There was a time people couldn’t give porcelain signs away. Neon was a little easier, because it lit up, and people love that. But porcelain signs? Nah. Demand for them really didn’t start growing until about 20 years ago, and even then, interest was light. I remember going to swap meets and cutting deals with sellers at the last minute so they’d sell the sign and not have to drag it to the next meet. We’re talking an Esso Casper, Mohawk Gasoline, and even a Red Hat Motor Oils sign. None of them were over $400. Today? It’s a whole different story, and the prices are showing no mercy. While I’ve been an advocate for investing in paper and plastic promotional items, I still adhere to the idea of buying original porcelain, even if it’s just one piece every couple of years or so. Glass items are usually something to consider too, along with early cans, but let’s not lose focus.
Mathews Auctions will be hosting a multi-day sale beginning on February 5 and shows a stunning array of porcelain signs among other very cool, investment worthy pieces. If you’re able to actually go to the live event, there’s a BBQ scheduled for the night before. See some of the lots below, register to bid, and have some fun investing wisely. Register to Bid HERE.
Featured Lots
Lot 1105 - Bruinoil Bruin Gasoline
Exceedingly rare, this Double-Sided Die-Cut Metal Flange sign shows excellent color and shine on both sides with a beautifully detailed bear graphic. The oval sign is colored in the company’s signature yellow and red and presents beautifully overall. Bruin Pennsylvania Petroleum Products was the brand under which both the Butler County Oil Refining Company and Butler Oil Sales Company marketed products during the 1920s. A huge boost to the Pennsylvania economy, the Great Depression of 1929 caused the company to go bankrupt. This is a stunning piece of history.
Lot 1189 - Lion Gasoline Motor Oil
Marked “Burdick,” this Double-Sided Porcelain sign shows excellent color and gloss with minor wear and chipping. Very rare, the Lion Oil Company was established in 1922 and has passed through a number of owners, but remains in business today as a petroleum suppler under the Delek US Holdings, Inc portfolio in Brentwood, Tennessee. At one time, Lion Oil was a dominant supplier in Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Arkansas, owning three other petroleum companies and over 400 service stations.
Lot 1033 - Covey Gasoline Gill Globe
The original red, ripple-finished Gill body with a copper-screw base continues to house this single Covey Gasoline globe lens. The lens is said to be excellent but the body has a little paint loss at the top and base.
Lot 2078 - Montana Gasoline
The Montana version is the rarest of the ‘Chief’ signs, and this one is listed as being a “Superb” example. Showing excellent color and gloss, only a few chips detract from the overall beauty of the sign. Some chips have been touched up, others haven’t but the sign looks to be gorgeous.
Lot 2060 - Big Chief Gas Globe
Mounted in a new metal globe body, this single Big Chief lens presents beautifully and is an exceedingly difficult piece to find. With a paint chip seeming to be the only flaw, this globe is very difficult to match.
Lot 2030 - Sinclair Opaline Motor Oil Can
A unique flat design metal can, its interesting size is deceitful, as it provides a one-gallon capacity. Empty, it has light wear and soiling, but overall presents gorgeously. The litho art is dramatic, with an early racecar complete with white tires.
Lot 2058 - Ford Service Milk Glass Canopy Globe
A one-piece etched (OPE) milk glass canopy globe, the body has small chips around the base, but no cracks. Repainted, it presents stunningly well and would look fabulous and dramatic anywhere it was hung. The “Universal Car” slogan followed the Ford Model T, well known as the first “World Car,”
produced and sold around the globe. Interestingly, Ford recently modified the logo’s design and switched the word “car” to “vehicle” to help promote a new generation of EV, once again asserting that it’s building vehicles for a global market in factories around the world.
