STOP YOUR MOTOR Orig PORCELAIN SIGN Gas Station Garage Pump Oil Metal Red White
Overall Condition: Very Good (VG) vintage condition with excellent gloss and vivid, bright red lettering.
Front Field: Clean white porcelain field with minor surface scuffs, light scratches, and faint handling wear consistent with age. No major chips or porcelain loss in the main graphic area.
Edges & Mounting Holes: Minor edge wear and light rust staining, primarily concentrated around the original brass mounting grommets/eyelets.
Reverse Side: Smooth, light gray porcelain backing with typical minor manufacturing dimples/flea bites and a few light scuffs, plus a thin vertical black mark near the center as pictured. No structural bending, severe warping, or deep corrosion.
Up for auction is this authentic, classic single-sided porcelain advertising sign featuring the bold safety command: "STOP YOUR MOTOR". Designed to be mounted directly onto gas pump islands or service station walls, this iconic piece of Americana features striking block red lettering fired over a durable, heavy white porcelain enamel base. It retains six original metal mounting grommets spaced along the top, bottom, and center edges for secure installation.
Measurements: 23x 6 inches
Origin: Made in the United States. These utilitarian warning signs were widely commissioned by major American petroleum giants (such as Texaco, Shell, and Union 76) and manufactured by domestic porcelain enamel companies to meet strict service station safety ordinances.
Era / Date of Production: Circa 1940s to 1950s. The heavy gauge steel construction, thick porcelain layer, font style, and distinct brass grommets are characteristic of the mid-20th-century golden era of gas station advertising.
Rarity: Uncommon/Moderately Scarce. While safety and warning signs were standard equipment at service stations, smaller porcelain strip signs like this frequently suffered damage, were thrown away during station upgrades, or were lost to scrap drives. Finding one in this crisp, clean condition with such high gloss is becoming increasingly difficult for petroliana collectors.