Old Reading Beer Gillco Taxi Cab Light

Here is an Old Reading Taxi Cab Light from the Old Reading Brewing Company located in Reading, PA. This bar back sign is called a taxi cab light because it resembles the light on the top of a classic taxi cab. Cab lights like this one would have been used as a bar back sign to promote Old Reading Beer back in the late 1930’s. This light was manufactured by the Gillco Glass Sign Company located in Philadelphia, PA. The original sticker of Gillco is even still intact on the back of the light.

The light itself is made of glass and metal base with a reverse painted graphic painted on the inside of the glass and fired on. This cab light is in excellent condition for it’s age and is all original except for the power cord which I plan to replace for safety reasons. The graphics on the glass are very beautiful with the wood grain background, Old Reading text, and the brewery’s mascot “Old Gus” sitting there toasting his beer mug. The colors are very vibrant and when lit really stands out in my collection.

There is actually 2 other variations to this cab light that the Old Reading Brewing Company produced. One that looks just like the one I have except the graphics on the front are a bit lighter in color. While the other variation has completely different text reads “Old Reading Pale Reserve” along with slightly different “Old Gus” character graphics on each side. Currently I’m actively looking for the other two variations.

I have been looking for one of these ever since I started collecting and never thought I’d ever get a chance at one. I’m very happy to have been able to get this light and add it to my collection.