Tuesday, August 25, 2009

Unknown Update

I featured this old sign in January 2008. At the time, I could make out only the top of it from several blocks away. Recently I was able to get this better view of it from the penthouse apartment in the 937 Condominium Building. Unfortunately I'm still unable to ready what it says, other than ending in "Company."

The building is on NW Everett between 6th and Broadway. My vantage point is high above NW 9th and Glisan.

2009:

Thursday, August 20, 2009

Gray-McLean Co. Update

Two years ago I showed this sign from street level, both in 1996 and in 2007 photos. I recently got a chance to see it from one of the Block 90 Condominiums and was able to see much more detail. Turns out "Gray-McLean Co." is actually "Gray McLean & Percy."

I also discovered that the Gray McLean & Percy sign was painted over an even older sign:
MONOPOLE
CANNED
AND GLASS FOODS

2009:
1921 advertisement:
Circa 1910:

Advertising Ephemera Collection - Database #A0530
Emergence of Advertising On-Line Project
John W. Hartman Center for Sales, Advertising & Marketing History
Duke University Rare Book, Manuscript, and Special Collections Library
http://library.duke.edu/digitalcollections/eaa/

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Automotive Equipment & Tires

While on the 2009 Street of Dreams tour of the 937 Condominiums in the Pearl District, I was able to get a picture of this sign which is only partially visible from the street. The "CERTAIN-TEED PRODUCTS" (reviewed here) has always been easily visible but from the 16th floor I got a full-on view of:
COMPANY
AUTOMOTIVE EQUIPMENT
& TIRES

The first photo is a closeup of the automotive sign, the second is a wider angle shot of the entire wall. The building is on NW 10th between Flanders and Glisan.

2009:

Thursday, August 6, 2009

Details

These small signs are remnants of the Pearl District's industrial past when NW 13th Ave. had railroad tracks running down it to service the loading docks on both sides of the street.

Oregon Transfer Company Building, Warehouse No. 1, NW 13th at Glisan, 2009:

Prael, Hegele Building, NW 13th between Hoyt and Irving, 2009:

Dale Building, NW 13th between Flanders and Glisan, 2009:

Tuesday, August 4, 2009

Commission Merchants

Railway Building, 1872
Scottish Bank Building, 1876


This beautiful sign is inside the Scottish Bank Building and is painted on the adjacent Railway Building looking north.

COMMISSION MERCHANTS
STAPLE GROCERIES AND PRODUCE
FOREIGN & DOMESTIC

The two buildings were lovingly refurbished by the Leuthold family in 1993. Thanks to Jerry Ketel for sending this photo.