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Designspiration. Adbranch - Evolution of advertising industry. Publiz. The Graphics Fairy. Irdesigner. Type & Design. A Love Letter For You. 60 Rare and Unusual Vintage Signs - Smashing Magazine. Advertisement In the U.S., most outdoor signs made between 1890 and and 1950 were constructed of a base of heavy rolled iron, which was die cut into the desired shape, then coated with layers of colored powdered glass and fired in a kiln. This process made them durable and weather-resistant. Signs made this way were known as porcelain enamel signs or simply enamel signs.

Porcelain enamel signs originated in Germany and were imported into the U.S. They quickly became a staple of outdoor advertising across the country. Around 1900, designers experimented with bold colors and graphics on the signs and they were used to advertise everything from cigarettes and beer to farm equipment and tires. Now it is difficult to find antique porcelain enamel signs in excellent condition. Signs were later made of tin and other materials and painted with enamel paint. There is a huge market for vintage signs and collectors must be wary of distressed reproductions. Vintage Dr. Vintage Mr. Painted Ad » Galleries. In these galleries, it is our intent is to showcase some of the better, more interesting, wall signs photographed then and now. It is a long-overdue undertaking since, up until now, my sign photos have been stored in various places – boxes, drawers, slide holders, photo albums, mounted and framed, and more. The task of creating a website causes me to take inventory – nearly four decades worth – and to ponder anew the value and meaning of this quaint advertising genre and, perhaps most satisfying, place them all under one roof, so to speak.

I began photographing wall signs in 1974 in and around Bellingham, Washington and continue to this day. I have lived in St. Louis since 1978; therefore the preponderance of wall signs in my collection are found in the Midwest – Illinois, Missouri, Indiana. East of the Mississippi West of the Mississippi Historic. Monoscope | Deux. ANTREPO BLOG / A2591. Type Theory. Design work life. FormFiftyFive. Swiss Legacy. AisleOne. Design work life. I love Typograph. OK Great.