Rawson & Evans store sign

[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]

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

[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

[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

[Robare M. Novou]

A little looking and this is what I came up with from the pages of the Hardware Dealers' Magazine of 1920...

[Robare M. Novou]

Also from the Hardware Dealers' Magazine of 1920...

[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.

[Robare M. Novou]

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

RMN

[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....

[Tyler Tim]

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.

[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.