Primarily Petroliana Shop Talk Forums Shop Talk Petroliana Forums Online Auctions, eBay Craigslist Petroliana Just A Conincidence ?

I find it interesting that backs of every sign this guy sells looks the same. Also, none of signs have any groments and the groments holes are all chipped the same. Hummm.

Something else, they appear to have been fired in a kiln that uses square stilts. It's more apparent on some signs than others.

What do think?




















[This message has been edited by MarkMcK (edited 05-21-2007).]

[This message has been edited by MarkMcK (edited 05-21-2007).]

And here is what he just bought from a seller in Germany on ebay.










[This message has been edited by MarkMcK (edited 05-21-2007).]

Another sign from the guy in Germany

I would tend to agree, VERY suspicious, You would do well as a detective!!

Thanks gasgeezer, I bought a sign from him on ebay a few months ago that just didn't look right to me, so I've been watching what he's been selling ever since. There been others with the same patterns that I didn't get a pictures of.

Here a couple of closeups of the square stilt pattern I mentioned from the one I bought.






[This message has been edited by MarkMcK (edited 05-21-2007).]

Mark, yes unfortunately these are fakes. I saw a bunch of similar signs- gas, oil, auto, country store products at the Metrolina antique show in Charlotte NC. Some were double sided. They were being sold as "old" and priced high to trick buyers. Ed

no advertising is safe !!!!... be careful out there ... damn shame...

[This message has been edited by kmann (edited 05-21-2007).]

Nice work Detective Mark. A couple months ago my wife and I were watching that Crisco sign and came to the same conclusion. Scary snake. These people are going to cross the wrong person eventually and learn about the "hard way".

Are you sure about these signs are repo?? Did you notice that Amistadi bought the Crisco sign number 190099974357 I thought he wrote a sign book a few years back? Was he fooled also?

I wrote this guy when I noticed the backs of all his signs looked the same. I asked if they were found in a dump or old wet basement? He said they had belonged to his Dad. He said he didn't know anything about signs and didn't care to know anything!

That and his low feedback number and name was enough for me!!

Bob

Bob, if the signs had all belong to his Dad, then how do you explain the two signs he just bought on ebay from a guy in Germany. That story doesn't line up.

If anyone thinks they are real, I'll be more than happy to sell the Husky I bought from him last year. Give me a Grand and it's yours.

It's just like the one he's currently selling.

I bought a SOCONY aircraft oils sign that I'm trying to return now. Slightly bowed, rust on the back(the other 150 porcelain signs I own don't have rust) round chips(about the size of a hammer) only at the mounting holes with a lighter color. The sign colors don't match the original. Porcelain is fairly heavy and compares with my original in shelving which makes it appear orignal to the touch. This s%$# has been sold as European but I think they are as fake as the come. Perhaps the member who knows how to age date this can get one tested. I'll volunteer and pay to have mine tested if anyone knows how. That way proof
will be available to show the world these are BS. When someone like Amistadi bids or buys a sign it makes it look legit. Things are not always what they appear to be in sign collecting anymore and I've only been at it 5 years.

It's amazing what a hammer and some muratic acid will do.
Every Porcelain sign I have ever held, had glass on the back.
Not to cover the back defeats the purpose of a weatherproof sign....That is why they were porcelain....is this guy a retard or what. It is funny how not one of his signs has any grommetts....1 dead givaway among many
Joe

Maybe I missed it but what is this sellers username??

I know a place that will test the signs with science. A few years ago I had some concerns over the amount of Tiwouser lenses that came out. I sent 3 lenses from 3 different collectors to this place and had them dated with an electron microscope. Cost 300 bucks apiece to do but was worth it. 2 of the 3 lenses were fake and came I believe out of Canada. Putting them side by side you could hardly tell the difference. Go to www.calcoastlabs.com and give them a try.

[This message has been edited by roger cherry (edited 05-22-2007).]

Keithia, When I started this thread, there was never any intent to point to any particular seller, just to a group of signs that had commonallity, and get opionions as to there originallity.

I almost won that Crisco sign. I bid on it also but did not go crazy bidding because I was a little suspicious also. I also looked at the porcelain book and the one in there. If you notice, the one on ebay does NOT have an ink stamp at the bottom stating the manufacturer. Not all signs had this, but it still threw me a little. Glad it did now!!!!

He got positive feedback on the Crisco sign

Ignorance is Bliss I guesse.

Any idea why the Crisco would have so many mounting holes??

So the consensus is that Amistadi doesn't know real from fake on this sign?

I guess it does. Don't worry, its about time for him to load up ebay again with about 100-120 items. Bet dollar to a donut that sign will be listed for resale with a much higher reserve than what was paid for it. I wonder how he will respond if he happens to read the thread on here about the sign? We will see.

He'll read it. Amistadi knows what he bought. Doesn't matter what his motives are, good or bad. Positive feedback by people like him will legitimize a bogus sign which will continue to confound and confuse collectors.

Did anyone notice that the lettering on the Crisco sign "We Sell" and "The Proctor & Gamble Co." is rising to the right on the eBay version? Apparently, whoever made the sign couldn't get the lettering straight. Review the photo of the Crisco sign on page 11 of the "Porcelain Enamel Advertising" book. Note that there are also several variations between the signs, including the "stars".

However, does the source of the book photo place some doubt on THAT sign's authenticity? Who knows??

I agree with Greg! WELL SAID!
Surely he knows it's a repo??? he wrote the book!!!!
Thanks for pointing this out!!!!!!!!!!!

------------------

Re: "Surely he knows it's a repo??? he wrote the book!!!!"

You think Amistadi is infallible?? Think again. I see long time collectors get burned on repops time after time. Even the the most experienced collectors can't know everything.

I got this email today from a guy who read this post. I thought he had some very good information on the subject.

Thanks again Larry, and if you think of anything more to add, please let us know.


>>The signs are reproductions. I used them about 15 years ago in
TGIFridays
>>and Applebee's decor packages. Always remember porclein signs will
>>always have porclein on back side. If not it will cause them to
curve.
>>If you have them tested steel should be O carbon steel for porclein
to
>>stay on. These signs were made I think in France or close to that
area.
>>I use to get them from an inporter in Atlanta GA area.
>>
>>I also had some signs made here in US back at the same time that.
They
>>seem to be hitting market again. They were Atlantic White Flash and
>>Sunoco die-cut pump signs. They will have black porcelin on back
side
>>with white specks like the inside of an oven. I also made Texaco
Flange
>>Toomsone sign. The way to tell it apart the old ones have white on
>>flange where it attached to pole.
>>Hope you can use this information.
>>Thanks
>>Larry Graves

One question I have, where'd the repro Husky Hi-Power signs come from? I'd really like a pair for a pump resto I'm going to be doing. All I seem to see are the round ones or decals.

Chris