Primarily Petroliana Shop Talk Forums Shop Talk Petroliana Forums General Petroliana Discussion repro sign

Has anyone run across the 36x24 Packard Service diecut radiator sign, unmarked, one sided? I purchased one in an auction via absentee bid and when picked up I suspect a repro. It is mint , no grommets, blue porcelain on back and signs of drying racks.

CAN YOU POST A FEW PICTURES?....THIS MIGHT HELP THE SIGN GUYS GIVE BETTER ANSWERS!

IF YOU DON'T KNOW HOW, EMAIL THEM TO ME....I WILL GET THEM UP! docshots@yahoo.com

~DOC

[This message has been edited by THE AMERICAN GARAGE (edited 01-23-2008).]

HERE ARE MIKE'S SIGN PICS:





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I JUST THUMBED THRU AMISTADI'S PRICE GUIDE AND ON PAGE 143 TOP THERE IS A SIMILAR LOOKING SIGN AND STATED AS BEING "RARE AVIATION PACKERD" 2-SIDED, 24" X 42" LOOKS LIKE SAME AS YOURS EXCEPT THE RADIATOR CAP IS QUITE DIFFERENT AND THE LETTERING ALTHOUGH SIMILAR IS NOT EXACTLY THE SAME!

~DOC

As you can see. there were two signs in this collection. I know the Cord sign is being reproduced but they are 25.5 x 17 & white on the back with no grommets & 1/8" mounting holes. I bought these sight unseen through an absentee bid and they were not advertised as repro's but authentic vintage signs. When I picked them up I immediately smelled fish. Now I'm having a hard time getting my money back and basically am having to prove they are fakes before they will consider it.

Oh, by the way, the Cord sign is 24 x 13.5, looks like porcelain on the front and the lettering is layered. You can feel it. The back is dull gray, not porcelain with the mottled patches or spots. No markings. 1/4" holes (4) with tarnished brass grommets. Sign is mint and I know Cord was out of business around '38/'39. Smells/looks fishy as well. Would really be something if it is real.

The thing I wonder about first is if its a mint sign where are the grommets? Just a thought. I agree something doesnt look quite right to me either. But as my wife points out regularly Im wrong fairly often. lol.

[This message has been edited by JimT (edited 01-24-2008).]

Jim, no grommets on the Packard sign. As a matter of fact the radiator signs that I have seen have all been 2 sided and if the frame was still on it is an aluminum frame with the aluminum frame bent for the hook each side at the top.I'm not sure they had grommets. The Cord sign has 4 small grommets.

I think the Auburn-Dusenberg-Cord museum in Auburn Ind. sells the CORD sign in their gift shop, also an AUBURN sign about this size..I seem to remember the Packard club or someone into Packards selling This parkard sign. I believe both are FANTASY signs made in the last 10 or 20 years...RD

The packard does not look right to me, size is wrong holes to small.

I agree with powerlube....stay away from the Packard sign...

Good News All! Talked to the seller today about these signs. He admitted that they were not old signs. Said he bought these from an antique store in a package deal. When I asked him why they were not represented as repros he told me the auctioneer did not want him to. He said that the one sided Packard was a limited edition of 200 and that he paid $450 for it. Anyway the best part is he agreed to a 100% refund but that his wife is going to be real mad about it. I told him she would get over it. May want to post these two as known reproductions for future collectors. Thanks to all who responded. Mike H

Glad to hear it's going to work out for you. Who is the auction company?