Vintage Route 66 Signs - Circa late 30's early 40's


Vintage Route 66 Signs - Circa late 30's early 40's

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Vintage Route 66 Signs - Circa late 30's early 40's:
$42500.00



100 Year Anniversary of the Mother Road - Own a piece of true history!

The cat eye reflector Route 66 sign, known for its distinctive glass reflectors resembling cat's eyes, became popular in the mid-20th century. These reflectors were initially used for better visibility at night and were a hallmark of American road signage until the late 1940s, when newer technologies emerged.

History of Cat Eye Reflector Route 66 Sign

The cat eye reflector sign has a rich history in American road culture.

  • Origin — The cat eye reflectors were first introduced in the 1930s and became widely used by the 1940s.
  • Design — These reflectors were designed to enhance visibility at night, resembling cat's eyes due to their round shape and reflective properties.
  • Materials — Early signs utilized glass beads for reflectivity, while later versions incorporated prismatic reflectors developed by Stimsonite Corp.
  • Cultural Significance — The Route 66 sign, featuring cat eye reflectors, symbolizes a nostalgic era of American travel and exploration

When I list as 'new', these signs are new and have never been installed.
I've owned these signs for about 20 years. I've enjoyed them in my car shop at home and now enjoy them in my man cave at the lake. I purchased them from an estate sale that was held for my uncle. He owned some amazing memorabilia, especially Route 66 items. These signs are circa 1930's and 40's, and the remarkable piece is none of them were ever installed. He came upon these signs in the 50's at a collectible sale and bought all of them (with the exception of the Missouri) for $1,000! Unbelievable!
I offer heavily against several collectors but wanted these for myself. 20 years ago, I paid $28,000 for the 7 signs, and paid the most for the Kansas sign, nearly $6k, due to only 12 miles of Route 66 going through the corner of Kansas.
I found the new Missouri sign at the Concourse de Elegance in Pebble Beach about 14 years ago, and paid $2,250 for it. It has a scratch just to the left of the M. offerding started at $500 and quickly went to $2,000 until I prevailed at $2,250.
The other 7 signs are pristine with absolutely no damage!
I have a ton of memorabilia and it's time to let someone else enjoy these amazing items of history!
At this moment, I'd like to not split them up and prefer to sell as a set. My uncle told me only a handful of people own any of these, in pristine condition, anywhere, much less a set of 8.

Vintage Route 66 Signs - Circa late 30's early 40's:
$42500.00

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