Mick's Passion

With multi coloured designs of which there were many the process had to be repeated each shade being fired seperately at around 900 degrees.This painstaking process resulted in beautifully designed signs in striking colours.,often incoroporating the prices to reflect virtually inflation free times. Not the kind of thing you could do these days,especially the beer and cigarette prices.

They remained in situ for many years but today few can be seen in their original places. Many are now in museums, on old steam railway platforms, and of course in the hands of ardent collectors.

Astonishing claims were made for the products. Potions that increased brain vigour, gave strength to invalids, and cures for anaemia, depression and brain fag. Cigarettes proclaimed to give you sweet smelling breath,  and smoking Craven A was good for the throat.  You would probably get sued for making such claims today.

These old relics are a piece of history ,who knows in a few years cigarettes may be banned completely but the enamels will be a reminder of things past.

Can anyone honestly say that modern signs will last for 100 years on a wall somewhere?  I think not.

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