Scenes from the Sign Museum

A couple of summers ago, the American Sign Museum hosted a wall dog convention.

Wall dogs are the men and women who paint signs on the sides of buildings. 

They created a few while they were there.

Here and Now broadcast a story on painted ads this week, and how they're making a bit of a comeback.

We've featured these before, but they're worth sharing again.

Signs Everywhere

The American Sign Museum screened the film Sign Painters last night.

It's a documentary on sign painters.  Rather good.

But also on display was this recently rescued Rock City sign from a barn near Louisville.

Powell Valves

Powell Valves, although featured here before, is still in business.

We'd seen these before from the Western Hills Viaduct, but upon the urging of Mr. D.L. Hudson, drove around to capture them.

Again with the Sign Museum

Inside the American Sign Museum, there are curated signs.  Outside, the signs roam freely.

The Southern Ohio College was acquired by Brown Mackie.

Not even our Western Field Agent, D.L. Hudson, has been able to uncover facts about the Cincinnati Sampling Company.

Not our usual fare, but looks totally legitimate and safe.  Bring the kids.

Behind the Sign Museum

Our Western Field Office Agent, Mr. D.L. Hudson was in the City this weekend for some training, and to get his oil changed.  We ran into each other at the Sign Hunters ConFab at the American Sign Museum.  Nice fellow.

Anyway, we'd both already seen the Tatum and the Leon's signs, as shown above.

But, Mr. D.L. Hudson went a-wandering and found these, hidden further back.

And on That Note

 

Yes, you've seen this before.  Several times, I'm sure.  But, it marks a hiatus for us here at Faded Ad Art, as we'll be on vacation for the next few days. 

 

In the meantime, consider this:

 

 

This ghoster is at the American Sign Museum, here in Cincinnati.  Definitely worth a visit.  Much of their facility is devoted to Big Neon, but there are recreated painted models too.

 

Turn Around, Bright Eyes

 

In the summer and fall of 2012, I spent a lot of time hunting in Camp Washington. This particular sign escaped my notice.  It's embarrassing, because I rode my bike along this street several times.  But, each time, I was southbound, hoping to get a better shot of these.  And each time, all I had to do was look behind me to see the Force.

 

So, the lessons are clear for ghost sign hunting:
1. Look up.

2. Look behind you.

3. If there's a sign on one side of the building, there could be another sign on the other side.

 

On a brighter note, our fourth entry in the Ghostsigns calendar competition is up, and needs your liking.  Today is the deadline for entries.  Should we submit a fifth photo?  If so, which one?

 

Not Cashed Out Yet

 

We were angling to get the Western-Southern billboard before it's torn down.  Yes, W&S is still going strong, but the sign is iconic, along I-75, and we were in the mindset of Merry Weather Leather.  And, then we found something else.

 

We'd thought Camp Washington was all played out.  We thought there weren't nothing more to be found.  Were we wrong...

 

As for the sign, Bimel, which is what we read, could refer to the late Carl Bimel.

More Mr. Powell

As promised, from the previous post...

Mr. Powell's factory...

I would have gotten a better picture of the crown, but it seemed redundant.

 

Now, here's a chance for you to weigh in on this site.  A real, serious ghost sign blog is calling for submissions to make a calendar for 2014.  Each submitter can enter up to five entries.  What, from this blog would you have me submit?  Put your suggestions in the comment box, or, e-mail me, or say something in facebook.  And if you see one you like, but the picture is crummy, say so, and I'll try to get a better photo.

I'm going to enter five, but I'd like to know which are your favorites.  Take your time.  There's a couple of years' worth of potential entries.  (Reader Submissions will be considered, and the contributor will get full credit.)

The Powell Empire

 

There's this, which is close to this:

 

 

But, Mr. Powell's business doesn't have a lot to do with the American Sign Museum.

 

There are plenty of other buildings in Camp Washington with the Powell name.

In fact, I was considering doing a theme week with them.  (There's one building on Spring Grove I haven't hit yet.  Maybe today...)

And the Powell name lives on, if you're curious.

 

 

 

 

Wonder If They Kept the Pole

 

On Spring Grove.

Now, it's office space, I believe.

When in Camp Washington...

 

Check out this ghost sign, after you visit the American Sign Museum.

 

I must confess, I haven't.  I saw them at the old location, but haven't been in the new place.

Ice Cream?

 

When viewed small, I clearly see the word "CREAM", in the lower left hand corner.  Enlarging the photo seems to make that interpretation vanish.

 

This may be a repeat.

Bad Angles

 

There's a lot going on here, and pictures don't really do the signs justice.

 

I'd recommend seeing them in person.

 

 

The 2600 block of Colerain Avenue.

 

Go Your Own Way

 

People stop me all the time and ask "what's the best way to find a ghost sign?".  Then they usually follow up by asking if I have spare change.

 

1.  Look up.  There are very few ghost signs painted on the ground.

2.  Go where you don't usually go. 

3.  Go when you don't usually go.

 

This big, obvious Powell Valves sign on Colerain in Camp Washington was invisible to me for a long time, because it faces north, and I'm usually looking at things from the south.  And there were trees making it more difficult to see from the street.

 

4.  No.  None of my change is spare.

 

Apologies

 

I saw these signs on someone else's blog a couple of weeks ago, and made a note to visit them myself.  But, I've since forgotten who's blog it was, so, I can't give them props.  Sorry.

 

On Ludlow, across from the District Police HQ, there's a little road, Streng, which dumps into a little enclave of industrial buildings, and a couple of abandoned houses.  I kind of knew something was back there because of the Worthmore chimney, but didn't explore on my own until seeing this blog, which I've forgotten.

While you may think it's Clifton, my mapbook and the County say it's Camp Washington.

I'm Sorry

I don't remember where I took this one.  No clue.  I thought it was from Beekman or State Street, on the west side of the Mill Valley, but I can't find confirmation on Google Earth.  It could be Camp Washington, or Queensgate, for all I remember. 

 

This is the problem with my stockpiling/filing system.  I offer my most sincere and humble apologies.

 (Originally posted 2-22-13)

 

***UPDATED***

Since I know you've been lying awake at night, wondering where in the world this is, I couldn't wait to share the good news.  It's in Camp Washington, on Colerain, just off of Alfred.  Exciting, huh?

Binding

This is 'round the back from this.

Boring

One of the first shots with an actual, live, human being in it.

Off the Beaten Path

Going along Spring Grove, there are signs a-plenty.  But, between Spring Grove and I-75, there's an interesting little neighborhood, a section of Camp Washington that's part residential, part commercial, and part (mostly abandoned) industrial.  And there are even more faded advertisements on the walls.

 

Colerain Avenue is fascinating, if nothing else, for the architecture.