Authentic vintage signs have become a popular collector's item in recent years. These charming antiques make wonderful decorations and conversation pieces for one's home or business and are appreciated for their historical value. When looking to buy vintage signs for sale the buyer should keep the following points in mind.
First made from porcelain enamel in late 19th century Europe, these earliest designs had their designs stenciled or silkscreened on and featured separate colors of powdered glass which were fired onto a rolled iron slab. Tin later replaced porcelain as the predominate material used, and was most popular by the 1920's. During World War II many tin and porcelain signs were gathered up and melted down for scrap metal, which explains why there are not a lot left.
By the 1920's and 1930's neon signage began to emerge as a more common style. These were constructed using hollow tubes of glass which contained neon or another inert gas, and then a current was run through, causing the gas to illuminate. Both small businesses and large companies alike had these designs made, even though they are more fragile and expensive to build.
There are also the cardboard ads for many products and events, most of which date from the mid-twentieth century, as well as the special promotional pieces which were used to hang on shop doors. Some people like to collect any kind of old signage, whereas other narrow the scope of their collecting down to a particular industry.
One thing the collector must look out for are the many imitations on the market. They resemble the originals but upon close examination show no real signs of aging which one could normally expect of true antiques. They are mass-produced and worth very little, but are often sold as authentic for high prices by unscrupulous sellers.
It's important for the collector to recognize these fakes, as to avoid getting duped. Often the material they are made from is not one which used in the period the sign supposedly dates from. If they state a price of the item being advertised, this too can indicate a replica, as this was not the normal practice to display this information. When a sign has aged naturally there is likely to be chips, rust, pitting and the like here and there, not just a little rusty around the edges. If the buyer sees several copies of one sign, this is usually the biggest hint that they are fakes.
Authentic signs show slight irregularities in the lettering as they were either done by hand or using a hand cut silk screen. Brush strokes will usually be visible, and they were made in standard sizes. True aging happens unevenly, rather than evenly like those which are "aged" using chemicals, producing an even effect. Old metal signs are magnetic too, as opposed to knock-offs made of enamel painted aluminum.
Vintage signs for sale can be quite pricey items. However it is possible to find the occasional bargain. Buyers can check out auctions and online auctions, antique stores, and also estate or garage sales. Some people do not know the worth of these pieces and will sell them for cheap.
First made from porcelain enamel in late 19th century Europe, these earliest designs had their designs stenciled or silkscreened on and featured separate colors of powdered glass which were fired onto a rolled iron slab. Tin later replaced porcelain as the predominate material used, and was most popular by the 1920's. During World War II many tin and porcelain signs were gathered up and melted down for scrap metal, which explains why there are not a lot left.
By the 1920's and 1930's neon signage began to emerge as a more common style. These were constructed using hollow tubes of glass which contained neon or another inert gas, and then a current was run through, causing the gas to illuminate. Both small businesses and large companies alike had these designs made, even though they are more fragile and expensive to build.
There are also the cardboard ads for many products and events, most of which date from the mid-twentieth century, as well as the special promotional pieces which were used to hang on shop doors. Some people like to collect any kind of old signage, whereas other narrow the scope of their collecting down to a particular industry.
One thing the collector must look out for are the many imitations on the market. They resemble the originals but upon close examination show no real signs of aging which one could normally expect of true antiques. They are mass-produced and worth very little, but are often sold as authentic for high prices by unscrupulous sellers.
It's important for the collector to recognize these fakes, as to avoid getting duped. Often the material they are made from is not one which used in the period the sign supposedly dates from. If they state a price of the item being advertised, this too can indicate a replica, as this was not the normal practice to display this information. When a sign has aged naturally there is likely to be chips, rust, pitting and the like here and there, not just a little rusty around the edges. If the buyer sees several copies of one sign, this is usually the biggest hint that they are fakes.
Authentic signs show slight irregularities in the lettering as they were either done by hand or using a hand cut silk screen. Brush strokes will usually be visible, and they were made in standard sizes. True aging happens unevenly, rather than evenly like those which are "aged" using chemicals, producing an even effect. Old metal signs are magnetic too, as opposed to knock-offs made of enamel painted aluminum.
Vintage signs for sale can be quite pricey items. However it is possible to find the occasional bargain. Buyers can check out auctions and online auctions, antique stores, and also estate or garage sales. Some people do not know the worth of these pieces and will sell them for cheap.
About the Author:
Unique vintage signs for sale can be found on one of the Web's high ranking websites at www.roadrelics.com. To place your order, visit this page on http://www.roadrelics.com.
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