The Ghirardelli Chocolate Company produced a very unique self-framed tin sign pictured here around 1900, which incorporated an old fashioned tea or in this case, a cocoa and chocolate party! This sign has proven to be a collector favorite and whenever it is at auction, if the condition is good, the value is also good. …
In 1883 A. J. Roach started a business producing butter known as the Fountain Creamery, which quickly became a cooperative for local farmers who brought their cattle into the small town of Waterloo, to sell their cattle’s output. Shortly after the business started three different Seeber family members joined the business as a principal owners…
The use of the word “gypsy” typically brings to mind negativity, deceit, or danger in most people’s mind. However, one company used the word Gypsy to entice people to buy their product, and by doing so, were apparently very successful in establishing their ladies and men hosiery as one of leading selling brands in the…
One of my favorite advertising items is this beautiful oak wood clock from the August Graf Distilling Company. This clock was found in a tavern in a small town of Albers, Illinois and had been there for over one hundred years. It was a giveaway intended for this distiller’s larger retailers at that time and was…
One of the more unusual and eye-catching figural advertising items you will run across were the brainchild of George Meredith, a laborer working at the KT&K pottery in East Liverpool, OH. The KT&K Pottery, better known as the Knowles, Taylor and Knowles Pottery produced unique whiteware pottery at a time when most potters were making…
A recent “big” find for me is this transom window sign from the Louis Obert Brewing Company which was based in St. Louis, MO before Prohibition. Transom signs were commonly displayed over the entrance of many 1900 era saloons. Taverns built in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s often had an entrance with a small…
The Peter Doelger Brewery in New York City was started in 1859 by Peter Doelger, a coppersmith immigrant from Germany. Mr. Doelger came right at the perfect time to make his mark in brewing, when the Croton Reservoir System was completed in NYC, providing fresh water for brewers to craft their products. The breweries beer must…
One of my favorite self-framed tin signs come from the Buffalo Brewing Company, which was based in Sacramento, CA. The Buffalo Brewing Company was once the largest selling brewery west of the Mississippi River, and dominated sales throughout California, the Pacific NW, Hawaii, Alaska, Central and South America, and even Russia and China. In fact,…
One of my favorite advertising items are the beautifully decorated metal charger signs, which were commonly used by companies from the 1890-1920 time period. One of the biggest users of these chargers were breweries, however, collectors can find whiskey products, cigars, and other categories advertising on them at that time. The Daniel Aberle and Sons…
One of the most desirable vintage advertising items sought by collectors today is a self-framed tin sign from the Post Grape Nuts Cereal brand featuring a young girl being walked off to school with her loyal St. Bernard. C. W. Post Cereal Company used this classic scene on several different advertising pieces, but the one…