Friday, February 15, 2013

Significance Of Old Gas Station Signs Collections

By Angelita Wall


Old gas station signs are rarely seen these days. However, one who is not acquainted with them will surely recognize them. They stand out from other signage because of their colors, material being used, and designs. Not many give value to these materials but their significance is not just confined to the rareness of these items. It is the American culture heritage that gives significance to their worth.

The reason why they are being collected is not just because of their face value. Indeed, they are very bright and colorful, pretty attractive. However, the other reason for that is the fascination of most people of the past which they are associated with. Serious collectors spend considerable amounts on it specially those which are in mint condition. They have made intensive researches on it before making an investment.

Refueling stations are common sites these days. Almost every corner have them. They have signs made of plastic and lit by electric lights to attract customers. However, the past was not like that. Gasoline was not being sold in depots before, rather they can be acquired in drugstores. They were mainly used for repairs. The advent of gasoline powered vehicles give rise to their demand for fuel along with pumps. Signage then became very popular.

The materials they are made from were different during those days. Porcelain was their major composition before. The craft of fabricating them was not yet widely used in America and products have to be imported from Germany. Iron was formed to provide framework and powdered glass was then added to produce a highly durable signage that is weather resistant and has an attractive finish.

They are either hung on any vertical places such as walls or hung on stands to be viewable from two directions. Pumps have them attached to advertise brands of fuel they contain. Car related products from spark plugs to oils advertise this way also.

Nowadays, it is very rare to find a good sign in mint condition. This is because most of them were melted during World War II to be used. After that period, other materials such as tin were used as replacements. The types of signage rapidly change. Old versions were removed and stored. The industry changed much until they were changed with plastic types which are lit inside.

Collectors covet those old porcelain signs because they are rare. Some of them focus on large brands that are very common during those times while some would focus on brands that are very rare. However, others would not focus on any as long as they are genuine. Whatever a collector focuses in is their rarity that makes them collect it.

Intensive researches are done by them. They have organizations that gather together during special events. Here, they get to sell or trade their collection for whatever items that interest them that their peers may have. They also share information during these gatherings.

Old gas station signs can provide one a great choice for collecting. Not only do they have large monetary potentials, they are also rare items that many collectors of vintage materials would want. Aside from that, these items also preserve a very important part of American history and serve as heritages of it.




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