Primarily Petroliana Shop Talk Forums Shop Talk Petroliana Forums General Petroliana Discussion cadillac official service sign

This is my first post and I hope I an submitting it to the right
place. I recently acquired an old "Cadillac Official Service"
sign that measures 40"X30" and is double sided. I have spent many
hours on the internet and book stores/libraries and have not been
able to find any real useful info as to its age,demand or value.
I have found limited info on the maker of the sign which is Beaver Enamel Co. in Ellwood PA. I found oldgas website and there
is a photo of one just like it that was posted on 06/30/10 by
1970mach. I do not mind doing my own research but am out of ideas
on where to look. If anyone can enlighten or direct me it would
be appreciated. I can send photos if need be. I would consider the condition to be about a 6 or 7 on a 1-10 scale
10 being mint. Thanks, Dale

Welcome to Oldgas. A picture of the sign would be a big help. Follow this link on how to post pictures.

http://www.oldgas.com/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=128716#Post128716

Welcome to old~gas! Glad to have ya Texan!

Official Cadillac literature like sales brochures and service and merchandising bulletins can be a valuable source of info.

Contact some Cadillac collectors through their clubs. Someone out there knows when your sign was used.

There is demand for automotive signs. The better the graphics and condition, the more desirable they are.

Thanks for the response & ideas- photos attached of both sides
& maker.
Dale

Forgot to mention though it is somewhat obvious that I have not
tried to clean it. Been hanging in a garage for years according
to the family I got it from. Good idea on the cadillac literature
and clubs. My best friend has his grand dads 1905 cadillac that
still runs and is in excellent shape. According to his late grand
dad it was the first car driven into Denton, Texas. He purchased
it at a blacksmith shop which was where they were sold at originally since there were no dealerships. The twist is that the
next day the Sheriff came to the farm and warned him to never bring that thing back into town because it scared the horses and
caused such an uproar. Just thought it was a story worth sharing.
Dale

Cool sign and good story Dale.
Check your messages....flashing icon by "my stuff".
Bob

A story like that is alot of what i like about this hobby! When you find a sign or pump it's so much better when you here where it came from, or someting interesting about it. Make's alot of sense that a blacksmith was selling cars because they made and repaired the buggys. Many blacksmith went into the car bussiness. Alot of the first truck beds were also made by blacksmiths. Cool sign and story.

Dale, you have a very old sign there. I live just a stone's throw from where this plant was. Ingram - Richardson porcelain company of Beaver Falls, Pa. (just a few miles from Ellwood City) started out in early 1900's. It was the largest porcelain sign company in our country. But, Mr. louis Ingram started the Ellwood City Enamel Co. on his own before he joined with Richardson. Just when your sign was made, I don't know, but it sure has to be an early one. Good luck! Sam

Dale, My sign is the one pictured in the sign gallery. Unfortunately I was not able to find another like it in any literature or one the Web. I sold the sign earlier this year. It was in great shape and it sold for $3,650 just so you have an idea. Yours is not in as good shape but it definately is a rare sign and I am sure it could easily $1200-1500

Sam- Thanks for the background info- It clears up what I couldn't
clearly read without cleaning which I was reluctant to do and have
not had time to do today.Interesting to me that you live so close
to the original plant and read the post- what are the odds.I am
very thankful to you for taking the time. Have you ever wondered
if the products made now days will still be around for 100 years?
I do not think so- there is very little pride left and true craft
sman & trades have lost the art and compassion for quality products. My wife and I do restoration on older homes and we learn
alot disassembling and reassembling- It is just a side business for
us. We are currently redoing a set a windows that were installed
in 1888. Still have the wavy air bubble glass in them. Again thanks for your reply.
Dale

Colin- Thank you so much for- 1)posting your photo 2) I would have
had no way of knowing it's value or when or where to look since
info is scarce.3)Taking the time to respond. I am considering
putting it on ebay or having it auctioned. Your sign is in really
good shape and excellent condition considering it's age. It is also
a compliment to the oldgas forum to have honesty and integrity.
I really appreciate your response and opinion.
Dale

When I first purchased the sign I too asked for info that anyone could supply. One member on old gas pm'd me and said he was a long time collector and that my sign was only the third one he had ever heard of or seen...

Colin- I guess that explains why there is no info. Do you mind
if I ask where you sold yours at? I am thinking auction would be
best. We occasionally come across items that I didn't realize had
such demand and oldgas has opened up a hole new set of things to
look for.We just got lucky and stumbled on to this one.
Dale

I listed it on eBay but the reserve was not met. The buyer contacted me after the auction was completed.Wecompleted the transaction for the reserve I had less what the eBay fees would have been.