Found this great, all metal, Michelin Man on ebay. Love it

Nice piece..... Tom

REPRO, REPRO, REPRO!!!! Stay away.. All the cast iron ones are fake.. The originals were a very crude paper mechea/ plaster material, and hand painted... Someone made these probably using an original.. There are usuall a few in eBay at a time... Neat piece for about 50$..

7 on there right now from 325 to 1200.

Where do I get one for $50.00 bucks, I will take six at that price even if they are marked or unmarked!

Here is what i'm doing with the one i have. Castings are kind of rough so i'm doing some clean up on him. The air chuck will be in his left hand and it's plumped for water. I still need to paint him and the air sign, i'll letter the word Michelin on his ribbon and put on a white hose on and chrome hose reel. I was thinking yellow for the sign back ground and off white for him.

Totally cool!

Where do I get one for $50.00 bucks, I will take six at that price even if they are marked or unmarked! [/quote]

Didn't say they were available for 50$... That's about what they are worth..

Dear Oldgas friends.

Here Pau from Barcelona, Spain.

This bizarre statue/figure is a false piece, never existed before 2010-2011. It is cast made, with an "dirty patina" to look like real old.

Since 2010-2011 It is offered each week on ebay US and UK, sometimes described as "original" and with high prizes. Months ago I was discussing with an ebay seller who assured me: "This has been in my workshop for at least 15 years, bought with a job lot of bike parts". He was lying, of course.

Sometimes, the description includes a 1940s reference...
The french-based Michelin et Cie came in 1907 to American market, creating the Michelin Tire Company and erecting a big factory at Milltown, NJ.
The factory closed on 1930 due the Big Crash, and Michelin ceased operations in US until its return on 60s with Radial technology. So, there are no OLD items produced after 1930.

I know perfectly the story of Michelin Tire Co. official branded merchandising.

This statue It Is only an adaptation/copy very bad done of the real plaster (NEVER METAL) figure produced in 1920s only for US tire market to be displayed on Michelin stockist storefronts.

I know some collectors who have an original one.

Also, you can see on the web a real good replica produced in limited edition with Michelin Company permission, made and sold with honesty and respect and offered on the Coker Tire Co. web-site:

http://www.cokertire.com/collectibles/standing-mr-bib-resin-figure.html

...wich is much more similar to the original figure. A real nice collectible.

Please, see images at pages 96-97 in the reference book THE MICHELIN MAN. An Unauthorized Advertising Showcase by Rudy Le Coadic. There are big diferences.

Best wishes from mediterranean Barcelona.

Pau

Still working on my Michelin Man air station. The pole is a really ornate light pole that my dad and I cut down. The Michelin guy is the cast iron fantasy/repo item. Still need to attach the AIR globe and light it up. Thanks Lowright for the inspiration. My dad is a whiz guy with metal so it has made this whole project a 100 times easier.

Wasn't my idea but your welcome Seth,
Mine is a little further along but not quit done. Need to do a little chrome and some hand lettering. Got a hose made but not in this pic. May need to add a globe. Thanks Seth…LOL

I saw one of these for the first time maybe a year and a half ago at an auction. My thought was the patina was too even and it was a reproduction. Someone bid about $900 so they could take it home. I thought it would be neat for $50 or $100 as a door stop.

For all people interested, here are a lineup...

The visual differences between the original figure (and official replica) and false are evident...

The false statue have two versions, with the text "Tires" or "Tyres" on the belt... well, it seems it needs to be prepared to cheat US and UK collectors...

The statue is usually sold with a false description by passing by really old ... of course, if the seller clearly identifies it as a modern imitation, there is no type of deception ...

And everyone is free to decide whether or not to use these objects, provided they do not intend to mislead anyone in the future...

Sincerely, Pau
(and excuse me for my horrible english!)

Your English & spelling is Better that most that were born in the English Speaking World!

Ditto to what DB said on the good English and good spelling as many of us here (including myself) have lots of--ahem--typos! Thanks for sharing the comparisons!

Made of paper mache or plaster, did the originals last? I ask because 30 years ago, visiting my sisters godmother in Belgium, the town square was all scafolded for the clean up of buildings almost black with pollution. They said that a lot of damage had been done by acid erosion to the stone facades as well.

I'm wondering how the real Michelin Men fared? It must be really difficult to get originals.

I wanted to add, that even though they are reproductions, they look good on those stands.

Dear Oldgas friends.

Here are another example of the fake Michelin cast iron figures that are runing now on ebay and other flea markets, sometimes with a high prize.

These figures, painted trying to imitate an antique appearance, are for sale as "original old" "vintage old 1920s-30s" and, only in few times, identify by honest dealers as "Modern Reproduction".

But these figures are not "reproductions".

Never existed before 2011, and are inspired (only inspired, because the resemblance is null) by the original official Michelin man metal figures used to decorate the air compressors.

These 1920s air compressors where available for Michelin garages in France and other european countries, and are now items highly sought by collectors.

Among these false figures, are particulary surprising the metal one with "REG 67548 Detroit" inscription on the back... or a similar little one riding a motobike...

You can find them on ebay daily, especially on ebay UK...

Well, anyone is free to sell or to buy its but, please, identify it ALWAYS as "modern figure" or "new creation" (not a reproduction, not a new version).

I hope I have been helpful for collectors.

Sincerely, Pau
(and excuse me for my horrible english!)

...Pau - thank you for taking the time to post the photos and information...your clear explanation of the differences should prove very helpful...

Thanks for the pictures and info, always good to learn more about the hobby

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU,
PLEASE Take the Time & POST pictures of REAL vs. FAKE items In the KNOWN FAKE Image Gallery;
http://www.oldgas.com/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=postlist&Board=21

It will/would be a GREAT RESOURCE for Present/Future Collectors IF MORE would take the time to add images!

Great Information!

Thanks for your words, Nicole, Mark, Wes, Dick, Dave and the rest of OldGas colleagues.

I'm not an expert on the inmense field of Automobile related, Gas & Oil memorabilia...

I can only help with Tire collectibles and specially Michelin collectibles.

In fact, I'm a big collector on all tire companies (US, british and European) in years near 1900s to 1940s, and one of the most important collectors and historians on the Michelin Tire Company advertising. I use to lend part of my collection to Michelin Company in France for Exhibitions, and to write academic articles about Tire stories and specially related with advertising, Graphic design, illustration and illustrators.

I'm 47 years old. Now Associated Professor, Department of Design and Image, Faculty of Fine Arts, University of Barcelona. Bachelor of Fine Arts, speciality in Graphic Design. Working professionally in the publishing industry as a graphic designer and art director for the past sixteen years, and currently combining the teaching activity and the PhD research on the Thesis about Design, illustration and Advertising in pioneer tire companies (1900-1930) in wich the Michelin Company story is the central axis.

So, with humility and without wanting to sound pedantic in any way, I really know what I'm talking about.

And I hate people who, consciously, are dedicated to deceive others to make money...
Sharing information helps others to know the reality and freely decide what they want to do.

Also, as rightly said Mark,
"the future of our hobby will logically trend to authenticity; historically accurate restoration & preservation of memorabilia should be paramount... "

Best wishes from sunny mediterranean Barcelona.

Sincerely, Pau Medrano-Bigas.

Pau, Like yourself; I also have a very strong dislike for people who lack moral integrity and are motivated by greed and have an absolute disregard for others.

Hello Pau
you're an expert on the history of Michelin, a friend of mine wants to buy this Michelin, which is the right price? thanks Salvatore https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=...e=1&theater[/img]

Hello Pau
I would like to have a Michelin information on man, you are a great expert of him, my friend would like to buy the Michelin photo, what is the price right? https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=...e=1&theater

Great info on here, thank you all.

as it's a part from the air compressor and as it has been repainted, maximal value is 50-60 $

Dear Old Gas friends.

In the last six or seven years it has appeared many Michelin figures and signs, showing Bibendum, the tire brand mascot man.
Here I show some of the most common counterfeits that are flooding the pages of ebay (especially on eBay UK and eBay USA) but we can already see in online stores of "antiques" and even items offered by prestigious auction rooms.

There are figures of all types. Some shows an old look, though they are quite new and have never been existed before as original and authentic elements of Michelin advertising. Others merely reproduce originally plastic figures in chrome metal. A curious case is a Michelin tires for cycles enamel sign, originally produced in lithographed sign in France ... but NEVER as enameled sign, and that can be seen for sale "suitably aged".

I hope the images will help to identify them.

Please do not contribute to the chain of confusion, which affects the credibility of collecting and honest businesses engaged in this work.

Your friend in Barcelona city, Catalonia (Spain),

Pau

Pau thanks for the collation of "fraudulent" Michelin Bibby items.
This page should serve well for those about to imbibe in Michelin collecting and what to avoid. I appreciate the effort.

I dug something like this today



I Am not sure what year is this.

Dear Oldgas friends.

I write you to tell you that the English translated version of my Thesis Dissertation titled The Forgotten Years of Bibendum. Michelin’s American Period in Milltown: Design, Illustration and Advertising by Pioneer Tire Companies (1900-1930) is now available online at the University of Barcelona Thesis Depository:

http://diposit.ub.edu/dspace/handle/2445/126382

The Thesis Dissertation was presented in 2015 and the English translation was finished in 2018 thanks to the financial support of the late Bruce T. Halle and the management of Susan Driver, curator of the Collection of Discount Tire turn of the Century lithograph tire posters. I’m so grateful for their support and endorsement.

The pdf files has been prepared and concived to be printed on paper. The Thesis can be downloaded separately by chapters, where the images appear reproduced in full color and in good resolution.

Files with the covers/back covers of the four volumes are also provided. It is made with the intention that everyone can print it on paper and bind it for your own enjoyment.

I think you will delight it, specially the chapters dedicated to American forgotten tire companies such as FISK, KELLY, REPUBLIC, GILLETTE, HOOD, MILLER, LEE, among others. I recommend reading first the Preface+Foreword plus Introduction to understand what kind of work it is.

http://diposit.ub.edu/dspace/bitstream/2445/126382/1/VOLUME01-%280000%29-FRONT%20MATTER.pdf

Although it is deep in the textual content, do not worry ... it is not boring, and it is also very visual (it contains more than 4,400 images, most of them never published before).

I 'm looking forward to reading your opinions...

I wish you enjoy it!

Your friend in Barcelona,

Pau

**And excuse-me for my sure horrible English. Do not worry ... the thesis has been translated into a perfect American English by a professional translator! ;-)


-------------------------------
Dr. Pau Medrano-Bigas
Professor of Graphic Design at the Grade of Design.
Department of Visual Arts and Design.
Sant Jordi Faculty of Fine Arts.
University of Barcelona.
------
Member of GRACMON,
Research Group in
Contemporary Art and Design History,
University of Barcelona.
http://www.ub.edu/gracmon
------
Personal email: pau.medrano.bigas@gmail.com

Very thorough and informative Pau. I've learned a few things already and I've only just started to read.