Posted 14 years ago
PickerX
(13 items)
I found these in an old garage. The rounds are in their original packaging. Some have not had the paper removed from the front. The dust is still on these fresh from the pick. Feedback would be appreciated.
WOW, my hart would beat 90mph if I had found those....Very nice find.....
Are they tin? What year?
They must be metal, don't know what year though......
I will call the company and find out. X
Our family owns Bowes Seal Fast and Carl did call us to find out about these signs. My grandfather started Bowes with Bob Bowes in the early 1930's. We have many signs just like these scattered about our corporate offices here in Indianapolis. These signs date from the mid 50's. Picture 3 represents hanging displays for the purpose of the Bowes vendor (who called on that garage probably once a week at that time) to be able to take a quick inventory and restock the belts and hoses that the dealer sold over the course of a week or so. These other display signs were used to promote Bowes items in service stations and garages all across America. My guess is these items were shipped to a owner of a service station for his display purposes. Although not very valuable in todays market they do represent a piece of history and will always remain special to us. The items that are very valuable and we do try and collect as much of as we can is Bowes racing display items. Bowes has had and continues to have a special relationship in motorsports history....especially the Indy 500. We were winner of that famed race in 1931 with driver Louis Schneider and 1961 with AJ Foyt....both drove the race cars coined the "Bowes Seal Fast Special" to victory.
Wow! Straight from the source! How cool!
Thanks Fred, your quick response shows your dedication as a company. Although racing items are more valuable, these signs are still doing well at auction and are wanted by collectors. Just look : )
It doesn't get any better than that! Thanks, Fred. If you get a chance why don't you post pictures of some of your historical items. I am sure you would have an attentive audience.
To add to the fun. These were found in the house garage of a man who owned a service station in the Yakima Valley before the fifties. That is what the old timers here tell me.
Hey, I am still trying to figure out if these are porcelain or tin?