for free or pretty cheap. Times have sure changed!! I had an auction in 2003 as I had accumulated way too much stuff. I decided to put most of my sign collection in the auction as I thought the price of them was the highest it would ever get. I did well on most of them but nothing like the money they are bring these days. Oh well, I am the same guy that used to think no one would buy a bottle of water to drink when it was free out of the tap
"The one that got away"happened twice to me. First was a neon bowtie from a Chevrolet dealership I worked at, closed up in 1970. I was told anything I wanted was mine, so I grabbed the two bowtie signs, one was the regular "Chevrolet", the other said "Powerglide". Transformers and all. Stored them at a friend's house, gave the Chevrolet one to him, the Powerglide was mine. His brother accidentally bumped into them in the garage, you know the rest of the story. Second was a Walker & Company vertical Porcelain Buick sign, probably from the 1940's. Don'r remember the exact height but it hung out well over the end of my 8ft box pickup truck. All the neon tubes were broken, just the double sided sign. When we moved back here in late '88 I had to leave it behind. No room at the Inn (or the U-Haul) not to mention it was a few months until we got our own house so everything was in storage or farmed out to friends and relatives. As is I had to leave a car and motorcycle behind, it took me three years to get those picked up. A friend stored both of them for me. Last one of those I saw on Ebay was a "Buy It Now" for 12k, of course the neon was all redone. Still wish I had it.
I think I remember that Buick story from my old thread on this one. 11’ tall 1951 dealer sign. I wish I knew the dealership or had some history on it.
Bought this one with a story of it being from Waterford CA. Local historical society shot that down pretty quick. Still a cool old neon, great shape for 100 years old.
This sign is from Mountain View Arkansas. It was found at a swap meet in Oklahoma. Seller found it in Mountain View circa 1970s. Really good shape. Probably 1920s. Sent from my Pixel XL using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
A couple of mine... This one hung at Vern Tardel’s for decades. He gave it to me when I finished my new shop: And then my Cadillac sign that was stolen from a shut down "Guitars & Cadillacs" bar and then cut down to look like a Cadillac dealer sign... And no, sadly I'm not the guy that stole it... I just bought it from the crook. A good pal of mine has the sign that was on the other side of the roof.
Looks like 1940s Chevron strip signs Ryan. Seen them say just about everything under the sun. Very cool.
This sign was at a local allsups here in town . They were remodeling store and it was behind the overhang. The contractor doing the job kept the coke signs but gave me the bbq sign. No one I asked in town remembers it ever being a bbq joint. My dad has been here since 60s and he doesnt remember it. Anyhow it's a cool piece.
Pulled this out of upper Michigan a long time ago. I did a search but came up with nothing. Kind of funky.
Picked up another cool sign with some history today. The Gun/powder sign is 2 sided and is painted over another old sign. Cant make out whats under it just yet. The Fireworks sign was painted years ago by my mother in law for her old fireworks stand. Sent from my SM-J727T1 using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
A good friend gave me this one. I plan to restore the neon, it's missing an arrow on the top of the frame.
Sitting in my Ford dealer getting my tire fixed. 4K miles and nail in sidewall of my truck. This is hanging in showroom. Original to this dealership long ago.
If only old signs could talk what a story they could tell us about everything they have seen. Each sign has it's own car-actor and history. The lettering styles are all very different and just the idea that each one was hand lettered using One Shot Sign Painters paint makes them a classic. Jimbo
This sign frame was used for many different companies. Here is a pic of one used for a Ford dealership.
This sign hung in the front window of my dad's paint store, it's from the early 50's and still works. HRP