Vintage Metal Signs

More than a century after their heyday, vintage metal signs are not only still with us, they are such popular collector’s items that they’ve spawned an entire industry of reproduction and duplication.

We’ve all seen them, battered metal signs on the sides of barns, in the interiors of rustic stores and diners, the décor of bars and pubs. Advertising everything from cigarettes to cleaning products, these sturdy appealing signs are found all over the world. The only thing that can destroy them is rust and, today, even the rust has value to collectors.

Why do producers of replica antique metal signs go to great trouble to artificially wear down the edges, scratch the finish, and use chemical processes to produce patches of rust? It’s because collectors want the real thing, the battered tin sign that spent forty years tacked to a bar in the Wild West, the brand name advertising from the earliest brand names. These signs are still with us, even if the brand names have faded into memory.

Metal sign collectors probably all dream of coming across the real thing. Antique metal signs turn up in barn lofts and garden sheds, old warehouses, attics, and junk piles. Cleaned and restored, some of them will sell on the antiques market for thousands of dollars. Failing serendipity or wealth, however, a collector can invest in a very good reproduction for a fraction of the price. A number of companies have perfected the art of copying and artificially aging vintage metal signs.

Imagine a “Pancake Breakfast: Every Weekend!” sign hung on the wall behind the kitchen table. Its edges are worn and a few authentic looking scratches and rust spots mar the surface, but it still brings family to the table with grins and appetites. You might prefer antique metal signs that say “Ball Game Today,” or “Drummer’s Lounge” for other locations in your home or business. Today’s signs depict everything from dog breeds to military signs and humorous quips. Vintage metal signs like this are made by the Mummert Sign Co., Vintage Metal Art and other companies.

Collector’s whose hearts are set on acquiring the real thing should check what’s available on eBay and other trading sites. Like many other items, antique metal signs can often be acquired for amazingly low prices. To view a collection of originals, browse websites that buy, sell, and trade the real thing—these sites will give you an idea of what real vintage metal signs are worth (some advertising signs from the early 1900s sell for $6000US or more), as well as what is available from antique dealers. The internet is also the best place to search for the cheaper modern look-alikes, with many retail web sites carrying a wide variety.

The price of modern vintage metal signs is usually determined by size. A small one, perhaps, a 4 x 20 inch banner will sell for $20 to $30, while a 12 x 12 sign generally costs $30 to $40. Larger antique metal signs and those with special features cost more, with some retailers offering special discounts or reduced shipping for larger orders.

At these prices, almost anyone can have a classic metal sign to add a special note to their home or business décor.