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Rawson & Evans store sign

Hand Lettering topics: Sign Making, Design, Fabrication, Letterheads, Sign Books.

Moderators: Ron Percell, Mike Jackson, Danny Baronian

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Matt Mccrackin
Posts: 1
Joined: Tue Aug 26, 2014 6:36 pm

Rawson & Evans store sign

Post by Matt Mccrackin »

I have an old Rawson & Evans store sign. I have a few questions:
1) What is the best way to get a sign apraised?
2)How rare are they?
3) I just joined- how do i show the pics of them on this forum so eveyone can enjoy?
Danny Baronian
Site Admin
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Re: Rawson & Evans store sign

Post by Danny Baronian »

Matt,

to add photos, log in, go to your post and select edit.

Under the subject box select 'choose file'; browse on your computer to the photo to add, followed by 'add the file'.

Once the file has been added, select 'preview' to insure it was added.If alls ok, hit submit.

It's best to keep the image size no larger than 800 x 800 pixels.

Here a link on this forum detailing adding photos on the site:

https://handletteringforum.com/forum ... f=2&t=2368
Danny Baronian
Baronian Mfg.
CNC Routing & Fabrication
http://www.baronian.com
Robare M. Novou
Posts: 424
Joined: Thu May 06, 2004 11:18 am
Location: Milwaukee
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Re: Rawson & Evans store sign

Post by Robare M. Novou »

Matt emailed me some photos of his sign.
He states the frame around the sign measures in at 73.75" long x 9.75" tall x 1.5" thick.
The photos appear to be taken with a camera phone.

Matt, If you are reading this, take a few photos of the sign with a good camera.
You can email them to me and I will post them here for you.

RMN
Attachments
$BigMoney$ign3.jpg
$BigMoney$ign3.jpg (204.81 KiB) Viewed 10015 times
$BigMoney$ign2.jpg
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$BigMoney$ign.jpg
$BigMoney$ign.jpg (211.22 KiB) Viewed 10006 times
Last edited by Robare M. Novou on Sun Aug 31, 2014 2:57 am, edited 2 times in total.
What's On Your Book Shelf ?

http://www.milwaukeesignworks.com
Robare M. Novou
Posts: 424
Joined: Thu May 06, 2004 11:18 am
Location: Milwaukee
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Re: Rawson & Evans store sign

Post by Robare M. Novou »

Here is what I told Matt about his sign:

Matt,
Poor Pics, But Great Sign.
Yes indeed a Rawson and Evans Gilded Sign.
Judging from the photos, this sign dates to at least 1915.
I can't see any lap lines from the gold, so that and its dark toned gold coloring would indicate it is solution gilded.
Rawson and Evans started in Chicago in 1890. They did not start solution gilding until 1915.
The style of the lettering and it's punctuation would place it around 1915 to 1925.
There are some condition issues, but they look to be minor.
So, on a bad day at the auction...$200.
On a good day at the auction...$1200.
I would hold my ground on this at $500 or more...say $750.
Pricing is not only influenced by condition and rarity, but also by the economy.
15 years ago you could of gotten more for it.
Now...a lot lower.
Not sure what you intend to do with it, if you do keep it, the market will bounce back.
Check out some of the antique advertising auctions and see what something like this will go or has gone for.
And of course, I always accept donations. ;)

RMN
What's On Your Book Shelf ?

http://www.milwaukeesignworks.com
Robare M. Novou
Posts: 424
Joined: Thu May 06, 2004 11:18 am
Location: Milwaukee
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Re: Rawson & Evans store sign

Post by Robare M. Novou »

A little looking and this is what I came up with from the pages of the Hardware Dealers' Magazine of 1920...
Attachments
A.C. Bio.jpg
A.C. Bio.jpg (111.85 KiB) Viewed 10012 times
Last edited by Robare M. Novou on Sun Aug 31, 2014 3:15 am, edited 1 time in total.
What's On Your Book Shelf ?

http://www.milwaukeesignworks.com
Robare M. Novou
Posts: 424
Joined: Thu May 06, 2004 11:18 am
Location: Milwaukee
Contact:

Re: Rawson & Evans store sign

Post by Robare M. Novou »

Also from the Hardware Dealers' Magazine of 1920...
Attachments
A.C. Photo.jpg
A.C. Photo.jpg (60.96 KiB) Viewed 10012 times
What's On Your Book Shelf ?

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Robare M. Novou
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Joined: Thu May 06, 2004 11:18 am
Location: Milwaukee
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Re: Rawson & Evans store sign

Post by Robare M. Novou »

Here is a Google Map View of the Building at 308-312 North Bridge Street in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, that the sign was once affixed to.
Attachments
A.C.Mason Hardware Store 2.jpg
A.C.Mason Hardware Store 2.jpg (192.09 KiB) Viewed 10002 times
What's On Your Book Shelf ?

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Robare M. Novou
Posts: 424
Joined: Thu May 06, 2004 11:18 am
Location: Milwaukee
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Re: Rawson & Evans store sign

Post by Robare M. Novou »

Here is an image of the Mason family hardware store where A.C. Mason got his start.

RMN
Attachments
Masons Hardware.jpg
Masons Hardware.jpg (271.26 KiB) Viewed 9970 times
What's On Your Book Shelf ?

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Larry White
Posts: 1213
Joined: Thu Apr 08, 2004 4:18 am

Re: Rawson & Evans store sign

Post by Larry White »

Nice piece! Are you looking to sell it?

Thanks for all that additional information, Robare
....perhaps you should be a private investigator!

I like the old reverse glass piece over the current
digi print signage for the fitness center....
well, that's me...that's me....
Larry White
That's enough for now... it's gettin' late
Town Of Machine
http://www.walljewelry.com
Tyler Tim
Posts: 209
Joined: Fri Feb 03, 2012 12:12 am

Re: Rawson & Evans store sign

Post by Tyler Tim »

Larry White wrote:Nice piece! Are you looking to sell it?

Thanks for all that additional information, Robare
....perhaps you should be a private investigator!

I like the old reverse glass piece over the current
digi print signage for the fitness center....
well, that's me...that's me....
Why those Digi-Print signs will last 10 to 15 months and at the E.O.L. will be just a legible as they are now. The old hand made sign and the new hand made signs have soul.
Sure I paint thing for my amusement and then offer them for sale. A brushslinger could whither en die from lack of creativity in this plastic town my horse threw a shoe in. :shock:
BruceJackson
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Location: Melbourne, Australia
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Re: Rawson & Evans store sign

Post by BruceJackson »

I'm surprised by that price estimate...I would have thought at least double those figures, and maybe triple.
I would have thought a couple of thousand would be considered a good find for the buyer.

It's always hard to appraise values on old signs. Sometimes they seem to go incredibly cheaply, other times, shockingly high. I guess it just depends on who sees it and how bad they want it and how deep their pockets are.
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