Primarily Petroliana Shop Talk Forums Shop Talk Petroliana Forums Showcase and Stories, Petroliana You Tube video of Michael DINGMAN`s collection.

A friend of mine e-mailed this link to me. Thought I would share it. Personally, I had never heard of Michael DINGMAN before so I really enjoyed watching this YouTube video.

Wow, What a collection!!! If you like neon signs as much as I do; then you`ll enjoy this video as much as I did.

Michael Dingman talks about his remarkable collection, which will be offered at auction June 9-10, 2012 in Hampton, New Hampshire.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6IYISQ6DVwk&feature=related

I also posted this in the Auction forum. Wasn`t sure if everyone would see it there. IMO to good to not see so I`m posting it here as well.

WOW! Thanks for posting Dave. I already have a few prime pieces picked out that I want! Time to start saving. I have a feeling the prices are going to be through the roof. Similar to the Milhous Museum Collection... OUCH!

thanks for posting- cool video, but on the wrong side of the country..

Hope you get the pieces you want. I'm still a few years away from shopping at auctions like that.

Thanks for posting! As a newbie collector, I love seeing collections.

I'm pretty sure RM sold a large portion of his collection a few years ago? Lots of killer cars and signs... BIG money!!!

yes rumour has it he got taken on MANY neon signs back then from a big sign dealer in Ohio who sold him 100's of thousand dollars worth of newly plugged fantasy signs as originals. When Dingman found out he furious and sold them all and started over.

Sunglasses required!

I wonder what his elec service into that building is LOL! Bet his elec bill is WOW and he don't even think about it. Probably has a power plant in his backyard.

He must not have learned from his mistakes

Great collection, I saw a few I would like to have.

A question about the "newly plugged fantasy signs ". What should an original sign that was drilled and has neon installed be called? It is still an original sign but it is modified.

How about original non-neon sign.

What I liked was Michael DINGMANS passion and knowledge of what and why he collected what he did. He came across as being very humble and dignified.

...how about 'ruined'?

What do you mean? "He must not have learned from his mistakes." Do you see alot of fantasy signs in the video?

I see quite a few fantasy signs in the video and I only watched half!!

I agree with GMstuff and Porcelain-Neon - I see several signs that don't look quite right.... but in collections of this size, that is not uncommon today.

Fantasy? to me that means totally make believe - a figment of someone's imagination. A design or mark that never existed (i.e. - The Disney Mojave Oil Globes). Some signs in this collection may be such?, but I would say most are not. Likely many good original signs with neon added, and of course also many great original porcelain neon signs.

I would have to disagree with gulfiend - IMO an original sign that's neoned is not ruined. In most cases it's worth more neoned than not. Also, it makes a killer sign out of an average one in many instances. BUT, a person has to be educated enough to know what they are buying, and pay accordingly. A punched/drilled/ruined (whatever you choose to call it) sign is never worth as much as a true ORIGINAL porcelain neon sign of the same design.

No matter how you slice it- it's an amazing and beautiful collection. I agree with Dave that Mr. Dingman's knowledge of and appreciation for the signs and cars and the artists and craftsmen who created both is most admirable.

Just my 3 cents, thanks!

...drilling multiple holes in the face of an original sign in order to add neon (and mark it up considerably) only adds value to the sign in Bizarro world...'me drill holes in original sign to make it more valuable'...

...how could deliberately degrading the condition of an original sign make the sign worth more??

...original neon signs are expensive and hard to come by, so neon guys figured out long ago that they could take much less expensive signs, add a can and new neon, and sell them to those who don't know (or don't care) for big bucks...'oh, yeah - that's an old, original sign - only the can and neon are new'...where have we heard that before?

I agree with Neon & Signs that an original sign with neon added to it will fetch more money then that very same sign without neon added.

It's just a fact of this great hobby. I'm not saying that it's right or that I would go out and do it. I could never ruin a nice original sign simply for money or net profit. I collect petroliana because I appreciate originality and want to preserve the past.....not alter it.

Whose right or wrong, who I agree with or don't, doesn't really matter in the big scheme of things. What counts is that this hobby is growing in terms of interest and demand. Our collections are worth more than what we have invested in them and they are continuing to appreciate in value. You can't say that about very many commodities in this current economy. EVERYBODY has contributed or played a role in this expansion of our hobby. Whether we agree with them or not.

I for one, collect what I like, pay what I'm comfortable paying (I never care or worry about value), and appreciate everyone's right to do the same. Be it fantasy signs, repro's or pink elephants, who cares? I'm having fun and if they're having fun, then it's a win, win situation for everyone.

very well said Dave - it's all about a good time! Cool old stuff and many great people along the way. An old friend once told me, there's an a$$ for every seat. Some like old, some like new. Others don't care if it's old or new as long as it makes the garage, shop, game room, office look cool. Budgets play a big factor too. Bottom line, enjoy it however you like!

I agree with the two above posts all the way, however, I do believe it is incomebant on all of us as collectors, dealers, or decorators to be forthcoming and honest when selling a punched sign to make sure we tell the buying party what has actually been done to the sign. Honest selling techniques may not always net the dealer the most profit, but it preserves his character and does NOT leave a bad taste in the guys mouth that bought the sign. Dealers want to make a profit, buyers usually want a good deal. There is space to meet in the middle. Just my 2 cents too. :-)

...that sounds more like someone who creates/sells the 'ruined' neon signs, than one who's buying them...and I'm quite sure I've heard the unmarked repro guys make the exact SAME argument...

"It is difficult to get a man to understand something, when his salary depends upon his not understanding it!" - Upton Sinclair

Great quote. I agree with you word for word. Your posts ring loud and clear with me. Great minds think alike.

Unmarked repo's, drilled signs, a car that's been in a wreck, a house with a poor foundation - it all boils down to being an educated buyer - AND, of course, dealing with an honest, reputable seller you trust. Do your homework, ask questions, closely inspect the product - these are all basics of ANY smart purchase!

That said, those who misrepresent a drilled sign as an authentic original porcelain neon sign are DEAD WRONG in my book, we can at least agree on that I believe Gulfiend?

What I don't understand is why you and many others on this site don't realize (or accept) that not every collector of petroliana is a complete stickler for 100% originality like yourself??

I like and buy original neon signs - but know many people who buy neons don't care if they are original. They want the look - and not the 5 figure price tag to go with it. Or perhaps their favorite sign that was never made in a neon version. They may buy a repop, or a lower priced original sign that has been neoned. Who am I to judge that this should be unacceptable for them, and that they have purchased a "ruined" sign? Don't understand your logic there, guess we'll just agree to disagree.

I'm not trying to sell you anything, other than perhaps the concept of a more open mind to other's collecting tastes/styles - but everyone has their own opinions.

It's all about the $$$$ to some, to others it is about being a TRUE collector and collecting REAL items.

To ruin a piece of service station history by adding neon is not good for the hobby...it may look nice, bring more money...but at the end of the day a sign that was in its orginal state has been ruined by having holes drilled into it. Keeping stuff original is the historical part of this hobby. Think of how great it is that some of these signs have lated this long and through years in the great condtion they are in....now since someone wants to make money they have altered a piece of history!!!!

...of course...



...and what I don't understand, is how you can fail to realize (or accept) that drilling holes in an original sign has forever altered that sign for the worse...



...while I do think it's foolish and short-sighted to sink a lot of money into an what is essentially an illegitimate sign, NOWHERE in my posts do I assert that these people have no right to do what they want with their money, or try to limit what they do with it...my issue is with the guys ruining the signs...by calling attention to them (and the guys who make unmarked repros), maybe the demand for such signs will diminish to the point where original signs are no longer ruined for an easy payday...