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Signs with history

Discussion in 'The Antiquated' started by Halfton65, Jul 20, 2018.

  1. Halfton65
    Joined: Nov 20, 2007
    Posts: 392

    Halfton65
    Member

    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.
     

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  2. Big Mac
    Joined: Sep 12, 2007
    Posts: 1,565

    Big Mac
    Member
    1. Utah HAMBers

    Very cool. I'm a sign nut. I'll have to figure out how to post pics on here.
     
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  3. mr.chevrolet
    Joined: Jul 19, 2006
    Posts: 8,860

    mr.chevrolet
    Member

    i have this one, trying to get it restored and placed in a local museum.
     

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  4. BuckeyeBuicks
    Joined: Jan 4, 2010
    Posts: 2,705

    BuckeyeBuicks
    Member
    from ohio

    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:oops::oops::oops:
     
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  5. "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.
     
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  6. Halfton65
    Joined: Nov 20, 2007
    Posts: 392

    Halfton65
    Member

    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.
     

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  7. That's the sign! Still kick myself today...........
     
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  8. 51 mercules
    Joined: Nov 29, 2008
    Posts: 3,868

    51 mercules
    Member

    I found this old sign in a Model A pickup trailer.
     

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  9. Halfton65
    Joined: Nov 20, 2007
    Posts: 392

    Halfton65
    Member

    That’s awesome. Let me know if you want to sell it.
     
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  10. 51 mercules
    Joined: Nov 29, 2008
    Posts: 3,868

    51 mercules
    Member

    Thanks. I'll keep that in mind,
     
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  11. Halfton65
    Joined: Nov 20, 2007
    Posts: 392

    Halfton65
    Member

    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.
     

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  12. 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. IMG_20181029_171250.jpeg

    Sent from my Pixel XL using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
     
  13. Ryan
    Joined: Jan 2, 1995
    Posts: 21,633

    Ryan
    ADMINISTRATOR
    Staff Member

    A couple of mine...

    This one hung at Vern Tardel’s for decades. He gave it to me when I finished my new shop:

    FFC579C2-17D5-44D9-9E44-36B6DC024F9C.jpeg

    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.

    03F76F8E-B2A2-4AD7-8D62-4109E4C7D25B.jpeg
     
  14. Halfton65
    Joined: Nov 20, 2007
    Posts: 392

    Halfton65
    Member

    Looks like 1940s Chevron strip signs Ryan. Seen them say just about everything under the sun. Very cool.
     
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  15. Halfton65
    Joined: Nov 20, 2007
    Posts: 392

    Halfton65
    Member

    Here’s a blade sign with a similar shape that had the neon redone.
     

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  16. slim38
    Joined: Dec 27, 2015
    Posts: 619

    slim38
    Member
    from Sudan TX
    1. H.A.M.B. Chapel

    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. 20181107_143439.jpg 20181106_112530.jpg
     
  17. pumpman
    Joined: Dec 6, 2010
    Posts: 2,674

    pumpman
    Member

    Pulled this out of upper Michigan a long time ago. I did a search but came up with nothing. Kind of funky. IMG_2127.JPG
     
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  18. Halfton65
    Joined: Nov 20, 2007
    Posts: 392

    Halfton65
    Member

    Very cool shape on that one
     
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  19. Lone Star Mopar
    Joined: Nov 2, 2005
    Posts: 3,811

    Lone Star Mopar
    Member

    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. 20190105_200214.jpeg 20190105_200243.jpeg 20190105_200306.jpeg

    Sent from my SM-J727T1 using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
     
  20. SMLBound
    Joined: Mar 31, 2018
    Posts: 35

    SMLBound
    Member

    Love this thread. Let’s see some more!


    Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Pro
     
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  21. pumpman
    Joined: Dec 6, 2010
    Posts: 2,674

    pumpman
    Member

    A good friend gave me this one. I plan to restore the neon, it's missing an arrow on the top of the frame. IMG_2129.JPG
     
  22. Fedcospeed
    Joined: Aug 17, 2008
    Posts: 2,011

    Fedcospeed
    Member

  23. Halfton65
    Joined: Nov 20, 2007
    Posts: 392

    Halfton65
    Member

    These stake bed dealer signs do something for me.
     

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  24. dmdeaton
    Joined: Nov 25, 2017
    Posts: 502

    dmdeaton
    Member

    86AF375D-2B23-4CE2-8648-2D58EB9185EA.jpeg CA7C64A4-6B88-4F1D-B795-E8B5CE30B8FD.jpeg 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.
     
  25. Bought this at antique flea market. Anyone know the history? IMG_9420.JPG
     
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  26. Jimbo17
    Joined: Aug 19, 2008
    Posts: 3,959

    Jimbo17
    Member

    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
     
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  27. els
    Joined: Sep 11, 2016
    Posts: 359

    els
    Member

    Well said Jimbo, I have an old sign from BEELINE DRAGWAY. HOPE YOU LIKE IT. 18580200_1890944297813039_7964115280961994752_n.jpg
     
  28. pumpman
    Joined: Dec 6, 2010
    Posts: 2,674

    pumpman
    Member

    This sign frame was used for many different companies. Here is a pic of one used for a Ford dealership. city garage.JPG Ford sign.JPG
     
    Last edited: Jun 27, 2019
    Okie Pete, els, Luke S. and 1 other person like this.
  29. This sign hung in the front window of my dad's paint store, it's from the early 50's and still works. HRP

    [​IMG]
     
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