Primarily Petroliana Shop Talk Forums Shop Talk Petroliana Forums Online Auctions, eBay Craigslist Petroliana Question for Sign enthusiasts

Hello!

I’ll start off the bat by admitting I am not by any means knowledgeable about oil memorabilia or a collector, though I do have an appreciation for collecting relics from the past!

My dad loves antiques, and is really a big fan of items from the 1920’s-1950’s. He’s also a big fan of all things Disney, so I thought maybe something Disney from the time period he collects would be a great Christmas gift for him.

I found a 1933 Sunoco Mickey Mouse sign on Ebay that I actually won!!

....and then realized how stupid I was for bidding on something like that when I know next to nothing about the subject and how to tell a reproduction from the real deal. I know it may be difficult to tell without a physical inspection of the piece, but I was wondering if any of the waaaaay more knowledgeable than me members of this forum could see any red flags with this piece? Also any information on what it was used for would be nice too, as again, I know nothing haha

Thank you for your time and happy holidays!

It's a new "fantasy" sign.

New, decorator piece!

do your homework, everything this seller sells is questionable

https://www.ebay.com/sch/krn2013/m.html?item=202845436398

Returns: - 14 day returns. Buyer pays for return shipping

that 1933 on sign was put on there too deceive - IT'S MARKED (MADE IN USA - 1933

my 2¢ - I would wrap that sign back up & send it back for a refund .. ...

Hello everyone,

Thanks for the information, and thanks for taking the time to help out a “rookie”. You would think that as a collector of sports memorabilia, I’d be more aware of reproductions, but obviously I dropped the ball here :(

I will be returning the sign as soon as I get it.

Thanks again for taking the time to help me out!

FYI: The majority of signs on eBay are fake junk. Use caution.

Appreciate the word of caution, Speedracer. Do you have any other recommendations of places to look?

This website (OldGas) is an extremely reputable place to buy original signs.

Some Facebook groups have good people with good signs (some of the same people are on this website as well).

As far as finding a real Mickey petroliana sign... that would be tough. Probably a reputable auction house (even then you have to use caution). They’re spittin out those repop Disney Petro signs like nobodies business. 99% of the Disney Sunoco signs on eBay are fake.

In years past, smaller signs (like a gas pump plate) were the easiest to reproduce in places like India and ship here for people to sell as “originals”. So I basically stay clear of all of the smaller signs unless I know it’s original or the price is cheap enough to take a chance.

Unfortunately, the bigger signs are being reproduced now, aged and sold as “originals”. So even those aren’t safe.

Also, the reproducing is getting so good that people on here offer differing opinions at times to what is real or not. Makes you wonder how things will be in 20-30 years when even the reproduced signs are truly aged and the old timers who knew the intricate details on originals are gone and all the knowledge went with them. I’m not trying to be depressing but it’s just where we are at currently.

...this sign was never made in porcelain, nor with a Sunoco logo...RPM (Standard of California) used painted tin signs similar to these...here's a link to an original, sold on Oldgas:

http://oldgas.com/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=729840

Hello everyone,
I am not just a rookie, but also stupisd. I bought a sign off eBay for my hubby as a surprise for our anniversary. I should have done my homework but obviously, bought something off eBay thinking I struck gold. I would love to have your feedback and then decide if I wrap this thing in gold paper or send it back for refund. Thanks so much for your help.

If you paid maybe $15/$20 for the sign and you actually like the look gift it, if you spent more than that send it back for a refund, quickly!!!

Send it back!!

I'd send it back - for a decorative sign you paid a little over what it should have been, could have been worse
sign dated '62 too deceive then a ball-peen hammer was taken too it too deceive more - .. ...

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Esso-Motor-Oil-Porcelain-Sign-1962-/333566331703

https://www.ebay.com/itm/VINTAGE-19...S-SERVICE-STATION-PUMP-SIGN/124042758019

I’d ship it back just to inconvenience the seller for deceiving people. I would not support him one bit.