A Walt Gosden Special: Signs of the Times Part I
Automotive historian Walt Gosden has a created a new series for VanderbiltCupRaces.com.
Thanks, Walt!
Enjoy,
Howard Kroplick
A Walt Gosden Special: Signs of the Times Part I
In our ongoing interest of the history of motoring and motor cars primarily focused on Long Island, especially the connection to the Long Island Motor Parkway and the Vanderbilt Cup Races, I will share here some period signs that motorists would see on a regular basis in the pre- WWII era.
Many signs were painted on wood, on sides of buildings, glass windows, sides of barns!
The most durable and the majority that have lasted /survived over a century and are with us today were made of steel with a powdered glaze surface that is known as porcelain. This is not like a porcelain dish or vase that also has a very shiny surface but takes the similar name due to the "glow" of the appearance. These signs lasted because the powder that was laid on them then fired and fused together sealed the surface and did not rust. Rust did happen but only if the porcelain sign was chipped and the steel base metal exposed.
Not all of the signs featured here were native to Long Island or even the USA. Some are examples from other countries but could have been found here in that era. I will try to be specific as to size. All of these I have acquired over the past 50 years, most purchased or traded for, but some were gifts. Not all are porcelain, some are stamped steel with raised lettering. Not all are automotive - those that aren't do have a long island connection, even if remote! This will be the first part with additional to follow, I hope it is of some interest, if not it will be a great cure for insomnia!
1) The United Motors Service sign was originally lit with neon around the letters and edge. This was a two-sided sign with the box to hold the controls for the neon tubing in between. I was fortunate enough to get this via a buddy in Connecticut who saw it and asked about it then found it delivered (plopped on his front lawn) at some point when he was not home. I got one side and he kept the other of this sign 45+ years ago. It came back to my home in Floral Park in the rear of the 1941 Packard woody station wagon I had at the time that was my "everyday driver" car. it is 36 inches wide 21 inches tall.
2) The Lipton Teas sign is 16 x 13 inches
3) The Stamford to Oyster Bay ferry sign is 13 x 22 inches the location of the Oyster Bay side for the ferry was at the very north end of Oyster Bay in the center of town (if you extend Rt 106/107 to the end at the water)
4) John Bull Tyres sign is 15 inches square
Comments
Walt, As usual, GREAT stuff! I cannot wait to see part 2. Nothing tops a porcelain enamel sign, especially one with a Long Island connection. Thanks!
Gary, I have always been happy to share any information, photos, artifacts, etc with all who are as crazy about history and long island as I am. I recall the time we spent working for the Nassau County Museum system 40 + years ago with great pride and good memories. ( for those of you who aren’t aware , Gary was one of the key people who guided the efforts of the museum system for years and is a truly devoted historian and genuine enthusiast of long island history.)
I’m looking forward to seeing other signs in your collection, Walt. Thanks for sharing.
Walt, thank you for your information about the STAMFORD - OYSTER BAY FERRY sign.
I’m a member of the Oyster Bay Railroad Museum in the hamlet of Oyster Bay.
The museum is a two-part setup, the historic landmarked train station museum by the end of the Oyster Bay line branch. The other side is across of the train yard by Bay Ave. There’s small section on Bay Ave that has a short track from outside Museum train yard that would’ve gone to the ferry in the past, now occupied by fuel tanks and a yard of some sort.
Will be giving the museum officers a printout of this article. Thanks again Walt!
Walt, that posting from The Stamford Historical Society, I notice of the ferry service timetable of the docking location in Oyster Bay, Oystermen’s Dock near L.I.R.R station, a conformation of the location that I had mention, and the date of discontinued service around 1940, Elizabeth E. Roosevelt, 90? last
of Roosevelt’s in Oyster Bay, had mention to me she had remembered the ferry service, really! I guess when she was about 8 yrs. old.
The short section of the track on Bay Ave. I had mention was from an earlier effort
from 1897 to a long pier to accommodate a loaded train on to a ferry to another location in Conn. that didn’t do well and scrapped a short time later, nothing to do with the sign.
Thanks again, Walt. Here’s a picture of a sign I recently came across while reading an article about the LI Endurance Run of Sept. 16 & 17, 1908. Wonder if its still around somewhere. From “The Automobile” of October 24, 1908.
The OB-Stamford ferry service that was discontinued in 1940 about same time as the opening of the Bronx-Whitestone Bridge in April 29, 1939.
I really appreciate all the comments , plus the added information ! My pleasure to post what I can here and have the items /material availability to do so. More signs on their way but I have been working many hours to complete a story for Crankshaft magazine and finally got it researched, written and typed including 18 photo captions then scanned it all. It is on the history of the Willoughby Coach Builders of Utica, NY. I will get to the sign photos for here this week
Only NY 106 was extended to the Stamford-Oyster Bay Ferry. NY 107 went to Glen Cove, and still does.