Saturday, December 22, 2012

All That You Need To Know About Old Gas Station Signs

By Corinne Hyde


It is quite easy these days to find collectors that are willing to spend loads of money over old gas station signs. The most sought after ones in this regard are those of porcelain, considering the fact that they are extremely rare. However, if you are a new collector, make sure that you carry out ample research over your subject before doling out the money. It is necessary for you to make sure that the item you are getting is genuine and not a reproduction.

There was time when people did not purchase motor cars as frequently as we do these days. Back in those days, it was not common to find gas stations everywhere and they just existed on busy highways and major cities. But things started changing and people were more prone to getting cars for themselves. At this time, advertisement for brands seemed to have taken everything by storm as pumps were setup everywhere.

Porcelain signs that were meant for advertisements were initially made in Germany and were then exported. Initially, these were made out of iron, which had to coated with powdered and colored glass. For making them weather proof and have a sturdy appearance, the Germans fired them in a kiln. The colors that were used for their creation were rather vibrant and eye catching.

Every single pump that existed back then had brand advertisements attached to them over plates made out of porcelain. Believe it or not, but advertisement were even hung over the walls. Hinged stands were also used for advertising on both of its sides. It was a completely new era so be it tires or oils, it had to be advertised. A colourful sign was even used to indicate the ladies room.

It is not really possible for collectors to find porcelain signs in their true condition these days. These were basically melted for usage purposes during the World War II. However, when the war got over, materials such as tin with a few others started being used. The appearances of old gas station signs changed rapidly with the passage of time as the industry kept on evolving. Internally lit plastic signs took over and replaced the older ones.

Collectors these days have a number of different approaches towards their collections. A majority of them are generally interested in the possession of signs associated with particular brands. The most famous one in this regard is the red Pegasus logo of Mobil. There are even those that wish to focus over particular items.

There are quite a few collectors out there that just wish to grab on to any sign that they come across. However, you must know that the best signs are not always those of big name brands. There happen to be quite a few coveted items that are associated with small or even regional brands.

If you want to build up a collection that is truly genuine, it is necessary for you to be knowledgeable about the subject. The best means of acquiring this particular bit of knowledge is to seek help from experienced collectors. They have the kind of experience that would help you understand the signs of genuine old gas station signs and how much you ought to be paying for it. You may even acquire help from websites and even magazines and books.




About the Author:



No comments:

Post a Comment

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...