The Hensley Co.

BruceJackson · Post by **BruceJackson** » Thu Jan 06, 2011 5:14 am

a few dollars? OMG...that is just sad.

I've been doing a few mirrors in collaboration with a well-known artist. He paints his design on the glass and I do an aged mirror effect in white gold leaf. The large ones (1200mm x 900mm) go for around $10,000.

The prices of things just don't follow any logic or reason.

Anthony Bennett · Post by **Anthony Bennett** » Thu Jan 06, 2011 2:00 pm

Any chance of some pictures in a new thread please Bruce?

CHRIS MAHURON · Post by **CHRIS MAHURON** » Sat Jan 08, 2011 9:14 pm

I would like to thank Roderick for his advice on shipping this clock, and Dean Hensley for his talent in creating it. I'm so pleased that it got here in one piece. From Missouri to Palm Springs Ca. is a n shoot at best!

Anthony Bennett · Post by **Anthony Bennett** » Sun Jan 09, 2011 6:52 am

That is one cool piece chris.

Noah Moore · Post by **Noah Moore** » Mon Jan 10, 2011 12:52 am

i tried to get that but had no luck. i didnt realize it was so big. im jealous.

CHRIS MAHURON · Post by **CHRIS MAHURON** » Thu Jan 13, 2011 11:10 pm

Thought I would share another clock from The Hensley Co. collection. This picture doesn't do it justice.

Anthony Bennett · Post by **Anthony Bennett** » Fri Jan 14, 2011 5:05 am

Brilliant, got any more to share please Chris?

What do you do with them, are you just a collector or are they used for inspiration?

CHRIS MAHURON · Post by **CHRIS MAHURON** » Sat Jan 15, 2011 1:30 pm

I have over 60 different Signs and Clocks from The Hensley Co. in my collection. I've been collecting them since the 70's. Dean was a great guy, and a good friend. I think of him every day when I walk through my home.............he lives on through his Art!

CHRIS MAHURON · Post by **CHRIS MAHURON** » Mon Jan 17, 2011 11:04 pm

Picked this up on E-bay for 25 bucks this morning. There is a "Yellow Version"of this still listed.

Ron Berlier · Post by **Ron Berlier** » Mon Jan 17, 2011 11:19 pm

Hey Doug, which glass piece of Noel's are you referring to?

Noah Moore · Post by **Noah Moore** » Thu Jan 20, 2011 10:02 pm

Larry White wrote:This is one of several the Hensley Co. made for the Casablanca Fan Co. It also was up on ebay and sold fro $25.

welp, i just picked this one up yesterday in great condition at a local thrift store. good news for me and bad news for old sign fellers......5 dollars. couldnt believe it.

CHRIS MAHURON · Post by **CHRIS MAHURON** » Fri Jan 21, 2011 3:54 pm

Another from The Hensley Co. Dated February 1980

Anthony Bennett · Post by **Anthony Bennett** » Sat Jan 22, 2011 9:34 am

Now that is really nice.

I wonder what has taken the place of smokingproducts in the advertisng world?

CHRIS MAHURON · Post by **CHRIS MAHURON** » Tue Feb 01, 2011 10:24 pm

Budweiser Sign by The Hensley Co. Given to me by Dean Hensley for my Bar in 1983. This sign is 53"x23". The photo doesn't do it justice. It still shows as new!

CHRIS MAHURON · Post by **CHRIS MAHURON** » Sun Apr 03, 2011 8:40 pm

Early 80's Hensley Co. Cow Clock I picked up for.99 cents. It looked like someone spilled a Coke on it 20 years ago, but it cleaned up well and ran after this picture was taken............

tyler johnson · Post by **tyler johnson** » Thu Apr 14, 2011 9:36 pm

really enjoying the pics of dean's work. he was my mom's cousin and it's nice to see his work getting appreciated by collectors.

CHRIS MAHURON · Post by **CHRIS MAHURON** » Fri Apr 15, 2011 10:34 pm

The Hensley Co. made a couple of different Coors Beer Sign designs. This one is 30" from point to point................

Anthony Bennett · Post by **Anthony Bennett** » Sat Apr 16, 2011 4:46 am

Lovely piece Chris.
Iam suprised they seem to sell so cheaply as I would have thought they cost more to make than the auction prices they appear to be selling for.

I also wonder why so many are "offset" into a diamind shape was it something to do with available hanging space or for some atistic reason?

Thanks for sharing.

Billie DeBekker · Post by **Billie DeBekker** » Sat Apr 16, 2011 12:50 pm

Thanks For Sharing all those.. Great Inspiration.

Does anyone Know how those Star Patterns were made.. Is that a textured Leaf/foil or was the glass textured with acid..

Patrick Mackle · Post by **Patrick Mackle** » Sat Apr 16, 2011 3:20 pm

William,
Dean was a brilliant guy as I knew him. As his concept of recreating in his own style these grand old glass advertising signs of yesteryear, he
went to some fair depths. He designed the eye pleasing shapes of his frames, to the point of having custom carbide steel wood shaping blades custom made. He would drop the blades of to the wood shaping company, and retrieve them back at the end of the run so as not to be copied, and even at that he told me that he believed some stock went "out the back door". As other companies began to trace his materials in a bid to move in on his growing success with cheaper imitations, he opted to make moves to distance himself. The "stars" and other prismatic patterns you see in the pieces are stamped metal foiled papers appearing though clear glass sections. It was many years ago, but I remember Dean and myself talking about
the "competition" and the imitators and Dean mentioning about having his own private metal foil patterns made up that nobody else would have access to. I can not honestly say whether he ever actually had them made, and surely I wouldn't be able to point out which one's might be his own.
Pat

Jeff Lang · Post by **Jeff Lang** » Sat Apr 16, 2011 7:15 pm

Pat,
Great story at the begining of this post, I really enjoyed the history & you sharing your thoughts.
I had to take a close look at the one Hensley Co. sign I have after reading this & found it very interesting. The transparent red glaze on the border of the Budweiser sign allowed the stamped foil sheet placed behind the glass to show through, under good lighting.
Cool but simple technique, & very effective.
Jeff

CHRIS MAHURON · Post by **CHRIS MAHURON** » Sun Apr 24, 2011 12:52 pm

There are several frame variations as well as variations in the signs and or mirrors themselves. The first signs from The Hensley Co. were unframed and simply hung from a chain....I will ad some pictures when I can........................

doc mott · Post by **doc mott** » Tue Jul 05, 2011 4:32 pm

Hi, just came across this by accident. I went to school with Dean and work with him when he first started the company. I hand screened most of the first signs.
Here's my address if you have any questions.
aloha, doc mott
docmotts@gmail.com

Jim Moser · Post by **Jim Moser** » Fri Jul 15, 2011 4:41 pm

This past weekend Dean's brother Tom was here in Grass Valley at our Airshow with some of Dean's old Indian motorcycles, including the Burt Munro "World's Fastest Indian" which has been completely restored to show condition..... it was in somewhat shoddy original condition when I saw it at Dean's house years ago.
I didn't get the chance to talk to Tom much, but was happy to learn that Dean's collection of original reverse glass signs is still in the family.

James Warwick · Post by **James Warwick** » Tue Jul 26, 2011 1:00 pm

http://cgi.ebay.com/VINTAGE-CASABLANCA- ... 23128015bf

Anthony Bennett · Post by **Anthony Bennett** » Tue Jul 26, 2011 3:55 pm

$43 !!!!
surely the oak frame is worth that given its age?

Leo Calleros · Post by **Leo Calleros** » Tue Jul 26, 2011 5:37 pm

Thats funny, I was the first bidder on that Hansley. Forgot it ended when it did. Next time.

CHRIS MAHURON · Post by **CHRIS MAHURON** » Fri Aug 12, 2011 11:18 am

been on a roadtrip for awhile........picked this up on e-bay this morning for $5 and $20 to ship.....I can't believe it- this is a beautiful sign....

....all of you very talented people, keep up the great work................will ad more pictures when I can find my camera......lol

Clark Hahne · Post by **Clark Hahne** » Wed Oct 19, 2011 5:30 pm

Hello,

I have a Hensley Arrowhead Water sign for sale. It's identical to the one at the beginning of this thread.I found this site while researching what it was. If anyone is interested please email chahne@mac.com or call 909-771-9438.

Thanks for the education!
Clark

Robare M. Novou · Post by **Robare M. Novou** » Thu Oct 20, 2011 12:46 am

A few months back I noticed this reverse glass saloon sign in my collection.

Thanks to my advanced age and a failing memory...I do not remember where or when I got this.

The frame was coming apart, and there were no framing points holding the cardboard backing to the frame.

Well I re-glued the frame back together and re-secured the cardboard to the backside.

And look what was printed on the cardboard. I hadn't noticed it until I flipped the cardboard over.

Not sure of the manufacturing date of this sign, but maybe someone on this forum has the answer.

And who's Bowman?

RMN

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