Fading Wall Signs – Part 4

Detroit is an old city, and it grew rapidly from the early 1900’s through the 1950’s.  As the city spread and the major streets expanded, plenty of small businesses were built and lined the streets. Like today, advertising was a must for getting people into those small businesses to buy their products. One of the advertising methods used back then was hand painted signs created on the side of buildings.

Many of those vintage signs with beautiful, scrolled lettering, and product highlights can still be seen on old buildings along the city’s commercial streets. In most cases the colors have faded quite a bit. Despite the fading, it’s not unusual to see fresh-looking, pastel colors on the ornate, hand-painted illustrated signs.

Bank ad features classy letters outlined in black

Note the soft,  paste colors on this cigar ad from long ago

In this blog entry (the fourth in a series) are some of the more fascinating illustrated signs I’ve seen on my bicycle rides. A couple of the vintage wall-side ads remind me of something that may have been printed on packaged goods found in a general store many years ago. There is a lot of history in this city, and unfortunately more and more of it is fading away, just like the signs.

Stylish, flowing letters of the flour brand name is the main focus of this old sign

Vernor’s, a Detroit classic

This vintage Stroh’s sign is fading quickly

Cool pickle illustration on this old Aunt Jane’s sign

This is the fourth of an occasional entry on Detroit’s fading wall signs. You can check out the earlier entries by clicking on the headlines below.

Fading Wall Signs

Fading Wall Signs – Part 2

Fading Wall Signs – Part 3

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Fading Wall Signs – Part 2

A few months ago I posted a story on the fading wall signs I see on old buildings as I ride my bicycle across the city of Detroit. In that story I described the stylish art deco lettering, pastel colors, and intriguing graphics that were in favor at the time they were painted many years ago. I also pointed out how remarkable it was that they survived decades of foul weather and blistering sunlight. Although many are now faded, some to the point of being unreadable, others still survive and are remarkably clear and intact. Considering the harsh seasonal elements the outdoor art has been exposed to, it is incredible that so many of the vintage signs have endured over time.

This is a second in an ongoing series of occasional posts on fading wall signs in Detroit. As I wrote in the earlier post, most of the decorative faded advertising signs can be found on buildings constructed in the late 1800s through the early 1930s. They are usually painted on the upper level of a brick building two stories or taller. Many of the older ads have been hidden for years by adjoining structures that were constructed next to the buildings they were painted on. When the neighboring buildings were knocked down, the ornate vintage ads have come into full view.

Simple, straight-forward message

Here are a few more faders I spotted on my rides throughout the city. I’m especially fond of those featuring illustrations such as the one with the boy. Sadly, as the city evolves and more and more of the older structures are town down, the classic hand-painted illustrations and unique lettered wall signs used in the early days of Detroit advertising will eventually be lost.

I like everything about this vintage ad – the lettering, color, and illustrations

Letter type and graphics are eye catching

I’m thinking there may have been an illustration of a dancing couple above the lettering

The bold lettering and illustrations say it all

You can read other entries on Detroit’s fading signs by clicking on the headline below.

Fading Wall Signs

Fading Wall Signs – Part 3

Fading Wall Signs – Part 4

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