Today we are inundated with advertising everywhere we go. From TV and radio advertising, to internet and billboard advertising, its almost impossible to go one day without seeing some form of advertising.
Before modern advertising, companies had to work with what they had in order to advertise. Broad media outlets either did not exist or were not used by many. Other than newspapers, companies did not have broad access to consumers as much as they do today.
So how did some of these old companies manage to grow so large before the days of TV and radio ads? Many chose the medium of tin signs. Today we know them as vintage signs or antique signs. These colorful painted signs advertised everything from soda and beer to oil and laundry detergent.
Antique auto signs have become popular to collect. Of course there are vintage signs made by Ford, GM and Dodge, but if you’re lucky you can find antique tin signs from companies that no longer exist.
Vintage and antique signs have become a very popular item to collect. For history fans, antique tin signs offer a glimpse into a simpler time and give insight into how business used to be.
Why Would Companies Choose Tins Signs?
Tin signs were a great form of advertising. People could hand them up inside or outside of business establishments and they did the selling. They could be mailed to places where they could be displayed and it would benefit both the company and the retailer. Obviously tin signs worked as an advertising medium since many of the signs still exist and many of the companies that used them are still in business.
Consider popular antique tin signs made by Coca-Cola and Pepsi, as well as Quaker State and Ford Motor Company. These signs still exist and many are in original condition, which makes them popular with collectors.