Bruce Jackson's photo archive - 4 - insurance window

[BruceJackson]

Next up is this advertisement for an insurance company and one of my favorite signs that I regularly drive past.

Located at 153 Brunswick Street, Nth Fitzroy, (opposite Edinburgh Gardens), an inner suburb of Melbourne, the sign for Scottish Union & National Insurance Co. is a great example of early 20th century window sign.

Although the owners attributed it to 1930's, that is a conservative estimate. I think it looks substantially older. Some of the design elements look like it could be anything up to perhaps 20 or 30 years older.

The signwriter has used aluminium paste, which may indicate an earliest possible date. When did that material first appear? They have also stippled the entire background so that the appearance from the back looks good.

The current owners have a dilema, because although they love it, it distracts from their business and they are considering removing it.

[Anthony Bennett]

Nice , thanks.

[erik winkler]

If they really think of removing it... maybe you could suggest designing a vinyl application attached on the front of the window?
Everything is better then removing something like this.

Erik

[DAVE SMITH]

Great post Bruce.
I like the colour combination ,looks very nice.
Dave

[Kent Smith]

My guess would be much earlier because of the use of the &C as well as the style of the copy at the bottom. What is the guess for the original color of the letter centers on FIRE? Neat period piece and indiciative of a particular style.

We had one similar to this a few years ago. We varnished the back to stop the peeling and had a glass company remove and hang it high on the back wall of the shop for their nostalgia. That way they still had the history but it did not detract from the current business.

[Jeff Lang]

Bruce,
I've been enjoying the photo installments. Great inspirations!
Thanks for sharing,
Jeff

[Ingrid Mager]

There should be museum for these sorts of pieces. (Is there one somewhere in the US?)
That would also allow for them to have the piece safely removed and donated/sold to such a museum.
~Inga