Pennsylvania - Signs

Vintage Jasper Engines & Transmissions Ken's Auto Repair Sheet Metal Retail Sign. Circa Late 20th Century. Measurements: 36" H x 47.5" W.

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...

A remarkable example of sleek, streamlined Moderne design at the end of the Art Deco era, this painted wood sign for $50,000 Chocolate syrup is a very rare survivor. The designer used spherical wood balls to represent each of the "zeroes" in "$50,000," creating a three-dimensional form out of a two-dimensional logo. $50,000 Chocolate was made for the Rexall drug...

1970s round red Defense de Fumer no smoking double sided French sign with white lettering. This can be seen at our 400 Gilligan St location in Scranto...

1970s Belgium blue road direction sign with a white arrow. Shows wear from age and use. This can be seen at our 400 Gilligan St location in Scranton, PA.

Wonderful antique Double-sided Trade Sign. It would be a great addition to your decor or a business setting. Has metal on each side to hang. Please sure to follow RADIO CRAZE...

A mid-20th century folky trade sign that is very much to the point! With a painted - Tasty Eating Rabbits: Fresh Dressed or Frozen - and a stylized Bugs Bunny character pointing. Comprised of blue and white painted panel...

Black-painted American sign with beautiful lettering in a 19th century style, in a crescent-shaped design, probably made for over-door display. Dating shortly after the Civil War 186...

This long, narrow banner was probably made for the Liberty Dairy & Ice Cream of Big Rapids, Michigan. Made sometime between 1910 and 1945, it is printed in...

"WASHING PROHIBITED AROUND WELLS", AN EARLY 20TH CENTURY SIGN: This great sign, with routed and white-painted letters on a on a two-inch this pine board, has an old, black, and h...

PAINTED AND GILDED DINING ROOM SIGN FROM A STEAMBOAT ON THE FALL RIVER LINE (NEW YORK TO BOSTON), 1847-1870: Paint-decorated sign from a steamboat on the Fall River Line, which r...

"Canarys for Sale", chrome yellow and black polychome-painted trade sign dating to the first part of the 20th century. Expected craquelure of the paint results in a desirable and att...