I having been viewing the Red Indian Keyholes that are up for auction at McSherry's in Manitoba Canada. They appear to be legit, but those SOB's in India make it for hard for me, a novice collector to tell them apart. They do have a makers mark it appears, but still are they REAL???? Before I make any serous investment I would like to be reassured. Any advise or knowledge about these signs would be greatly appreciated.

you would be smart to stay away...but that's just my opinion, bid if you like.

Check this one out ...Fresh from India with makers mark P&M 46.
Just goes to show, you better know your stuff these days.!!
Ebay #182078862448

Thank you, I would just like to know more about the possibility that it maybe a repop. What are some signs to look for? It looks great to me, but I have been there and done that! What tells you to stay away? Thanks for this communication!

Wow eh,eBay #182078862448! that is scary! The P&M looks so good!! The front rust marks just look to made up. Was the Keyhole always printed with a markers mark? Does anyone know of these signs that are at the auction?

An "ORIGINAL" of this sign was on eBay in 2013 (from Quebec).

The face is pointing to the "LEFT" while this one is to the "Right".

So, is this one considered a "Fantasy" piece?

Also, IMO, the art work is a give away!

4 variations of a keyhole sign that I know of. Left and right facing Indian heads. Either facing is lettered as McColl-Frontenac Products or McColl Frontenac Oil Co. Limited. I've seen 3 different sign makers marks on them. All of these are hard signs to acquire with the right facing head being the hardest. I knew of no repro's until recently when a right facing surfaced on ebay and 10 days later they were on Ebay from India. Seeing a picture of the back of the signs at McSherry's auction would be nice, although judging the pics and never seeing a left facing head version being reproduced I would assume that these signs are the real deal.

This is all great info guys! I will tread lightly and bid happy! Thanks for the help, if anyone else has more info I will defiantly love to read about it, any repop info for that matter...

Daryl,

You mentioned 4 variations.So, I am assuming these are the 4:

1- Right Facing + McColl-FRONTENAC
2- Left Facing + McColl-FRONTENAC
3- Right Facing + McColl-FRONTENAC Oil Co. Limited
4- Left Facing + McColl-FRONTENAC Oil Co. Limited

When doing Search on google: red indian keyhole sign, I only find Right & Left facing with: McColl-FRONTENAC PRODUCTS

BTW, here is a previous discussion on OG:

http://www.oldgas.com/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=637078

Hen

These are 2 I'm assuming from the Winnipeg find. They are legit. They carry a mark that no one in Canada hardly knows about let alone India. The India ones have no grommets and are not even close to real ones when you take a close look at them.These are great signs. Unfortunately there are some right facing repros. But there are repros of every high end sign out there. JMO

BTW, I paid a visit to the Auction Site: McSherry's in Manitoba Canada

Found the Left Facing with McColl-FRONTENAC Oil Co. Limited

Also, love those "Buffalo cans".

Hen, you are correct with your sign variation list. Rarity dictates why you cannot find the Oil Co. Limited version on your google search

Thanks Jason (Rusty Patina) for staring this interesting "thread".

Also many thanks to Daryl & Dave for chiming in to educate us. OK, a few of us... LOL!

Thank you to guys, I have spent some time going through the past forums! You guys really know your stuff... I have been paying a lot of attention to the REPOP posts. I was told that a lady out west (Canada) owns the rights to Red Indian??? So clearly the India makers are committing fraud???? Anyway it would be impossible to do anything about. However, I also collect Hockey cards. In the Hockey card world Wayne Gretzky is a highly reprinted card, with this said EBAY will only allow it to be sold if it is graded and sealed. Is there anyway EBAY could be notified of the Red Indian signs coming from India???? Or has this already been done? lol.

you last 3 letters say it all lol

I def think sign grading and an authentication house is long over due we just need some one or a group of guys to take it on for each area they specialize in . Like I said every expensive sign is reproduced , yet all values continue to soar . We have to be diligent to out fraud , as has also happened in the car world and every other collectible area . Where there is money to be made there are crooks .