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The Museum has acquired a number of large signs - both donated and purchased - in the last several months, and continued to consolidate its collection at Essex Studios in anticipation of the October 1 opening.  Two additions to the Museum's pre-neon, electric sign collection once promoted the products of Kelly Springfield of tire manufacturing fame. The first is a 4 x 10-ft. internally illuminated, double-faced smalts sign which features threaded glass "jewels," which screw into the sign face to form the white copy and green border. "Patented July 10, 1910" is embossed on the inside of each glass jewel. The second sign Kelly Springfield sign is also an internally illuminated, double-faced smalts sign of the punch-out type manufactured by McSavaney Company of Springfield, OH. The discerning feature of this 30 x 60-in. sign is that it promoted Kelly Springfield Trucks, which were only manufactured between the years from 1910 to 1918.  Thanks to the Modern Committee of the Los Angeles Conservancy, the Museum has acquired an important piece of L.A. history in its acquisition of a Chris n Pitts BBQ sign, which had identified Store Number 8 of this San Fernando Valley favorite for more than 50 years. The acquisition was a coordinated effort of a number of individuals and companies who donated their time and services: Adriene Biondo, Granada Hills, CA, was the lead contact from the ModCom group; Kevin Stotmeister, president and CEO, Federal Heath Sign, LLC, Oceanside, CA took the lead in arranging for the takedown and shipment to Cincinnati. Bob DuSold, a 45-year employee of Federal Heath, and shipping supervisor, coordinated the takedown, and enlisted Lee Swain, Swain Signs, Ontario, CA, to actually take down and crate the sign. Thanks to all for this group effort.  The Museum added to its sign menagerie collection with the acquisition of an 8 x 12-ft. double-faced porcelain bear. The sign was donated by Cal Lutz, president, DaNite Sign Company, Inc., Columbus, OH, and had once identified one store of the regional Big Bear grocery chain. A bit of research showed a similar sign in a November, 1958 Signs of the Times ad for Amplex five and six-foot letters: The original sign had a large cabinet with "BIG BEAR" spelled out in channel letters, atop which sat the porcelain bear. The sign was originally constructed by the former Haire Sign Corp., Columbus, OH. Jim Seelen, Shawnee, KS, donated a 1950s motel sign, which had a little bit of everything including chasing lightbulbs, neon, porcelain faces which were cut-out and backed with plastic sun and clouds.  The sign for the SkyVu Motel had originally been located on Highway 40 in Kansas City, MO and had been saved from the scrap heap by Seelen who hauled it home in the back of his somewhat reluctant and struggling pick-up truck. Seelen has been chronicling neon signs across the country for some time and has thousands of photographs of same. The sign was picked up by United Sign, Kansas City, MO, and brought back to their shop to await transportation to the Museum's Cincinnati home. It arrived with another acquisition - a 1956 Speedy McDonald sign that had been being held for the Museum in Wichita, KS for more than two years. The most recent addition to the Museum's collection was in transit in late July, but is expected to arrive by the first of August, thanks to Harry Grass, director-sales and marketing of Gordon Sign, Denver, CO, which donated the sign.  The 1950s era neon and sheetmetal sign had identified the Dutch Boy Donuts store for nearly a half century. A second, slightly smaller sign of the same design is being donated to the Colorado Historical Society through the efforts of the Museum. |