American Sign Museum

American Sign Museum
2515 Essex Place
Cincinnati, Ohio 45206
(800) 925-1110
(513) 258-4020, ext. 336
Fax: (513) 421-5144
E-mail: tod@signmuseum.org

Norwood Site Nixed by New Mayor
Meanwhile, construction of a prototype museum featuring "Signs on Main Street" commences at the present warehouse space

The Museum's search for a permanent home had a major setback when negotiations with the City of Norwood for locating at the municipality's former incinerator broke down in mid-December. Several meetings with the then mayor as well as the city's Development Committee, and a December presentation to City Council, had prompted positive response from Norwood. However, November elections gave the city a new mayor effective January 1, who, unfortunately proved to be less than positive about the project.

On a more upbeat note, negotiations are being re-opened with the owners of another building, which also fronts, and offers excellent exposure to, Interstate 71, and is just two minutes from downtown Cincinnati. Several other new sites are also being explored. Meanwhile, construction has begun on the Museum's prototype, which should be unveiled in March, 2004. That site will feature four vintage storefronts (of the planned 12-14) in the "Signs on Main Street" portion of the museum, which is sponsored by the International Sign Association. There will also be an indoor boneyard of unrestored signs in the Museum's collection.

The other chief section in the prototype as well as the planned permanent home is a timeline history of the sign industry, told through the evolution of three dimensional letters. This area is sponsored by Gemini, Inc., Cannon Falls, MN. Design for the timeline history is underway, but the Museum is seeking additional information and objects to use in the exhibit.

Some recent acquisitions will greatly add to the display. One is a 10-page, black-and-white illustrated catalog and pricelist for Spanjer Brothers Wood Letters and Sign Boards dated July 1, 1932. This will augment the Series E Spanjer Brothers catalog (circa 1910) acquired a year ago. Another recent acquisition are two printed heavy cardboard pieces dated 1917 and promoting the various letter styles and sizes of letters manufactured by Chicago Sign Board Company, a competitor of Spanjer Brothers. And just before Christmas, Joe Broxterman, Speedway Graphics, and Ingrid Spikker, Mapleleaf Studio, both of Conifer, CO, personally delivered among other items, a circa 1950s salesman sample kit from Wagner Zip-Change, Inc., Melrose Park, IL. The sample kit was donated by Larry Fromm of Greeley, CO.

In addition, the sponsor of the timeline —Gemini, Inc.— is donating a number of three-dimensional letters and related items, including vintage changeable glass Adler letters. An ad for Flexlume Corp. from a 1930s vintage Sweet's catalog outlines the company's specifications for raised glass letter signs, and is complimented by another Flexlume catalog, "Signs and Inscriptions in Architecture," which portrays the company's line of architectural letters. A third Flexlume catalog, "Theatre Electric Displays," shows the same raised glass letters as changeable copy on marquees. A 1909 brochure for Atlantic Electric Sign Company (Atlantic City, NJ) illustrates that company's line of lightbulb-studded letters.