Electric Neon Clock Co. Extra-Large Neon Clock with Advertising Marquee, 1940s

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Electric Neon Clock Co. Extra-Large Neon Clock with Advertising Marquee, 1940s

About the Item

An extra-large and uncommon 1940s neon clock model APL-2 by the Electric Neon Clock Co. of Cleveland, Ohio, with very rare original advertising marquee for Best-N-West Cleaners of San Francisco, California. Bright white plexiglass dial pan-style face backlit by a white circular neon tube. Features tapered blue hour and minute hands, a silver sweep second hand, and big blue numerals trimmed in red. Matching blue and red minute and hour marks ring the circumference. Label with serial number reads “Electric Neon Clock Co. / Cleveland, Ohio / 90633”. Enclosed under a molded shatter resistant, optically clear, ultraviolet-absorbent Rohm & Haas plexiglass contour. White plexiglass bubble border around the face hides a reddish-orange circular neon tube that shines brightly through the diffuser in a striking, saturated shade of supercharged salmon. Neon lights are turned on & off independently from the clock via a pull chain on the right side of the case. Both are uncommonly quiet after a few minutes of warm-up. Rare original marquee (or “shield” as it’s referred to in the company’s original data sheets) reads “BEST - N - WEST CLEANERS WE1-7424”, with the sun-faded name and phone number reverse-printed on the white plexiglass insert in a muted hue that nicely complements that of the neon border. Weatherproof case finished in baked-on blueish-green enamel. Stands on removable streamlined feet (rather than the more common round ones), and can also be wall mounted via the cleat on the back. Time adjustment knob is on the left side below an instruction decal. Partial manufacturer label on top alongside a carrying handle sturdy enough to support the 39 pound clock. A search of public records revealed that the address of this long-shuttered business—formally known as Best-N-West Cleaners & Hatters—was 1401 Lyon Street, on the northwest corner of Post Street, in San Francisco, California. Aside from fresh coats of paint, the building’s exterior remains essentially unchanged since it was built around 1900, and one can easily picture this fantastic piece of functional signage proudly mounted on the classic San Francisco façade, beckoning like a beacon in the fog. Shown in a variety of ambient and direct lighting environments—additional photos and video are available upon request. Copy of circa 1950s Electric Neon Clock Co. marketing product data sheet for this particular model is also available upon request. Dimensions listed are overall. Diameter of case without marquee is 25 inches, and diameter of face is 19.5 inches.

Creator:
Electric Neon Clock Company (Manufacturer)
Dimensions:
Height: 31 in (78.74 cm)Width: 39.5 in (100.33 cm)Depth: 8 in (20.32 cm)
Style:
Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
Materials and Techniques:
Acrylic,Metal,Plexiglass
Place of Origin:
United States
Period:
1940-1949
Date of Manufacture:
1940s
Condition:
Wear consistent with age and use. Minor fading. Great vintage condition. Face: clean; numbers & hands great; sun-fading to red on lower half, which is common. Marque: sun-fading to text; still legible. Plexiglass: both white & clear very clean. Case: weather tarnish on marquee top; paint splatter.
Seller Location:
San Francisco, CA
Reference Number:
1stDibs: LU955030599742