Just as the title says. I am really hoping it didn't get junked back when they shut down. Maybe Leatherman did something with it when they bought the company? Does anyone know if that sign is still alive and where it might be?

Man would that be cool to have in the garage!

quote:

Originally posted by jayskerdoo:

Man would that be cool to have in the garage!

Indeed it would! Sadly, it may have been scrapped out or cut up for patches for old pickup trucks with rusty floors. (like mine)

Hi All, please file the following in the category "more information than one really needs to know", however, since my wife & I are what you call "experts" in all thing related to signage, here goes: I think the sign and layout which is shown in your posts may have been a secondary sign approximately 48"H x 78"L with two exterior posts to hold up the sign case. In another vintage shot of the Barth factory, another sign is shown with a Barth coach parked nearby to provide size reference. This particular sign with the same axis & a slightly different layout appears to be 72"H x 120"L and is erected on a single steel pipe & probably located in the front of the main office. Both signs appear to be back-lit using vertical florescent bulbs with double-sided pan-faced vacuum-formed Plexiglas faces, approximately 3/16" thick. These faces without an aluminum extrusion to hold them on all sides are on a bit on the "wimpy" side. During the 1970's, 80's, & 90's, this particular type of sign was very popular with good visibility both night & day and barring vandalism, was rather durable. Actually, we're not too crazy about the layout design, at the very least, we believe the Barth logo should have been placed on the right & the Barth coach on the left, so that the axis of the coach would have been leading into the logo & lettering instead of leading your eye away. But who knows? Maybe that's the way they wanted it. Lastly, if anyone has the desire to place an original looking Barth sign in their garage, any reputable sign shop should be able to reproduce on a much better substrate & in a dimension which would be more suitable for display in a given space. We, over the years, have reproduced old vintage auto & equipment signage for various customers & it's not a difficult chore, especially if we have the original artwork & layouts.

Good Luck, John

A new study: "Signage Forensics".
Like any good read I just couldn't put it down. Thanks

BTW, how cool would it be to have your own coach on the sign.

quote:

Originally posted by Goodsign:
Hi All, please file the following in the category "more information than one really needs to know", however, since my wife & I are what you call "experts" in all thing related to signage, here goes: I think the sign and layout which is shown in your posts may have been a secondary sign approximately 48"H x 78"L with two exterior posts to hold up the sign case. In another vintage shot of the Barth factory, another sign is shown with a Barth coach parked nearby to provide size reference. This particular sign with the same axis & a slightly different layout appears to be 72"H x 120"L and is erected on a single steel pipe & probably located in the front of the main office. Both signs appear to be back-lit using vertical florescent bulbs with double-sided pan-faced vacuum-formed Plexiglas faces, approximately 3/16" thick. These faces without an aluminum extrusion to hold them on all sides are on a bit on the "wimpy" side. During the 1970's, 80's, & 90's, this particular type of sign was very popular with good visibility both night & day and barring vandalism, was rather durable. Actually, we're not too crazy about the layout design, at the very least, we believe the Barth logo should have been placed on the right & the Barth coach on the left, so that the axis of the coach would have been leading into the logo & lettering instead of leading your eye away. But who knows? Maybe that's the way they wanted it. Lastly, if anyone has the desire to place an original looking Barth sign in their garage, any reputable sign shop should be able to reproduce on a much better substrate & in a dimension which would be more suitable for display in a given space. We, over the years, have reproduced old vintage auto & equipment signage for various customers & it's not a difficult chore, especially if we have the original artwork & layouts.

Good Luck, John

This is the last thing I expected to read today, love it! John, since you are such a signage expert, how about letting letting me commission you to make a replica?

FYI, I did email Keith and he said:

"I have no idea. Never saw the sign with the inventory we purchased. Sorry."

Hello All, since our family has been in the sign business non-stop since 1914, with my wife & I operating independently for the past forty four years, we have seen a lot of businesses & professions come & go. In most cases, when a business closes, they call a sign company to remove & take the old sign, as most new business owners want a "new look" or perhaps they think it's bad karma to re-use the existing signs. One time, we had a professional with the abbreviation "Dr." before his name. He moved into an existing practice which already had a sign, with a beautiful brick base & the aluminum structure was in top-notch shape, & we tried to talk him into just re-facing the sign. We estimated that that original sign had cost about $15,000-$20,000 & he wanted to tear it down completely. But we being frugal didn't agree with his decision, even though he wanted to pay us to do it. He hired somebody else & presently he has a rather average sign which looks to be worth about $500.00. Needless to say, I questioned his aesthetic & fiscal judgment of removing something of such value, so next time I become ill, I'll not be looking up his phone number. So to address a few other thoughts; so yes Steve, Plexiglas & especially Lexan(polycarbonate) make very tough, durable substrates. Presently, we have an old Lexan sign face under our 21'long rollback(wrecker) aluminum bed so that the hydraulic lines do not snag the cross members as the bed slides fore & aft. The funny thing is, every time we slide & lower the bed back, on top of the frame, the old face reads "Pete's Used Furniture". That always gets a chuckle. To Ted: with advancements in today's digital printing , it would be easy (with a good digital photo image) to print an image of one's own Barth coach on a sign, a shirt, banner, or any other surface. Lastly, Jay, regarding signage, my wife & I are semi-retired, however the phone continues to ring daily & we still are doing local selective work. You should be able to find someone close to you to make you a garage sign, however, if you can't find anyone to do the layout, we might be able to help you there.

Good Luck, John

Just wondering what was their address/location in Milford?
Are there any buildings left?