Posted 14 years ago
tooels
(1 item)
My dad bought these from an estate auction in a small town in Kansas. The signs had been pulled from a barn and dusted off. He bought them thinking that they might have some value to collectors. They are made of glass with the printed material sandwiched inside. Please help us with some background information and approximate value.
Sorry I dont know anything about the background on this piece - However!! I love it - I had an "ADMIT ONE COLORED STUDENT " State Fair of Texas admission ticket and sold it for $150 - Now I wish I hadna!!! if you are in any way interested in selling this piece please, please contact me........
These look like the type of signs that have a questionable reputation. The claim is one of "they were found in a barn" or "my uncle wrecked railroad stations and saved them." Actually, these are likely recently made signs sold to unsuspecting antique dealers and others and have been made using many railroad names - all in the same style. Think about it a minute...there is no need to have a sign saying "Southern Pacific Tickets" in a Southern Pacific station.
@Rebecca, thanks for your interest. I'm not sure if Dad wants to sell any of the pieces. If you are still interested I can put you in touch with him.
@e1607, thanks for your insights. It seems from your response that you aren't sure definitively if these are the genuine article or are of "the type that have questionable reputation." Can you please direct me to a source that could help isolate the legitimacy of these one way or the other. Since these were purchased through a reputable auctioning service my father and I are resistant to accept observations at face.
You are correct that I'm not definitely sure; one cannot be certain unless he's inspected the items. It is well to be suspicious of the opinions of others - even mine. I suggest you go to
http://www.railroadiana.org/fakes/pgFakes_Signs.php
where this subject is dealt with in much more detail and with more authority than I have. Remember that many auction services are by no means expert in what they are selling and their primary objective is to move the merchandise. Please let us know how this comes out.
@e1607, after reading that link I can see why the photo caught your eye. Given that there was a line for Southern Pacific that passed with 30 miles of where my dad picked up the signs, it's quite frustrating. I've forwarded a copy of the picture to the Southern Pacific museum and archive in Corona Del Mar. If their archivist confirms your suspicions we'll know for sure.
Another thing to consider - your original posting said the signs were picked up in a small town in Kansas. The Southern Pacific had no service within the state of Kansas and the closest they came to Kansas was Denison and Paris, Texas to the south and Tucumcari, New Mexico to the Southwest.
Dave Coscia at the Southern Pacific Historical Society closed this. These are fakes.
"For the Southern Pacific, the proof is the type font. The company did not use that style."
Thanks for the help.
All this was really good to know - thanks for bringing to my attention that the items are not authentic - however they are still nice and definitely strikes up conversation – I am still willing to purchase them ( of course at the novelty price ) Have your dad to contact me.
There are alot of dishonest auctioneers that "salt" their auctions with repros like this. Buyers think that it is an old item out of the estate, but it is a recently made fake that he has planted among the real antiques.. The auctioneer doesn't actually claim that it is old or original, he is depending on the buyers lack of knowledge or plain old greed to influence his bidding.