Wednesday, April 24, 2013

Collecting Vintage Advertising Signs Is Fun

By Bertha Wells


If you have any vintage advertising signs lying around, you have potential profit. You don't even have to call the guys on 'American Pickers'. There are many people who would love to display your signs on the walls of their man caves, retail establishments, or living rooms. A sign in good condition could buy you a vacation to paradise, while even a rusty but still legible example of folk or commercial art is worth something.

Advertising came into its own with the development of cheap printing. Before that, it was limited to hand-painted signs or word of mouth testimonials. Soon advertising was essential to modern business, and it also became part of the fabric of American life. The great winged horse, the tiger in the tank, and the dinosaur logo of early gas companies were beloved by motorists - and their children.

If you are beyond infancy, you probably know many ads, if not by heart than certainly well enough to recognize them when you see or hear them. Many of the creations of an ad agency's talents have become part of all of us: the insurance gecko, the majestic team of horses, the golden arches. People especially love antique reminders of their or their parents' childhoods.

The fact that a sign is part of either national or personal history adds to the appeal. The stories of found objects on the popular antique show, pawn shop, and picker shows are as intriguing as the objects themselves. Having an example of commerce of the past on your wall, indoors or out, brings an added dimension to your life that might just be unique. In addition, a sign can be effective as any other work of art.

Of course, some things are still going strong, and early ads of these products are very much in demand. Harley Davidson fanatics love anything from the early days. Coca-Cola collectors abound, and these ads actually make great investments.

A man cave hardly deserves the name without a Harley Davidson logo on the wall, or a Budweiser poster, or a picture of a hot rod. Some of the best decorations are actual vintage advertising, because their rarity adds to the appeal. A specialty antique sign makes a perfect, one-of-a-kind gift for a friend or family member with a hobby. Atmosphere is all important in a collector's private space, and the perfect touch could be nostalgia from the early days of automobiles, football or baseball, cinema, or almost any other consumer product.

Restaurants, bars, automobile and furniture showrooms, and beauty parlors all involve some down time for the customer. It is fun and makes the time go by faster when the walls are covered with interesting and comment provoking artwork from the past. Customers appreciate the unique touch that such folk art brings to what could otherwise be a sterile environment.

Vintage advertising signs are collectible, eye-catching, and part of the nation's history. They trigger history lessons for the kids, are decorative accents indoors or out, and entertain young and old no matter where they are found.




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