Ghost Signs: The Remains of Painted Advertisement

Artist: Location: “Old Town,” 814 1st Avenue South Year: 1958 Dimensions: Medium: Oil-based house paints Description: A ghost sign is an old hand-painted advertising sign that has been preserved on a building for an extended period of time. The rise of printed billboards soon led to their decline, but many still survive, often faded, clinging to the walls that host them. The sign may be kept for its nostalgic appeal, or simply the indifference of the owner. Ghost signs are found across the world with the United States, the United Kingdom, France and Canada having many surviving examples. Ghost signs are also called fading ads and brickads. In many cases, these are advertisements painted on brick that remained over time. Many ghost signs from the 1890s to 1960s are still visible. Such signs were most commonly used in the decades before the Great Depression. The painters of the signs were called “wall dogs.” As signage advertising formats changed, less durable signs appeared in the later 20th century, and ghost signs from that era are less common. Ghost signs were originally painted with oil-based house paints. The paint that has survived the test of time most likely contains lead, which keeps it strongly adhered to the masonry surface. Ghost signs were often preserved through repainting the entire sign since the colors often fade over time. When ownership changed, a new sign would be painted over the old one. Conservators today are being asked to preserve the original signs rather than painting over them. A Coca-Cola sign from 1958 in Old Town was preserved and touched up to make it more legible. The conservation treatment saturated the original colors bringing back the intensity of the design. It also made the underlying signs more visible to the naked eye. Funded by: Website: https://www.thevintagenews.com/2016/08/28/ghost-signs-the-remains-of-painted-advertising-on-walls-look-up-to-see-into-the-past-2/