Great Find at Cowboy Antiques Show…should I restore?

[CarltonHendricks]

I attended the once a year the Old West Antiques Show in Grass Valley CA and found this Bowling and Billiards sign. It’s cobalt blue porcelain, 54” wide x 18” tall. I’ve been attending this show for about ten years and this is one of the best pieces I’ve picked up there. I sort of bought it in a hurry as I made the deal about the time I was supposed to leave. The show is known for having great quality, one of the last great shows going. I had to give serious money but now that I’ve had time to digest it I’m very glad I pulled the trigger….elated really! A lot of both Bowling and Billiards were in Europe in the 19th and early 20th century….But this sign in pure 100% American, prominently marked Federal Electric Co. Chicago Patn’d!!!! As far as American Bowling Billiard signs go, I just can’t imagine a better one!


On table as found at show

When I first saw it on the sellers table it had another sign in front of it and I didn’t recognize what it said…I could only see the word billiards partially and I initially dismissed it as some kind of sign for a lawyer or something named “Billard”….then as I moved the other sign out of the way to see it I still didn’t quite get what it said right away…it had some funky plastic wrap on the ends that were holding together that aluminum frame and it just threw me off….then when I stepped back and realized what it was I got the full impact and went on full alert….For me it was pretty much the best thing I saw at the show….I really didn’t want to spend the money but I knew it was the best Bowling Billiards sign I’d probably ever see so…the ball started rolling and after a little walking around I went back to negotiate the price…The guy said he initially was asking $ ______ but that he would take $______ ….then within a minute he dropped it $50.00….then as I kept looking at it he dropped it to $_____ I said…well…if you’re in the mood to bargain how about $_____ He immediatly shot back $50.00 over my offer….and he pretty much had me…..then again without even asking he goes….tell ya what…make it cash and I’ll go your $____... done deal I gave him $100.00 cash and told him I was going to the bank and would be back shortly with the balance…he goes…here take it with you…so I took it out to my car and quickly learned it wouldn’t fit in my trunk by only a few inches….which meant sticking up out my convertible….which I latter ended up having to put up the top on the way home…



Once home I got that funky home spun aluminum frame off and it bowed a little.…I guess the seller had the frame on to keep it straight but the little bit of bow doesn’t bother me at all. Funny thing is I drove three hours to get to the show and bought the sign from a dealer I see once a month at Alameda. He’s a very serious San Francisco collector…I think it was about a year or so ago he sold an extremely rare 19th century San Francisco baseball scene photo for $10,000.00. He must have already spent the money cause he said the only reason he was selling this sign was he was buying some rare cdv of an Indian, or gold prospector, or some kind of old west image……he had me pay the money directly to the guy he was buying it from!...a win-win for everybody!

A guy there at the show that has collected porcelain signs many years, Pete Keim, told me he thought it was from about 1905-1910 and that there were only two companies in the country that made porcelain signs then…Baltimore Enamel and Novelty…and…. Ingram-Richardson from Beaver Falls PA….Pete also told me as much, that since my sign is marked Federal Electric Co. Chicago, most certainly Federal Electric jobbed out the making of the sign to either Baltimore Enamel of Ingram-Richardson…but then after I got it home I noticed the marking at the right bottom corner BS CI 52 STATE ST CIII BEAVER FALLS PA….So I would assume since Ingram-Richardson was in Beaver Falls, they made the sign. Pete also said as much that though there wasn’t holes in the sign for lighting…the Federal Electric marking likely indicates the sign was somehow lighted.

I went on line and found a place in South Carolina that restores porcelain signs Van Kannel Sign Restoration….I was looking at their examples of before and after and found the porcelain Spalding sign below….


Before Van Kannel Sign Restoration


After Van Kannel Sign Restoration

I think I’ve come to the conclusion if I get the sign restored it will look brand new which I don’t want. I don’t think it looks that bad in its present condition…any worse and I might have had to get it restored. If I don’t restore it at least anyone who sees it will be able to tell it’s an old original sign. I’d be interested to hear other opinions…restore or don’t restore?

[Deertick]

I would frame and not restore. Very nice piece!

[MGHPro]

Great Piece.. IMO, since its not a lot of restoration, I would do it. I think the piece would really pop.

[CarltonHendricks]

By the way, here's a few photos of stuff I saw at the show...not sports but great quailty

[Rickyy]

Nice find Carlton. I didn't make it this year, but been to it before...and its always a great show!

Ricky Y

[ruth-gehrig]

Really great sign! I personally like things original so I wouldn't restore.

[BradH]

Great sign, Carlton - and nice pics! I would NOT restore the bowling/billiards sign.

Really like how Van Kennel (?) did the "Spalding Baseball & Athletic Goods" piece, but that sign, pre-restoration was barely legible. This bowling & billiards sign really looks nice as is, I wouldn't touch.

BTW if you need a subliminal "Help your bowling" Vinyl LP to go with that sign let me know. The cover says "WARNING: Not for left handed bowlers"

Great find.

[Wymers Auction]

I think you have to go with your heart on this. You have to live with your decision and it sounds like you are leaning towards not restoring.

[springpin]

Carleton,

First, a truly beautiful piece of Americana! I bet you jumped out of your shoes when you saw it.

Some issues to consider in your decision:
1. Do you have other display pieces in your collection? If yes, are they typically restored or not? If yes, this would be another one. If no, is it because you like your material to be "as found," or is it no because you are attracted in general to items in great condition to begin with?

2. Assume no one else sees your collection (or they do so relatively rarely), you are the sole or primary viewer. Let's say you restored it. You wouldn't have to explain to yourself "It has been restored" every time you looked at it because you don't have to answer to yourself. You should ask yourself why you collect in the first place. What brings you pleasure about collecting?

3. Whatever your decision, a portion of you will second-guess your decision no matter which way it goes. If you restore it, and it is the only piece in your collection that has been restored, you may wince a bit knowing it has been "altered" to enhance visual appeal. If you don't, your eyes may be drawn more to the flaws, as you focus more on what is wrong with it than enjoying what is right with it.

4. I saw in an antique mall "refurbished" coin-operated gumball machines, along with one that was described as being what these machines looks like when they are found before refurbishing. They sold for between $500 and $1,000. Judging by the condition of the unrefurbished one, I concluded that these machines did not have the original parts be refurbished as much as replaced. And an assemblage of replacement parts wasn't worth $500-$1,000, as to me it had become more of a reproduction. At best about 15%-20% of an old machine had parts that were potentially re-usable. Your sign looks to me to be about 70%-80% complete.. The refurbishing would be relatively small. One concern I would have is based on the sign where they show the before and after, the original to me looked to be in a lighter shade of blue than the after. Consider whether that would matter to you.

I'm a pin collector. I can only replace marred pins with better specimens; pins can't get refurbished. I would put the odds of you finding another sign like this one in much better condition as extremely remote. Fine art work gets refinished. Your sign is a form of art, something to be looked at and admired. Unless the cost is prohibitive, I would lean toward refinishing it. Doing so would enhance its eye appeal, which is presumably why you bought it in the first place.

Paul

[Wymers Auction]

Originally Posted by springpin

Carleton,

First, a truly beautiful piece of Americana! I bet you jumped out of your shoes when you saw it.

Some issues to consider in your decision:
1. Do you have other display pieces in your collection? If yes, are they typically restored or not? If yes, this would be another one. If no, is it because you like your material to be "as found," or is it no because you are attracted in general to items in great condition to begin with?

2. Assume no one else sees your collection (or they do so relatively rarely), you are the sole or primary viewer. Let's say you restored it. You wouldn't have to explain to yourself "It has been restored" every time you looked at it because you don't have to answer to yourself. You should ask yourself why you collect in the first place. What brings you pleasure about collecting?

3. Whatever your decision, a portion of you will second-guess your decision no matter which way it goes. If you restore it, and it is the only piece in your collection that has been restored, you may wince a bit knowing it has been "altered" to enhance visual appeal. If you don't, your eyes may be drawn more to the flaws, as you focus more on what is wrong with it than enjoying what is right with it.

4. I saw in an antique mall "refurbished" coin-operated gumball machines, along with one that was described as being what these machines looks like when they are found before refurbishing. They sold for between $500 and $1,000. Judging by the condition of the unrefurbished one, I concluded that these machines did not have the original parts be refurbished as much as replaced. And an assemblage of replacement parts wasn't worth $500-$1,000, as to me it had become more of a reproduction. At best about 15%-20% of an old machine had parts that were potentially re-usable. Your sign looks to me to be about 70%-80% complete.. The refurbishing would be relatively small. One concern I would have is based on the sign where they show the before and after, the original to me looked to be in a lighter shade of blue than the after. Consider whether that would matter to you.

I'm a pin collector. I can only replace marred pins with better specimens; pins can't get refurbished. I would put the odds of you finding another sign like this one in much better condition as extremely remote. Fine art work gets refinished. Your sign is a form of art, something to be looked at and admired. Unless the cost is prohibitive, I would lean toward refinishing it. Doing so would enhance its eye appeal, which is presumably why you bought it in the first place.

Paul

If you chose not to restore it you can change you mind later. The reverse is not really true.

[ruth-gehrig]

Originally Posted by Wymers Auction

If you chose not to restore it you can change you mind later. The reverse is not really true.

+1

[perezfan]

I'd leave it as-is, Carlton...

The Spalding Sign was in far worse condition, and desperately needed the work done. Yours remains quite nice, and is far better in terms of condition.

The wear and tear is part of its charm and its heritage. Leave it alone, and put the unspent "restoration money" towards a new and exciting piece for your collection.

[Scott Garner]

Originally Posted by perezfan

I'd leave it as-is, Carlton...

The Spalding Sign was in far worse condition, and desperately needed the work done. Yours remains quite nice, and is far better in terms of condition.

The wear and tear is part of its charm and its heritage. Leave it alone, and put the unspent "restoration money" towards a new and exciting piece for your collection.

+1

[cmoore330]

Originally Posted by springpin

Carleton,

First, a truly beautiful piece of Americana! I bet you jumped out of your shoes when you saw it.

Some issues to consider in your decision:
1. Do you have other display pieces in your collection? If yes, are they typically restored or not? If yes, this would be another one. If no, is it because you like your material to be "as found," or is it no because you are attracted in general to items in great condition to begin with?

2. Assume no one else sees your collection (or they do so relatively rarely), you are the sole or primary viewer. Let's say you restored it. You wouldn't have to explain to yourself "It has been restored" every time you looked at it because you don't have to answer to yourself. You should ask yourself why you collect in the first place. What brings you pleasure about collecting?

3. Whatever your decision, a portion of you will second-guess your decision no matter which way it goes. If you restore it, and it is the only piece in your collection that has been restored, you may wince a bit knowing it has been "altered" to enhance visual appeal. If you don't, your eyes may be drawn more to the flaws, as you focus more on what is wrong with it than enjoying what is right with it.

4. I saw in an antique mall "refurbished" coin-operated gumball machines, along with one that was described as being what these machines looks like when they are found before refurbishing. They sold for between $500 and $1,000. Judging by the condition of the unrefurbished one, I concluded that these machines did not have the original parts be refurbished as much as replaced. And an assemblage of replacement parts wasn't worth $500-$1,000, as to me it had become more of a reproduction. At best about 15%-20% of an old machine had parts that were potentially re-usable. Your sign looks to me to be about 70%-80% complete.. The refurbishing would be relatively small. One concern I would have is based on the sign where they show the before and after, the original to me looked to be in a lighter shade of blue than the after. Consider whether that would matter to you.

I'm a pin collector. I can only replace marred pins with better specimens; pins can't get refurbished. I would put the odds of you finding another sign like this one in much better condition as extremely remote. Fine art work gets refinished. Your sign is a form of art, something to be looked at and admired. Unless the cost is prohibitive, I would lean toward refinishing it. Doing so would enhance its eye appeal, which is presumably why you bought it in the first place.

Paul

That might be an understatement! At this point I would be hard pressed to find anybody with as many display pieces as Carlton!

[CarltonHendricks]

Thanks everyone for your great input...Paul/SpringPin particularly, thanks for your thoughtful analysis.

Mat MGHPro, I'm always keenly interested to hear your opinion...You're one of those that your parents were antique dealers and you grew up in the business. You have a good eye and a ton of experience and could probably be tapped as a Justice on the Supreme Court of Sports Memorabilia.

Mark Steinberg/perezfan is another voice the court would call upon for expert testimony.

All that said I'm still not sure whether to have this sign restored...but still lean towards leaving it alone. I need to learn more about the restoration process as to whether they just work on the damaged spots or re-bake the whole sign or what. I definitely don't want it to be perfect but it would be nice if the chipped parts were filled in. The court will adjourn for further discovery.