Period signage for delivery vehicles.

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Tbird
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Period signage for delivery vehicles.

Post by Tbird » Mon Nov 10, 2025 12:02 pm

Looking for some photos of period signage that would have been used on any type of delivery vehicles 1900-15. Horse drawn wagons are fine as well. Looking for some ideas and styles to get a layout for my delivery car project.


Rich P. Bingham
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Re: Period signage for delivery vehicles.

Post by Rich P. Bingham » Mon Nov 10, 2025 12:23 pm

Look for the many past forum posts by “Dollisdad”, aka Tom Rootleib, who has posted dozens of great period photos, with a generous sprinkling of commercial vehicles showing lettering.
Get a horse !

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TRDxB2
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Re: Period signage for delivery vehicles.

Post by TRDxB2 » Mon Nov 10, 2025 1:57 pm

Tbird wrote:
Mon Nov 10, 2025 12:02 pm
Looking for some photos of period signage that would have been used on any type of delivery vehicles 1900-15. Horse drawn wagons are fine as well. Looking for some ideas and styles to get a layout for my delivery car project.
This Google Search will give you some ideas. https://www.google.com/search?q=black+a ... ws-wiz-img

You can colorize with this https://www.img2go.com/colorize-image
The past is a great place and I don't want to erase it or to regret it, but I don't want to be its prisoner either.
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Daisy Mae
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Re: Period signage for delivery vehicles.

Post by Daisy Mae » Mon Nov 10, 2025 3:32 pm

Ten years off from your requested time period, but this was my '25 TT when I brought it home. Spent its life as a parcel delivery truck.
Screenshot_20251110_142824_Gallery.jpg
Call me anything you want...just so long as it isn't "late for dinner"


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Re: Period signage for delivery vehicles.

Post by Dollisdad » Mon Nov 10, 2025 4:30 pm



big2bird
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Re: Period signage for delivery vehicles.

Post by big2bird » Mon Nov 10, 2025 4:49 pm

OIP-11.jpeg
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This would tie into the Railroading crowd.

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rwephill
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Re: Period signage for delivery vehicles.

Post by rwephill » Mon Nov 10, 2025 5:00 pm

Depends on what type of vehicle you are putting the sign on, but here are a few examples. If you spend some time searching the internet, you will continue to come up with a lot of examples. Eventually, something will speak to you as to the look, lettering, patina, etc.
Attachments
Sign4.jpg
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Sign3.png
Sign2.jpg
Sign1.jpg
Sign1.jpg (13.35 KiB) Viewed 502 times
“You don’t have to go fast… you just have to go.”


Maineiac
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Re: Period signage for delivery vehicles.

Post by Maineiac » Mon Nov 10, 2025 5:20 pm

I have a limited bit of original signage on my hood, can't seem to upload the photo on mobile. Will try again when back home.


Aussie16
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Re: Period signage for delivery vehicles.

Post by Aussie16 » Tue Nov 11, 2025 1:42 am

I was able to use examples of original text from photos in an original sales catalogue for the agency that selling Model Ts
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Re: Period signage for delivery vehicles.

Post by Allan » Tue Nov 11, 2025 2:40 am

Here's one, hand enamelled, showing original artwork. It took 3 weeks for the illustration mostly drying time between colours
20231216_140032.jpg
Allan from down under.


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Re: Period signage for delivery vehicles.

Post by Allan » Tue Nov 11, 2025 2:51 am

There are multiple examples of early signwriting on vehicles in a book titled "Delivery Trucks", one of the Crestline series, compiled by Donald F. Wood and published by MBI Publishing Company Osceola, WI. Unfortunately, it is printed in black and white.

Allan from down under.


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Re: Period signage for delivery vehicles.

Post by Allan » Tue Nov 11, 2025 3:09 am

Ben Ostergren discovered a large cache of glass negatives detailing the output of a commercial body builders in New Jersey. He had some sets of photos made from these negatives, and he very generously gave me a whole set.
Most are of 20's vehicles, including many heavy trucks and buses. These are a few of the lighter vehicles. I have selected those with greatest contrast. Again these are in black and white.
20251111_183226.jpg
Allan from down under.

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Tbird
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Re: Period signage for delivery vehicles.

Post by Tbird » Tue Nov 11, 2025 10:50 am

This is all great stuff guys! Keep adding more if you have some more content.


Dollisdad
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Re: Period signage for delivery vehicles.

Post by Dollisdad » Tue Nov 11, 2025 1:37 pm

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Dollisdad
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Re: Period signage for delivery vehicles.

Post by Dollisdad » Tue Nov 11, 2025 1:38 pm

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Dollisdad
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Re: Period signage for delivery vehicles.

Post by Dollisdad » Tue Nov 11, 2025 1:39 pm

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Dollisdad
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Re: Period signage for delivery vehicles.

Post by Dollisdad » Tue Nov 11, 2025 1:43 pm

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South Park Zephyr
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Re: Period signage for delivery vehicles.

Post by South Park Zephyr » Tue Nov 11, 2025 3:00 pm

Well, now I want that wrecker!

I wish we still had the desire to build these unique vehicles

Scott


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Re: Period signage for delivery vehicles.

Post by Maineiac » Tue Nov 11, 2025 6:59 pm

Home again, here's my livery.
17629055130226445722635629004321.jpg


Mike Silbert
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Re: Period signage for delivery vehicles.

Post by Mike Silbert » Tue Nov 11, 2025 8:33 pm

Here is one that brings back lots of old memories of the family, farm, and the truck.
It now resides @ Piquette for all to see.
I snagged this picture of it from Facebook.
Jenkins Flower Truck.jpg


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Re: Period signage for delivery vehicles.

Post by Dollisdad » Tue Nov 11, 2025 11:30 pm



South Park Zephyr
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Re: Period signage for delivery vehicles.

Post by South Park Zephyr » Wed Nov 12, 2025 6:50 am

Not a great pic, but I found this in a salvage yard 5 yrs ago
Attachments
IMG_3441.jpeg


Cruby
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Re: Period signage for delivery vehicles.

Post by Cruby » Wed Nov 12, 2025 8:58 am

Bertrand Neb 1922.jpg

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