Primarily Petroliana Shop Talk Forums Shop Talk Petroliana Forums General Petroliana Discussion Sign restoration

does restoring a sign really increase the value that much. i have a sign i want to restore by van kannel the price quote was very resonable. i'm sure i all a matter of opinion and rareity of the sign. they do such nice work...

...my understanding is: the restored sign is worth the cost of the restoration + the value of the unrestored sign...

It is worth whatever you can get for it. There is no formula for pricing. Obviously, you don't want to put (more) money into restoring a sign that is not popular or worth a lot, but a desirable sign might net you the kind of profit that would certainly make it worthwhile. In this case, I think the Billups sign is priced fairly reasonably considering the rarity and cost of an unrestored one (and I have no clue as to what the purchase price or the restoration cost was). Once it has been restored well, who cares or what difference does it make to the selling price if it was a #3 or a #7 sign when the restoration began.

What it all goes back to is this: pricing is subjective and always will be. One formula might work this week for this sign and be totally irrelevant for the next one.

...if we're talking about porcelain signs, then I have to disagree...

...if a given damaged sign (NOT Ray's Billups sign) is worth (for example) $300, and the restoration costs (for example) $200, then you have a sign worth $500...if you were to strip the paint job off, you are left with the same $300 sign, which you could again get restored for $200...

...restoring a sign doesn't 'heal' the sign...the damage that hurt the value is there forever, and cannot be 'fixed'...and any 'profit' you make, you make when you buy the damaged sign - or, if you are the restorer, you make a profit from your labor...

...I personally wouldn't buy a restored sign without 'before' pics...kudos to Ray for providing that...

I do not think there is a rule for value for every restored sign. If a damaged sign is worth $200 and it cost $300 to restore, that does not automatically make it worth $500. To make my point, assume the same sign in original 9.5 condition is worth $400. A restored one would not be worth $100 more.

Well, we'll just have to gentlemanly agree to disagree here. It's (the numbers involved) none of anybody's business, but I'd bet you that the sign that began this thread would prove my point (this time :)).

Who restores porcelain signs I got one that needs help.

Sign restoration does not sit well with me as a collector.. The only reason why someone would restore a sign is to turn a profit. Signs in my opinion should stay in there original state. The fun part of this hobby for myself and many collectors is finding original items in great original unmolested condition.

This is defiantly a topic with varying opinions.. Man of us here have "restored" cars or "restored" pumps.... So what's the big deal with a "restored" sign? I defiantly don't agree that they are only done for profit... I don't currently own any restored signs nor do I think I would ever buy one.. I did just purchase a sing that is in marginal condition, it's a sign that I will likely never be able to afford in top notch condition. I am considering having it touched up.. It's not for profit, it's because it's a great sign and I want to save it.. Just like all the cars and pumps that have been "saved" over the years.. I try to buy the best condition I can find and afford but there are some signs that are worthy of being saved.. My 2 cents...

Dawn Hubert is a good one and in your state.
Her husbands web site is CheesePitStop.

Great thanks.

Actually, the last thing I'd do to a sign for sale would be to alter it in any way. That is not to say that I would never sell a sign that had been restored, just that I feel I could make a better profit margin by having less, not more, invested in a sign. And, yes, I do frequently sell for profit (and loss). I also would have no qualms buying a well restored sign if that were the most equitable way to acquire a wanted sign.

Case to argue against the point of intent: I have always wanted a decent United Motors sign but have no intent to pay big bucks for one. I found one with minor, but what I deem critical (to me)issues. So, it is now at the Van Kennals being restored (one side only). Not for profit as I have no intention of ever selling the sign, but to be rid of a spot that bothers me and which can be fairly easily restored.

Dad had one sign restored by the Van Kannel brothers. It had a few bullet holes in it. They did a nice job on it but you can tell by looking at it close that it was restored. Dad did not have it done to " turn a profit". It was hanging on the wall in his collection on the day he passed. He had it done to make it look better hanging on the wall. It was not an easy sign to find and he personally knew the brothers that restored it. He had it done only for his own preference in the way it looked after it was done. To each his own..

I wouldn't pay more than what the base sign is worth. A grade 7.5 sign remains a 7.5 sign whether it's restored or not. In my books; it's the grade alone that determines value.

I have only had one sign restored. The Van Kannel brothers did it for me and did a fantastic job. It is a low value, dollar wise sign. I have as much tied up in it as it is worth. It is a local sign to me and I collect local. I really like it and I have hung it next to the worst condition sign I have that has unbelievable character. I paid about the same for both signs when I bought them.

I have other signs that have had some restoration when I bought them, but not many. I prefer good original condition and upgrade when I can.

...EXACTLY...I don't buy restored signs either...my example was based on what someone who buys restored signs should expect to pay...and I don't think most sign restorations are done to save the sign, so much as ease the sign owner's mind about the damage that they can't 'unsee'...

I agree Mark. I had five large Sunbeam Bread signs, I kept the one I thought was the best because of the gloss of the paint. I put it on the wall in a place I would enjoy it everyday. After I hung it the nail hole in the slice of bread at the end of the loaf kept bugging me. That is all I would see every time I walked in the room. Still a great sign, later I found another sign but a different version. I took the one with the nail hole down and put it up in another room that I don't use as much, and put the new one in its place. I eased my mind.