Primarily Petroliana Shop Talk Forums Archives of the best of past topics For Sale Archive, Petroliana Indian Motorcycle Sales & Service Neon Sign

Indian Motorcycle Sales & Service sign, painted metal, single sided. 96X36X12 (36" at widest point). Sign is dirty and has some smudges/paint loss, 100% guaranteed original. The sign was used circa 1946-1954 at the Indian Motorcycle dealership in Arkansas City, Kansas. Pictures of the dealership and additional pictures of the sign available upon request.

I am going to put the sign on Ebay Sunday night. Delivery to Iowa Gas is possible. The sign has been crated. I will entertain REASONABLE and SERIOUS offers.

Jim Patton
patton_jim@yahoo.com

Great sign, however do you have photos of the sign when it was hanging between 1946--1954 at this dealership, or do you just have photos of the dealership ??

I would be very interested in this sign if you can prove its authenticity with an original photo of the sign hanging during this time period & or any other pertinent documentation you may have

Did you just run this sign on ebay a month or so ago ??



[This message has been edited by roadrelics@aol.com (edited 07-17-2007).]

The sign has never been on ebay. The sign is not visible in the pictures, I was told that it was hung inside the building.

I purchased the sign from the attic of the dealership a little over one year ago. I have pictures of the building today and in the late 1940's when it was an Indian dealership. Drywall and ceiling panels had to be removed and replaced to retrieve the sign from the attic. It had literally been "caged" in the attic for over 50 years.

Upon "in person" inspection of this sign, there is absolutely no doubt that it is an authentic piece.


Thanks,
Jim Patton

Thanks for the info Jim.........You were told it hung in the dealership or did you remove the drywall & ceiling panels yourself ?? it sure seems awfully dirty & worn for hanging inside its whole life.......

I would imagine if it was encased that many years the neon is original to the sign also???

I would love to inspect the sign in Des Moines & if there is no doubt its original , i will give you a resonable & serious offer......

now i remember where i have seen it, you emailed David Wasserman photos in W.V. a couple of months ago & they were forwarded to me.....Thanks Darryl (roadrelics)

[This message has been edited by roadrelics@aol.com (edited 07-17-2007).]

Darryl,

The current owner of the building removed the ceiling and put it back in place. I do not know Mr. Wasserman and did not email him pictures. Please call me tommorrow.

jim patton
918 557 4623

Sorry , Jim I should of started this elsewhere.JimmyT

[This message has been edited by JimT (edited 07-18-2007).]

Hi Jim.........whether it was you who sent the photos to David Wasserman or somebody else, he was the one who showed them to me.....It was actually during Columbus gas & oil where Wasserman & i set up & he actually downloaded them on to my lap top computer from his email.....so he got them from somebody..........I am on the road & looking at a large collection today & tommorrow, however will call you later & discuss specifics of the sign, original neon, Etc. etc.......Thanks Darryl

Jim T.........I call D.W. to find out if his Harley sign is different than the other listed........I have seen D.W.'sw in person & its very thick & heavy however i don't know the sign......Can you share any other info with us ??

Harley sign?, I thought we were talking Indian..

Was this the sign auctioned a month or so ago in Missouri ?

My Indian Sign, that is the one for sale in this thread has never been offered at any auction....anywhere. I have no idea about the other sign that is being discussed in this "for sale" thread.

Where some of you may have seen this sign before was right here on Oldgas. A picture was posted in the For Sale section and in the Showcase section on 11/15/06.

wfort is right, If you look at the pic of the sign from showcase on 11-15-06 and look at the pic in this thread they are the same sign. I think 59fairlane posted the pic on 11-15-06.

Jim

Sign is going on ebay tonight. This thread is worthless regarding me trying to sell my sign.

I did post the sign in showcase in November and 59Fairlane posted the pictures on my behalf (which he states in his Nov. post w/ the pictures).

i wouldn't burn your thread here quite yet Jim......There are some issues & the major one is looking at in person... i would like to see up close in person.... the paint, patina, wiring, neon, etc. etc......If i spend that much money i like to feel what i'm getting......as I said, take it out of the 400 lb crate bring it to Iowa & if "I" can validate it, i would buy it & you could keep the crate......... i have talked to a couple of guys & they say the word "MOTOCYCLE" was not used in the 1940's, it was MOTORCYCLE, however i don't know this to be true & could use some input here........if however it's true, 1946-1954 is the wrong time period......

I could see the signage being used for a number of years. From what I came up with, Indian used the verbage "Motocycle" up to the late 1920's. Then went to "Motorcycle". This might be wrong on my part, but looking at the catalogs on www.cycletownusa.com it looks as the change went into affect approx. 1926 or so. A car dealership in town here used their sign for over 50 years until the elements took it down for them.

Roadrelics..
To a die-hard Indian guy it is always MOTOCYCLE,, always was and will be to most Indian owners..set the marque apart then and STILL now..

My gut feeling is it is a made to order sign way back, the person paying picked the spelling.. and there may be more than one made (note made, not in existence)

My gut feeling is you are going to dick with this so long that it will be gone before they BRING IT SOMEWHERE for YOU to see it!

Bottom line, it is what it is, and bare minimum is worth at least what it cost to make it today.. or a lot more..

Ask your self if it is not real why would they base it on a not well known sign??

I didn't have anything to do with it !
Is it the weather or WHAT ? You guys have CABIN FEVER !
DICK

Dodogas........i don't make idiot decisions & surely don't buy expensive signs on "gut feelings" & I'll dick with it as long as i need to.....
thats what i was afraid of "To A die hard Indian guy its "Motocycle"...well guess what, to a dealership & it promtions it was "Motorcycle".....
so thanks for your input however condescending it may be, it made me look at it from another angle

I guess the authority on Indians has spoken, what would I know about it anyway???


I have a funny feeling its going to sell on its own without being brought to you for inspection... but of course.. how would I know..

[This message has been edited by dodogas (edited 07-19-2007).]

Dodogas... let me do the deal my way.......i sure don't need a guy like you to tell me how to do a deal & besides i dont like the tone of your rhetoric ........go give somebody else your advice, i don't want it, or need it.... but thanks anyway........
By the way sounds like your you are insinuating you are a big Indian motocycle aficionado , you buy it....LOL




[This message has been edited by roadrelics@aol.com (edited 07-20-2007).]

Hi Jim- whats the # on ebay-?? cant find it-Thanks don

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Wanted 5 quart cans

Don, I could not list on Ebay last evening. Ebay was having a glitch and would not allow a listing unless paypal was offered as an option for payment. I hope to get it on there tonight.

Jim,
I will probably get my nuts roasted on here for this, but you put it on and I will be bidding to win. You and your dad are two of the most honest people around.

Hey Maurice- I agree! You can't find two better guys than Jim and his father.

I have actually seen the sign in question. It's an old sign, without question. I've also seen the building it hung on and the pictures with the sign attached. This sign is obviously REAL in the sense that it was used and made 50+ years ago, but I also understand the trepedation people have in buying a one-off type painted metal sign. It's like buying a wooden dealership sign. If this thing was porcelain & maker-marked, Jim would be shopping for a new truck with the money he made from selling it. How's about we bring the respect level back up to how it's been since the late 90's on this site, instead of this ridiculous sniping that's been going on for about the last month or so. I can just go to a college football message board (which I do frequently, BOOMER SOONER!) if I want to read bitching & insults.

[This message has been edited by Seth Robbins (edited 07-20-2007).]

Thanks Seth! Finally someone with POSITIVE comments. It's gotten to the point that why would anyone post pictures of an item or bring up a topic,knowing they were going to be attacked. There are enough negatives in this world without bringing them into our hobby. Personal attacks are not necessary.

Well said Seth and Garry
How about a Family Friendly Section like they have at some of the sports stadiums?? thanks don

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Wanted 5 quart cans

if you guys think its bad here go to the forum "On Line Auctions & EBAY", then click "Crisco sign is Back" topic....

...They need some serious counseling there ......

I'm gonna win it......

sounds like maybe... we all know all and know it better, so possibly its time to put a lockdown on this thread

Sounds like a good idea Haggis. I'm locking this topic.