Old signage on Quadra & Tattersall building
#1
Posted 01 March 2011 - 09:03 PM
Have a look.
My photos
#2
Posted 01 March 2011 - 09:25 PM
http://www.elizabeth...reet-destroyed/
#3
Posted 01 March 2011 - 09:34 PM
Man that's perfectly preserved!
#4
Posted 01 March 2011 - 10:15 PM
#5
Posted 02 March 2011 - 12:20 AM
#6
Posted 02 March 2011 - 07:39 AM
#7
Posted 02 March 2011 - 08:02 AM
I don't understand why the wood isn't even weathered.
The old sign and the wood has been covered with stucco for years.
Here is an old photo of the Tattersall/Quadra intersection, previously posted by Sparky
#8
Posted 02 March 2011 - 08:02 AM
I don't understand why the wood isn't even weathered.
"Ghost signs" can be beautifully preserved under years of stucco.
Looking at the sign, it does not look at all like it was from that long ago. I have no idea what the story is, I suspect it is interesting
I had the same suspicions as you, Bernard. The sign is painted by an amateur signpainter. Even the crudest temporary sign on a shack was painted with care in those days.
My first impression was that the style and execution of the writing didn't seem like an authentic antique and instead was a 1970s sign (there was a revival of old-timey styles then). But that doesn't explain the short phone number.
Part of me thinks it was recycled from a movie set but that's a lot of trouble to go to just to get some free wood to repair a building with.
Someone will have to go through the old city directories to solve this mystery!
#9
Posted 02 March 2011 - 09:54 AM
When you look at the detail of the sign around the shoe the style looks wrong.
The phone number also does not seem right to me, the length indicates something very, very early, but the X1 makes little sense to me. I would have to look at one of the old City directories to get a sense of when this number might have made sense and if it is in the directory.
The look of the boards also do not feel right. Before World War 2 virtually no one would have made planks like that for facing that had any knots in it. You can look at almost any old house being torn down and see the wonderfully clear timber they used.
So, if I were to guess, the sign was made between 1947 and 1960. It may or may not have been made to go on that building, it may have been recycling from some for set or prop in a movie or theatre.
#10
Posted 02 March 2011 - 10:10 AM
Mind you, why does the wood where the sign is look so much newer than the rest of the wood? Was it a repair job in somewhat recent times maybe? Maybe this wasn't the first time a car has driven into that building.
#11
Posted 02 March 2011 - 10:15 AM
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#12
Posted 02 March 2011 - 10:22 AM
#13
Posted 02 March 2011 - 10:25 AM
Why would anyone go to the trouble of putting up a movie sign? I don't get that.
I wonder if they shot the movie there?
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#14
Posted 02 March 2011 - 10:27 AM
#15
Posted 02 March 2011 - 10:36 AM
When you look at the detail of the sign around the shoe the style looks wrong.
The phone number also does not seem right to me, the length indicates something very, very early, but the X1 makes little sense to me.
The lettering style could be from the 1800's. see link to styles.
Victoria was still using five digit phone numbers in the early 1950's, I know because I was told to memorize mine.
I would say the cars are early 1950'. The closest might be a Plymouth.
http://www.fontage.com/woodcut.html
#16
Posted 02 March 2011 - 11:18 AM
The lettering style could be from the 1800's. see link to styles.
Victoria was still using five digit phone numbers in the early 1950's, I know because I was told to memorize mine.
I would say the cars are early 1950'. The closest might be a Plymouth.
http://www.fontage.com/woodcut.html
In looking at the design style around the shoe, it reminds me of 1950s drawing style.
As to the number, it is the X1 that makes no sense to me.
In the 1915 City of Victoria Directory there is no business at this location. IN 1908 there was nothing at all at this location. In 1915 four digit phone numbers were in use, but not with any notation beyond the numbers. In 1892 3 digit phone numbers were in use.
#17
Posted 02 March 2011 - 04:53 PM
The unweathered wood indicates to me that the sign did not spend even a single winter exposed to the elements.
#18
Posted 02 March 2011 - 05:35 PM
The sign does look like it was from a western-movie storefront but I like it a lot anyway.
#19
Posted 02 March 2011 - 05:51 PM
#20
Posted 02 March 2011 - 07:45 PM
The original construction probably had a straight false front and a later owner fancied it up with the scalloping, which removed part of the sign, and then stuccoed over it.
Judging by the weathered wood below and around the sign I would suggest the sign-painter probably put a couple of coats of shellac or varnish over his sign to increase it's longevity thus preserving the wood in a much better state.
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