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, their largest competitors oversees were the Anheuser-Busch Company and the Wm. J. Lemp Brewing Companies, both based in St. Louis, MO.
This particular sign features the breweries two flagship brands on the bottle labels. Both New Bru Export and Bohemian Pale Export are typically mentioned on just about every Buffalo Brewing Company advertising piece from their early years in business. Self-framed tin signs such as the one featured here are visually very appealing due to the coloring of the gold frame. This particular signs bright red, green, and other multiple colors makes it appealing to both advertising and art collectors alike.
During prohibition The Buffalo Brewing Company remained in business by producing soft drinks and “near” beer. When prohibition ended, they resumed selling beer once again, however, sales diminished and the brewery closed for good in 1949. Today collectors can find beautiful signs, serving trays, chargers, illustrated posters with Indians and Buffalo animals, and many other breweriana pieces to remember this brewery by.