Tuesday, January 21, 2014

Discovering Vintage Signs For Sale

By Judy Sullivan


There are not many differences between the vintage signs for sale that were made before WWII and the ones that were made afterwards. The main difference between the two is the type of metal used. After the war the steel sign technique became too expensive to make and manufacturers changed to tin. Recently, companies have begun to build replicas of signage from seventy years ago.

When the twenty four gage steel was no longer used for any sign the producers still used the enamel and porcelain to help maintain the bright colors that the industry had become accustomed to. Today manufacturers create duplicates that are as close to the originals as possible. The reproductions are less expensive than their antique look alike cousins. The cost difference makes them accessible to more collectors across the country.

Some companies that offer vintage signage create the signs and artificially age them to appear older for display purposes. The reproductions are far less expensive than original antique items and are often used as decorative pieces for homes of collectors. One of the favorite subjects collected is anything that has to do with automobiles that were and are popular in the market today. Another highly reproduced campaign is coca cola and the Santa Clause ads they developed.

There are many different venues that a sign can be made from. The most durable is metal and the one with the shortest life will be paper. Coca cola has one of widest selections available. They produced wall hangings, push plates for doors, drink trays, clocks and most anything else you can think of. They are part of the popular brand names that are collected in America today.

Most collectors do not mind if the piece they purchased is a reproduction or authentic. The main goal is how it looks on the wall when added to the decor that is already in place. Many feel that even though the advertising industry no longer uses this format for ads, their charm will always remind us of simpler times that have gone past.

Flea markets, yard sales and thrift stores are three very good places to find the perfect sign for your den or kitchen. You may also stumble onto a treasure at any of these sites and find a rare and original item. Some originals have been sold for thousands of dollars.

An old fashioned country store can be one of your best places to find hidden treasure. Many times there are old signs nailed to a wall in or outside the shop that are there because nobody has bothered to take them down. They may be for sale if you ask the right person and offer to take them down.

When starting to collect vintage signs for sale the only things you should bear in mind is how much room you have to hang it and how much excess money you have to spend on it. You will be hard pressed to make a mistake and the method you use can be selective or random. Whichever style you use you are sure to find enough signage to satisfy your needs.




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