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#665554 Tue Sep 06 2016 06:32 PM
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NvrDun Offline OP
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Recently picked this sign up and hoping to find some more information on it. Sign looks legitimate in every way, measures 26x12 and is marked "Made in USA and I-D. From what I can find the spark plug pictured is an aviation spark plug Champion model # 62S. The part that is throwing me off is the sign material which appears to be aluminum. From trusted sources I'm told this was semi-common during war era 39'-45' when these plugs were in production from Champion. So question is.... Is this thing legit and or more unique because of material? Sign isn't for sale, but hoping to learn more on its history. Any help or info is appreciated.







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Nice sign, have some of those plugs.


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Do you know what year the sign was manufactured?

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NvrDun Offline OP
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Originally Posted By Craig Osbeck
Nice sign, have some of those plugs.

Thanks! Do you happen to know much about the plugs you have? Age, etc?

Originally Posted By bcexpress
Do you know what year the sign was manufactured?

My best guess is late thirties early 40's but have not been able to verify that

Last edited by NvrDun; Wed Sep 07 2016 09:17 AM.
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Any other thoughts on this sign being made of aluminum instead of painted tin? Hoping someone more knowledgeable with this era of sign can shed some light on this?

Last edited by NvrDun; Thu Sep 08 2016 06:17 PM.
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There are a few things which concern me on authenticity and 'war era'

Glaring errors or questionable -

Font is non-typical for war era.
Font break between Cham and pion. Not typical
"Made in USA" overprinted on something else
Aluminum used during war era tended to be verrrry thin.
Sign is a slotted hole versus single size holes.
Aviation plugs were produced for a long long time as planes can be in service for 40+ years. Just talk to a few Alaskan bush pilots.

My opinion - it is more likely any of these are 80's or newer fantasy pieces rather than vintage Champion. If you look at vintage champion signage it is spot on, well designed and executed. It's one of the reasons people collect it, they made damn good looking signs, even the later black/red/white are sparse but well designed.




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Appreciate the input and for the evaluation. A lot of that I had not picked up on and or did not know at all. An example did just sell at Barrett Jackson and matches in almost every way FWIW I'm not sure, wish there were more pics from that auction

http://www.barrett-jackson.com/Events/Ev...age-sign-194571

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The plugs I have are in a Jacob R-755 radial airplane engine from the end of WW 2


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I don't want to be contrary, however more than once we've seen signs run through BJ that were questionable. Get enough drunk rich guys at a car auction and they will pay for anything.

I'll stand with my evaluation.




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Rack sign.

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If you Google "Champion Spark Plug Logo History", many different era Champion spark plug logos will come up. None of them utilizes the same rounded type font for the word "CHAMPION" as the Champion aviation spark plugs sign being discussed here. Just throwing that out, since most large companies are very careful about maintaining logo graphic standards. It's possible that an example of a Champion logo with this kind of rounded letters was not shown online...but again, many different vintage Champion logos were pictured.

I'm not making a judgment about the sign shown in this topic....just passing this little bit of internet research on. John


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