Tuesday, May 12, 2009

Neon Bar Signs

Well, I know this blog hasn't been around long, so this goodbye shouldn't be too heart-breaking. I'm finding less and less time to study and make new posts online, so I'm consolidating a couple of blogs. I also have a sign blog about neon signs called Neon Bar Signs (very creative name, I know). I'm still interested in train signs but I just don't have the time to juggle too many things. I could just delete it, but even only these couple of posts took me some time to research and it might still help some people out.

During my searching for train signs it's ocurring to me quickly that train enthusiasts really know their trains. They know everything from routes to passenger car schedules to locomotives to which lines operated at which times, it's truly amazing! I can probably bring more to the table blogging about neon signs, a little bit broader topic that people probably don't know as much about (and I can still blog about trains). Even at NBS I haven't been posting often, but I'll try to step it up. So far I've posted how neon signs are made, why neon is used, using LED or neon, some history, whether to use new or old, and I've starting getting into sport's teams and certain beer brands. No trains yet, but that will change. I'll see ya there!

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Lionel Train Signs

There are many different Lionel train signs that I've come across. I think they all have great vintage and original looks to them. Sometimes I'll find sellers selling these in lots but more more often they are sold individually. These are ideal gifts to hang in a den, office, bedroom, living room, rec room, etc., but some people frame them as well.

One of my favorites is the 1935 Lionel Cover 0815. This is a great tin that shows an engineer and a boy in front of a sleek engine. The boy has a wide grin on his face as he holds a lionel model of the exact train in his hands, the engineer with his hands on the boys shoulder points out the train. The top of the sign in white lettering says "Lionel Trains". The left of the sign has vertical white print reading "Announcing the first Model Railroad Whistle." In the bottom right hand corner is a small orange Lionel stamp with a white "L". This is a great nostalgic sign that's done as a painting. It's a tin sign reproduction and it measures 16" x 12 1/4" with four tiny holes on the corners for hanging. Another is the Lionel 5200 Locomotive 0771. This tin is of a black engine coming towards us and to the left. On it's left moving away from us is another train heading underneath a railroad bridge, on which another train travels overhead perpendicular towards our left. There is a bright yellowish sky with white smoke coming out of the engine. In the upper right part of the sign in red bold lettering is "Lionel". This also has the small orange Lionel stamp in the bottom right, with a white "L". This sign is also a tin reproduction and measures 16" x 11 1/4". Also has four holes for hanging.

Another is the Lionel Trains Centennial 0933. This is a cool sign, but may be more interesting to those who love the Lionel brand or are interested more in having a full collection, as there are no prominent trains on the sign. The background of the sign is made up of 25 different thumbnail pictures of other Lionel signs (5 horizontal x 5 vertical). These signs are of different layouts, colors, and designs and makes for an interesting background. The foreground in orange and blue ribboned, in white lettering is "Engineer some fun! Lionel Legendary 1900 2000 Lionel Centennial" This metal sign measures 16" x 12" and hangs like the others. There is also a small crest stamp on the bottom right, but it appears different, I can't make it out. I really like this next one Lionel Trains A Boy's Dream 1305, as it reminds me of what my father probably looked like as a little kid when he received his first train set. It's a simple white background with a boy laying on his stomach on the floor with a big smile on his face. In front of him is his Lionel train set going around a track, a very simple but cool tin sign. In small black lettering "The most wonderful day in any boy's life...the day he gets Lionel Trains". ("Lionel Trains" is larger and bolded in red). This tin metal sign measures 16" x 12 1/2" and hangs like the others, again this can be framed as well. My father tells me stories of when he received his first train set and how he always took care of it. He actually cleaned his trains and the track. How many kids do you know who do that today? My father was always proud of his train sets.

Next is the Lionel Santa Fe The Red Streak 1126. This is a great tin sign of a Santa Fe locomotive chugging towards us at a higher eye level. It's a white cream sky background and appears it may be in the desert, as the ground is orange colored dirt or sand. The train is red and white, the Santa Fe logo on the train is yellow with black text. Simple design but classic. In blue lettering across the top "Lionel Trains". Smaller text underneath "Santa Fe- the red streak of the golden prairies" ("Santa Fe" in blue text, the rest red). The train is heading towards us from the right. There are two logos, hard to make out, one green and one yellow. The green logo definitely says "Lionel" on it. The sign measures measures 16 1/2" x 12 1/2", made of tin, ready to hang. There's also a 1929 tin sign of a boy with red cheeks smiling and waving in the background. Behind him is a dark blue night sky. The foreground are two trains coming towards us from the center horizon line, one towards the left, one towards the right. The boy is looking down on both trains and waving at them. Both have their headlights on. At the center top of the sign reads "Lionel Electric Trains" in red and yellow lettering. Below I cannot make out the black text, as it's smaller and the boy's head covers it. Metal sign measures 16" x 11 3/4" and also has predrilled holes for hanging. The SKU number on this one is not in front of me, sorry. I have to wrap this post up, so I'll do it with one of my favorite Lionell tin signs of a boy and his father playing with their train set. The boy is in a shirt and tie!, that's another thing I like about these vintage antique signs. The top of the sign reads in white lettering on a red background "Lionel Trains" and underneath in black text "The Trains Railroad Men Buy for their Boys". Father and sign both smile and look down at two trains passing under a signal bridge. Just a great gift, especially from a son to a father. Sorry for this disgustingly long post.

There's other really cool Lionel signs I haven't mentioned, like the 1927 fanciful-looking electric train design, looking similar to a GG1, the 1942 with red and white stripes, the boy cheering the lined up locomotives in the 1952, and the "That's the scale model for us, son!" sign. I might have to make another post dedicated to Lionel.

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

Hornby Train Signs

I like the vintage look of Hornby train signs. Hornby is not a railway though, they are the leading brand of train model in the UK. Their tin signs are varied in shape and size. One design is the locomotive steaming toward us to the left side over tracks. Instead of steel and tie tracks though, the track is actually the large word "HORNBY" in 3 dimensional yellow print with orange shadowed print. The ground is blue and the sky is a lighter blue with patches of white clouds. On the bottom right of the tin sign are the words "Made in England by Meccano Limited" in white lettering. The size of the sign is 16" x 12" (410 x 300mm) and is made of high quality steel. This design is made for advertising purposes for the Hornby train brand and is priced fair.

English inventor Frank Hornby invented and produced Meccano which is a toy kit that enables creation of model trains. The kits are comprised of wheels, axles, gears, plates, nuts, bolts, and other pieces. Hornby received the patent in 1901 and built the clockwork train in 1920. Hornby produced his first OO gauge train in 1938. Hornby and Meccano were bought in 1964 by Tri-Ang and was sold. Hornby Railways went on its own again in the 1980s. One of the reasons Hornby train signs may be so popular even in the U.S. is because Hornby created a factory in Elizabeth, New Jersey in 1927. It later closed in 1929 and the remaining inventory went to Canada.

Another Hornby design I like is the hanging blue metal wall sign. In an overall orange tint is a sleek Hornby locomotive travelling fast towards us to the left over the large words "Fabrique Par Meccano-Paris" (translated to English "Plant By Meccano-Paris") and in smaller black lettering underneath "Made in France". Beside both phrases on both sides are the black letters 0-1E inside a black circle. This is a tin sign that has four holes punched into it to hang. The sign measures 16" by 11" and also made for advertising purposes for Hornby. You can pick up this sign as well for about $20. Another good design is the Hornby Train Steel Wall Sign T78. This sign measures 16" by 11 1/2" (400mm x 290mm) and comes predrilled and ready to hang. Litho printed and has an overall yellow-orangish tint. A Horby locomotive is traveling slowly towards us and to the left through a railroad yard. Steam is coming from the stack and wheels. Printed in red lettering on the upper-right part of the sign is "Hornby Train" while underneath in smaller text (also red) is "British and Guaranteed". On the bottom of the sign in black lettering is "Made in England by Meccano Ltd. Liverpool". There is another very similar design but with a different locomotive and slightly different view of the RR yard. It is called the Hornby Royal Scot Steam Train. There is an engineer or crewman in the foreground approaching the incoming train. Otherwise the colors and lettering are similar but not exact to the T78. This sign also hangs and has four holes punched in the corners.

This post is getting too long so I'll describe only one more, the A5 Hornby Steel Sign. The A5 measures 150mm x 210mm. This sign hangs lengthwise and is a much simpler sign. A Hornby locotive travels fast towards us from the left. The ground is orange and the sky is light blue with patchy clouds with a small view of some trees. Blue lettering in the top left of sign reads simply "Hornby Trains". The red locomotive is a 2-8-0. This is a hanging sign as well with small holes in the corners and this tin sign (steel) can be had for cheap.

Monday, October 20, 2008

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