Old train station sign...I think.

[sophieB]

My spouse and I bought an old house (circa 1880's) a few years. In the loft of a detached garage, I found this old sign. I've done quite a bit of research trying to find something similar to obtain a value, but haven't had much luck. My 1st thought was that it was an old Villanova (main line philadelphia) train station sign. But after doing some reseaech I thought it might be an old town marker sign because of the keystone shape. But, all the town marker signs i found online were much smaller than this one.  I asked a local antique dealer to help me find a buyer.  The 1st offer was $400.  After I said I wasn't interested in unloading  it for $400, I got a $3,000 offer the next day, which raised some red flags. At 1st I was told that it was in fact a train station sign, then was told by a collector that it was not. My questions are...

1. What was this sign used for
2. Approximate age
3. Approximate value
4. The antique dealer I spoke with was asking for a 30% commission to find a buyer. Is that industry standard? I have no problem paying a commission for someones hard work, I just don't want to be taken advantage of since I'm not very familiar with antiques and collectibles.

PS..This sign is cast iron and weighs about 150 lbs (just a guess)

Also, I'm having trouble attaching pictures. It says my file is too big

[railman44]

Many, if not most, depot identification signs were made of wood.  I'm leaning toward that being a depot sign.  You might want to look for a depot real photo postcard of that town and see what the actual signage looked like.  These photo/postcards appear on eBay a lot.  In the old days the railroads spared no expense.  I've seen iron whistle signs, RR warning signage and even fence posts made of iron.  You may want to send a better picture to this website and ask your questions.  http://railroadiana.org/ but don't ask for value at this site. 

[cogar]

Well now, if that sign was once affixed to this building pictured below,


which I think it might have been, then I can understand why you got a $3,000 offer for it. Iffen that's where the sign came from then it could be "pure gold", figuretly speaking, that is.

Check this out, to wit:

 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Villanova_(SEPTA_Regional_Rail _station)

(The forum software seems to be messing that link up so you will have strip the 1st part off of it.)

There I got it right.

[cogar]

From Google pictures.

The original cast iron Palmer, MA station sign common to New York Central RR station sign designs has been carefully preserved to hang in the Palmer Public Library "Town Square."

http://www.sevenrailroads.com/index.php?p=1_7_Photo-Gallery

[talesofthesevenseas]

Here are then and now photos of the same train station, taken from the tracks side. Same building as above, but no sign of this sign that I can see:

[waywardangler]

I would also try this site with your information and sign picture...http://kc.pennsyrr.com

The shape of your sign is identical to the Keystone Crossings sign and for the Pennsylvania RR in particular.

[waywardangler]

A current Lewistown sign from the above mentioned site.

[KC]

Just for grins, this is a cool aerial view!

http://wikimapia.org/4337812/Rt-100-Villanova-Station

You can probably direct our question to this site and they most likely will respond!
http://www.prrths.com/

[waywardangler]

The site KC mentioned includes this Lansdowne depot picture with a sign the same shape as yours.  It would be safe to say it is definitely a railroad sign.  And if you look real close at KC's aerial view, there is a glint from a Villanova depot sign there.   

[KC]

LOL!

[sapphire]

"After the end of the Civil War, the Pennsylvania constructed a number of commuter stations on the Main Line. Built by Wilson Brothers, they included Ardmore, Bryn Mawr and Villanova"


http://www.lowermerionhistory.org/texts/first300/part08.html

http://www.lowermerionhistory.org/photodb/web/html3/075-1.html

[cogar]

Sophie’s sign is exactly like the Lansdowne depot sign pictured, including the 4 tabs for affixing it to the side of a building.   

If I were Sophie, I would be contacting the Alumni Organization of Villanova University. They got plenty much big buck$ to spend, ya know.

[railman44]

If yours is original, it's probably been repainted.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ORIGINAL-PENNSYLVANIA-RAILROAD-SIGN-FOR-CHESTER-STATION_W0QQitemZ280470287179QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item414d54f34b

[Vrillon]

its definately a railroad sign, but more questions are raised as to when the sign was decommissioned, which I would guess 1950s in which around that point and time it was repainted.

I am guessing its out of the late 1800s though if thats the style sign they used, but how long was this style used and produced?

[cogar]

Now I wouldn't judge one sign by the condition of the other.

They came from completely different environments.