Looking for Your Sign?
With the pandemic, it seems we are all taking the advantage of making our homes more comfortable and enjoyable for ourselves. Things that we had always meant to do in our spare time, we are now doing because we have the time. I have seen pictures of renovations from putting shiplap on walls to doing a total bathroom renovation all over social media. Who knew we are all so handy? The more ethnic home decor is being sought after and quickly sold through such places as Facebook Marketplace or antique stores/markets. Some antique dealers and collectors claim this was their best summer for profitability in a long time.
One thing that has become a hot commodity to have in hanging in a home for decoration is antique signage. Whether is a sign for your kitchen, mancave, deck or garage, these signs are in high demand and sell quite quickly. But like anything else that is in demand, there are the impostures who want to cash in and profit. I am no expert on this topic, so I went to seek some information from those who are. Thank you to Rollie Guertin of Ol’ Paint and Bern Fritshaw of Nostalgiastore and B. Fritshaw Antiques for all your knowledge!
1. What makes old signage valuable and holds its value?
Signs can be valuable for several reasons depending on their condition, rarity, subject matter, and graphics. Some may be worth more depending on the region they are being sold in. For example, a sign from the London area might be worth more to certain people in London because it is local. So far signs have held their value very well and prices have risen in the past few years. Holding values on signage is pretty much based on collectability as trends can change.
2. How can you tell if it is authentic or a knock-off?
Identifying signs can be extremely hard for a lot of people to know if it’s real or reproduction. In most cases, it is coming down to people with experience in handling signs to know. It usually can be determined by the type of material the sign is made from. Some signs were only originally made in painted tin, as opposed to being porcelain coated and the colors of the sign (most reproductions do not have the same shades of colors). The letter font is a good way to tell reproduction signs as some will look computer-generated. Also pay attention to the sign’s mounting grommets, as sometimes they are different or newer. Also, old porcelain signs are too expensive to make today, so chances are if you find one it is an antique or vintage sign.
3. How to preserve your sign without decreasing its value?
Painted tin signs are best left as found. The paint on early signs is like ink and can come off easily if not cleaned properly. Porcelain signs can be cleaned more and light coats of wax to keep the gloss. If you are unable to preserve the paint on a painted sign, this is where Rollie’s talent comes in handy. Rollie hand-paints old signs to bring them back to life or give them new life for their new home.
4. What is the most sought-after brand or type of signage?
The most sought-after signage at the present is Petroleum-related signs (Shell, Esso, Texaco, etc.), as well as beverage signs. General store signs are very collectible. Some dealership signage is in demand, especially the dealerships that are not around any longer (the Packard, Hudson, Studebaker, etc.) Both gentlemen agreed that it really is based on what the collector is looking for as it is a personal preference.
5. What is the most valuable old signage?
Values can be hard to gauge. Petroleum signs can be expensive, as well as any other type of signs. Most times values are placed by condition, rarity, graphics and size can be a factor as some signs are pretty large in size. Petroleum signs can be 6 feet round and other dealer signs can be up to 30 feet long X 8 feet high and bigger at times. Values of signage change on a regular basis and are hard to put a definite price tag on.
I did a little digging on this last question and found that according to the "Picker’s Pocket Guide to Signs," the current world-record price for an advertising sign is $165,000 USD. This large amount of money was paid in 2011 for a Chicago-based Rock Island Railroad reverse glass sign. For those who do not know (I did not), in reverse glass art, paint is applied to a piece of glass and then the image is viewed by turning the glass over and looking through the glass at the image. The Rock Island Railroad sign was believed to be the first sign for the Chicago-based railway company in 1890, and it had been made by an employee. The sign was in a family’s possession for 80 years before it was sold April 1st, by Showtime Auctions at the Washtenaw Farm Council Grounds, in Ann Arbor, MI. The 54-by-43-inch piece was housed in the original gilt frame. That would be pretty incredible to see.
Bern has some excellent advice for those who are wanting to make that investment in signage for your decor - “In the past 10 years the sign market and advertising, in general, has increased greatly in prices being paid. Several record-setting results have been achieved at auctions and private sales. But as for almost anything, when the prices keep going up, the reproductions and fantasy pieces start appearing a lot. When purchasing signs or other advertising items, it's always best to consult a reputable dealer/collector for advice when possible if it's questionable.” And that properly is the best advice when investing in signage.
Thank you again, Rollie and Bern. Make sure to check out their Facebook pages and Bern’s website. I really enjoyed your wealth of information. Until next time, please stay safe.