| In this modern era of mass marketing, we are | | | | the decorating theme of your home or |
| bombarded by electronic messages. After | | | | business. |
| awhile, advertising and promotions all start | | | | |
| to sound, feel and look the same. There was a | | | | Many companies would provide merchants with |
| time when the perfect combination of | | | | durable metal and tin signs in order to |
| artistry, imagination and originality could | | | | promote their products. Among the most |
| be found in vintage metal and tin signs. Many | | | | popular collectible signs are those that have |
| of todays most recognizable brand names got | | | | anything to do with Coca Cola. Coke was able |
| their start as metal signs. | | | | to create their brand by extensive promotion. |
| | | | From big cities to rural farming communities, |
| Products too numerous to mention have been | | | | merchants who offered Coke products for sale |
| promoted with a style and wit that today | | | | may have had several metal signs advertising |
| seems all too nostalgic. Vintage tin and | | | | that fact. |
| metal signs were produced by the hundreds of | | | | |
| thousands from the mid eighteen hundreds | | | | Manufacturers of tractors and other farm |
| through the advent of television in the late | | | | equipment produced metal signs that were |
| nineteen forties. Most were painted or screen | | | | often fixtures at general stores, Grange |
| printed using enamel paint and many were | | | | halls and feed stores all over the country. |
| given a porcelain overcoat to increase their | | | | Companies such as John Deere, International |
| durability. The irony of all this is that | | | | Harvester and Ford produced many styles of |
| many vintage metal signs outlived the very | | | | metal signs. These farm equipment signs are |
| companies and products they were meant to | | | | favorites among collectors of items that |
| promote. | | | | reflect classic Americana. |
| | | | |
| This is not say that metal signs have | | | | The great outdoors and the sporting life are |
| completely disappeared from the landscape. | | | | amply represented by a number of famous brand |
| Highways signs, street signs and metal signs | | | | names. Metal signs from Winchester, Remington |
| of kinds are still with us, though most serve | | | | and other gun producers helped to create |
| a more utilitarian purpose. The golden age of | | | | these now famous brand names. Much of the |
| vintage metal signs has been maintained | | | | illustrative artwork used for this genre was |
| through reproductions and the zeal of | | | | produced by some of the best known artists |
| collectors to preserve a piece of advertising | | | | and illustrators of the day. The combination |
| and artistic history. | | | | of beauty nature illustrations and catchy |
| | | | slogans make metal depicting the growing |
| Aging metal and tin signs that have begun to | | | | market in sporting goods. |
| rust should never be refinished. Vintage | | | | |
| metal signs that are in good condition are | | | | No discussion of vintage metal and tin signs |
| highly prized by collectors. A little rust | | | | is complete without looking at the automobile |
| may devalue the sign just a bit, but the | | | | industry. The famous slogan used by the |
| nostalgic value is priceless. When buying any | | | | Packard Company, ask the man who owns one, |
| type of antique or collectible signs, the | | | | was made popular in prints ads and was |
| well informed collector must be able to know | | | | emblazoned on a variety of metal signs. Other |
| the difference between vintage metal signs | | | | early car manufacturers such as Studebaker, |
| and reproductions. The rule is always buyer | | | | Desoto, Dodge and Ford produced metal signs |
| beware. | | | | that are clearly classics. |
| | | | |
| Reproductions of famous metal signs can be | | | | Whether advertising or just for decoration, |
| found almost everywhere. Even though they are | | | | metal and tin signs have a long history and |
| not true antiques, quality reproductions of | | | | provide us with a glimpse of the past. |
| metal and tin signs are a great way to accent | | | | |