Primarily Petroliana Shop Talk Forums Shop Talk Petroliana Forums General Petroliana Discussion 35 Esso Aviation ??

I'm looking for information on this sign. My friend had it at his house and I have my opinions. Now we are looking for yours. Feel free to ask any questions we will provide any and all information to figure this one out.

now thats mint. Would 1935 be the date and that would be a lollipop sign too, wouldnt it? It almost looks to good to be true

The "date code" font looks pretty modern in my opinion and isn't anywhere close to a 1935 period font. I don't know anything about Esso items but I would "stand clear" lol.
Darin

so what your saying it looks like repo, like i said looks too nice

Yes, if I seen it for sale I wouldn't buy it as an original item, but again I'm a Mobil guy and I do not research other brands like I do Mobil. Proportions look off to me as well, it wouldn't fit in a lollipop holder, and has no mounting holes that I can see.

for being 75 yrs old its well preserved..

This sign was on eBay recently something does not look right to me.

your right i dont think it would fit, good call

My experience with the early signs is that the paints from that era did not buff out to a high luster like that. Dead mint nos signs out of crates are flat and dull with pips from solvent pops.

The texture, finish and gloss is far superior then 1930's on this sign. In my opinion it's a not a sign with 77 year old paint.

Here is a 1938 sign that sold at auction in Nashville 2011:

https://www.proxibid.com/asp/LotDetail.asp?ahid=1337&aid=34718&lid=9492388

A newer sign I found on the web, sold 2010:

http://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/7916112

Big difference between the signs... Like wings, lettering ....etc...

the fonts look wrong, compared to the ones that sold in the auctions in the above post.

My concern and it's what I have seen before is notice the "S" in the word PRODUCTS. It reminds me of the one on Kevin Frith's Mobil Aviation pump plate posted about a week ago. The bottom of the curve is not fluid in my opinion. It looks "rigid or block like". I have also seen this while in Florida a month ago while meeting another collector. He had a Ford sign that also was heavy and a bit "aged" but again while 95% of the sign was dead on, he pointed out rigid lines in the piece that just did not look right. Thoughts / comments/ opinions???

Also the C's in "clear" in "products" are two different fonts on the one in question as compared to the ones Bob posted.

Here they are side by side. The 1 in question and the one that sold for 1200.00.

Notice the black border line around the outside is different.

THE 3RD PIC IS ANOTHER AUCTION PIC. Sold for 450.00.