American Signs

This delicate, New England barber pole has a round, double-tapered shaft with a swelled vase turning above and below, capped at each end with a elongated acorn finial. The center of the pole is painted black and white in the typical, swirling helix, with the remainder in gold. Trade signs for barbering have existed since the middle ages. Many barbers doubled as surgeons and performed blood letting. Some prepared the deceased for viewings, as well as the living. Although black and white poles are rumored to be mortician’s poles among the collector community, very little information is available to substantiate that claim. I have never seen an image of a mortuary with such a pole, and little to no research exists to tie the black and white versions to barbers who offered the service. The red and white, present on most European poles, is said to reflect blood and bandages. In America, the colors are more often red, white, and blue, especially in later examples. This is rumored to represent veins and arteries, but more likely the blue fell into the color scheme as a nod to American patriotism. Poles varied greatly, and it is unclear if a barber who offered a mix of services typically displayed more than one pole to do it. Although pairs of matching poles in two different colors are known to exist—for example, one with a red & white helix, and one black & white—these are far from the norm. With such a tiny population in any given town, and resources being what they were, it seems likely that in most cases a barber displayed only one. Because modern barber poles are sometimes black and white, though no services past shaves and hair cutting...

Hand painted Beauty Salon sign from the 60's. Measures: 50.25”w x 25.25”h x .5”d.

Hand painted sign, America, circa 1920. “Absolutely No Reductions Will Be Made.” Weathered hand painted sign on masonite wood.

Hand painted sign with gold lettering, America, circa 1920. “All deliveries are to be made at rear entrance” Weathered hand painted sign with gold lettering on wood.

Enameled metal on wood.        

10' tall A-Treat ginger Ale advertisement, America, 20th century. Enameled, painted aluminum sign.

Red and gold dollar sign, America, circa 1970 Enameled metal with foil and acrylic. Front is red with gold back.

Painted plywood cutout of a secret agent.

Weathered display print mounted on wooden board.

Reverse painted Bros sign, circa 1950. Glass sign with beveled and hand painted detailing in wooden frame.

Rare piece of Americana; an advertising item that would have been hanging in a general store in rural America at the turn of the century, singing the praises and virtues of using Frazer Axle grease, and lamenting what happens when not applied; a product used obviously for lubricating the wheels and axles of horse drawn carts and wagons. This is an original self framed tin sign, manufactured circa 1900 by the American Art Works Company, established in 1895 in Coshocton, Ohio (See image; label and logo in lower right hand corner). They would eventually go on to merge with similar type companies and become the Meeks Company. The Frazer Axle Grease company would have commissioned American Art Works to produce the sign and then they would have distributed it to their jobbers, retailers and sellers. The sign is in excellent condition; there is no rust, and the colors are nice and bright. The term "self framed" references the 3" black border which is part of the entire composition; a 1" border is then folded over and hammered down and attached to wooden stretchers which support the sign. Note the context of the images on the sign. To the right you have the successful well dressed farmer with healthy horses and a well maintained wagon, saying to his counterpart "My Friend don't cry! Get your wagon fixed up and then use the Frazer Axle Grease petroleum. Grease both black and white will ruin your axles every time". To the left you have the obviously less successful farmer in a broken down wagon with underfed horses saying "If I had used Frazer Axle Grease I would not have had this trouble". Dimensions: 25 1/2" high x 37 3/4" wide x 1" deep An example of this sign was featured on "Antiques Road...

A wooden clog (shoe) that reads: "Limbert's Holland Dutch Arts & Crafts Furniture" with two hooks for hanging.