The Old Empire Beer Crystal Mfg Co Illuminated Sign
This small backlit reverse-on-glass (ROG) backbar sign is based on what collectors affectionately call 'Crystal Signs', which is short for the signs made by the Crystal Manufacturing Company of Chicago, Illinois beginning in the early 1930’s up until wartime. Notable for their distinctive pentagon-shaped tin housings and use of silver mirrored glass artwork that incorporated colored acetate to create “the brightest of displays without the cost and maintenance of neon” according to the manufacturers advertising of the time.
Highly desirable among advertising collectors we have painstakingly re-created the same look and feel of these Pre-war lighted advertising signs so that you can be transported back in time. Patterned from vintage originals, everything is made entirely by hand. Crafted from the same tin plate metal and gauge material as the originals, every detail has been painstakingly re-created. A sliding access panel door on the backside of the housing, exactly the same as the originals to allow changing a lamp source easy. Even the vent holes and louvers were carefully crafted to replicate the period authentic look of these late 80 year old lighted signs.
Handmade by artisans in the USA one-at-a-time, each sign faithfully uses the same materials and methods to ensure they are crafted to the original intent of the Crystal Mfg Co.
-
Hand drawn art faithfully re-creates the advertising used by the United Union Breweries of Walla Walla, Washington during their era of advertising their ‘Old Empire Beer’ brand (circa late 1930’s).
-
Hand pulled screen-printed artwork faithfully replicates Crystal Mfg’s preferred process of silvered mirrored glass graphics and clever use of colored acetates that when backlit is intended to mimic the look of neon.
-
Using the same type and gauge (thickness) of metal as originally was used when these signs were made at the Crystal factory in Chicago in the 1930’s, tinplate will develop a beautiful patina that is quite lovely. This natural aging process of oxidation occurs when using this type of metal in its natural raw state.
-
All metalwork is hand cut and formed using a hand press, then hand soldered, just as originally would have been done 80 years ago.
-
Original Crystal signs are notorious for having graphics with brittle, flaking paint that has delaminated from the glass or is lifting, discolored or has faded over time. As a result, very few examples of these signs survive today in excellent condition and it is a rare sign to see signs without flaking paint. Originally comprised of two pieces of glass (a front mirrored glass that featured the screen printed indicia and back glass that was used only to hold the carefully cut and tapped acetate that provided the brilliant backlit color), our contemporary signs are comprised of a single piece of glass. The red and green acetate are held in place with a heat-resistant polyester film that is engineered be less affected by hot light sources to wear better than the originals. Nearly twice the thickness (and nearly twice the weight) our graphics exceed those produced originally by the Crystal Manufacturing Company in their permanence.
-
Professionally screen printed water glass decal featuring hand-pulled graphics and metallic flake, just as was done originally.
-
Painted wood frames are patterned off of the original shape used by Crystal Manufacturing. To make these frames a knife in the same profile as the original frame was made and the wood frame extruded through a router, the four sections mitered, nailed and then painted.
-
Sign includes lamp source and is ready to display.
To purchase your Old Empire Beer Crystal Manufacturing sign please email us at: chad@smallbatchsigns.com
LEARN MORE ABOUT OLD EMPIRE BEER
If you would like to learn more about the United Union Breweries of Walla Walla, Washington and their Old Empire Beer brand, please visit Gary Flynn’s immensely informative and well-researched breweriana website ‘Brewery Gems’ at: https://www.brewerygems.com/pioneer.htm