MME // OAI → History SA → Tin Sign collection
JSONNames
Tin Sign collection
IDs
NMM 4
Offline Only
Descriptions
A collection of tin signs advertising various motoring-related products. Tin signs comprise a steel sheet which is usually stamped to create embossed lettering and/or an image, then coated with a vitreous enamel finish in a variety of colours. These signs advertised a variety of motoring related items and accessories, including petrol, tyres, sparkplugs etc.
It was quickly realised by the purveyors of various motoring-related goods and services that in order to advertise their products along the sides of roads, and particularly at petrol or service stations, they required a robust yet visually striking medium. Tin signs, with their vitreous enamelled finish were selected because they were able to be mass manufactured, could be easily pressed in to a variety of shapes and had a robust finish which required little to no care or attention and yet remained bright and attractive. [np]The tin sign collection illustrates the variety of products required by early Australian motorists. It also documents early motoring-related businesses with signs commonly displaying a company's corporate colours, logos, and/or a visual representation of the product itself. These tin signs were gradually phased out with the introduction of neon or fluorescent signage, which had the advantage of being easily seen at night.
A National Motor Museum collection. Access to collection items held in Museum Stores is by appointment only.
Subjects
Advertisements; Advertising signs
Advertisements; Marketing; Road vehicles; Signage
Advertising; Garagiana; Marketing; Petroliana; Tin Signs
National Motor Museum, South Australia
Coverage Spatial
Australia
Coverage Temporal
1905
1965
Related Collections
Dates
2012-05-30 23:40
2011-03-04 13:46