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#154139 Wed Sep 30 2009 01:43 PM
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fast66 Offline OP
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Hello All!
I bid on this sign on the Swedish eBay, and afterwords I thought it may be a little too nice and that the font of "Vacuum oil Co" looked a little thin. I asked the seller for pictures of the back side and he sent this, also telling me it was "kind of dull and rough" on the back.
What do you say - real or fake.
Thanks,
Claes
ps. it measures 19.6 X 11.8 inches (20 X 12) which over here is an odd size ds.

Gargoyle tradera.jpg baksida.jpg
Last edited by fast66; Wed Sep 30 2009 01:46 PM.
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TOUGH CALL SINCE THE SIGNS MFG'D IN EUROPE MAY BE DONE DIFFERENTLY THAN THE STATES INCLUDING THE FONT STYLE IN THE SMALLER PRINT.


DOC @ THE AMERICAN GARAGE
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fast66 Offline OP
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Swedish (and perhaps other European) porcelain signs usually has very sloppy back sides, where the mfg has brushed out the exess porcelain, especially close to the edges. My other Gargoyle signs (3) all have these typical caracteristics.

This sign may be imported from anywhere - USA, India, South America... I have no idea, as the seller "has bought it in a flea market".

br
Claes

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I'd pass. Gargoyle looks strange, too skinny top of wing to feet.

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IT LOOKS AS THOUGH IT HAS THE TYPICAL EURO CONVEX STYLE ??


DOC @ THE AMERICAN GARAGE
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I agree with you Claes.......the back looks suspect to me.

Richard

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For what it's worth, I can tell you that the back looks nothing like original Gargoyle "Ask Here" oil cabinet signs of the same approximate size and vintage.

Wes

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fast66 Offline OP
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Thanks for your responses, guys!
Its always valuable to have your opinions in cases like this.
thanks,
Claes

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Claes:

Fake as an American $3.00 bill.

Look closely at the 'holes' in the 'O' and the 'B' - you will notice that they are 'hotdog' shaped with straight up-n-down sides.

If you look at this original printed paper sign - you will see the difference in the lettering.



There are other subtle differences - but this ought to be enough to convince you that it's fake.

Later . . .

Jim

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I agree with Jim's observation about the shape of the "holes" in the O's, but I don't think the difference is evidence that the sign is "fake". In the following photo's you'll see the same shaped O's on at least three signs which are all original signs (the oval MOBILOEL, the odd-shaped French sign at the left, and the thermometer from Denmark). It may be that european signs used this shape more often. However, the English signs shown didn't use it.









I still suspect Claes's sign is not an original, but wanted to comment on/clarify the point made by Jim.

Richard

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fast66 Offline OP
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Richard, I agree with you on the holes in the O's.
What bothers me is the back, the thin font of "vacuum oil Co" and DB's hint about the thickness of the Gargoyle itself.
I have also thought about the tops of the b and l's. They are normally not that flat. Only your German sign show som likeness.
Thanks again!
Claes



Last edited by fast66; Fri Oct 02 2009 06:27 AM. Reason: spelling...
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Claes, i think yor right....while there can be some slight or major differences with logos & font styles with foreign signs the process of making this sign looks to be more modern especially on the back side....Its hard to tell the shelving of "vacum oil" in photos, but its the back that really bothers me.....DT

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Richard:

Good points.

I have not seen many (hardly any!) overseas signs. Your points are certainly valid.

But the general 'newness' of the sign, combined with the fact that it has NO grommets still makes me think it is a new production item and not a vintage/old sign.

Thanks for the shots of your amazing Mobil sign collection!

Later . . .

Jim

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I have seen many foreign signs and many foreign ORIGINALS did not use grommets.......while the front of this sign looks great the back looks very suspect of a modern technique of porcelain sign making..........

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fast66 Offline OP
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Thanks again to all who have given their thoughts. The seller was very good and told me I dodn't have to pay if I won. He even added that the sign may not be that old to the description... well someone other than me got the highest bid, so I'm off the hook, but someone else is on...
br
Claes

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