Large Kaiser Sign for $1150

[Roadmaster49]

I happened to be driving through a town which has a large antique dealer downtown market.  Lo and Behold, I spotted a 4 foot by 4 foot round Kaiser sign, I did not have my camera but it's the one with mustard yellow in it. Dark Blue -I believe it said Kaiser Service, no mention of Frazer.

It had the usual chips but was in nice condition, asking $1150.    I thought these went for $3000 or so on ebay and in auctions.  Tempted to buy and flip....

I say that because I am not a big believer in paying huge sums for these porcelain signs when adequate reproductions sell for $35 and give me some of the same nostalgic feel.     

[Gordie]

The most popular K-F signs are the five foot diameter sign that every K-F dealer had back in the day.  When badly stone chipped they can be found for from $500 on up to about $1.500 for a very nice one.  The expensive ones are the neon signs and there were several available and they can be very hard to find and costly

[Roadmaster49]

Thanks Gordie.  This is the 5 foot round service sign.  It's better than $500, it has no dents, and the chips are not large enough to detract.  More good than bad I guess I am saying.  I don't know how the antique dealer arrived at $1150 but I suspect they have sources for prices, interesting it is in the middle of your high and low numbers.

It's in west central Iowa and one of my 1st thoughts was where it might have come from.  Could be from anywhere, but I suspect KF had dealers in Council Bluffs, Omaha and so on.

[Gordie]

It is hard to find these signs in perfect condition as most have chips.  I found one in Johnstown PA a few years ago on my way to Hershey for $600, not perfect but with a few chips and it works for me.  They show up on eBay occasionally.  There were many K-F dealers in small towns in Iowa.  Maybe the seller knows a little about the signs history.

[Fid]

I was just speaking with my cousin yesterday and he informed me there is still a KF Dealer sign on a building in Shenandoah, IA.  I remember my dad and I went to see that sign back in the early '70s.  We met the owner, who I am sure has long since passed.
I was quite surprised to learn the sign is still there as of last week.  If you're ever in / near Shenandoah, IA you can still see the sign.  My cous said he'd shoot me a picture next time he goes through there.

[Roadmaster49]

I was just in Shenandoah yesterday.  We have a customer there. I completed service around 1:00 pm.  We live in Des Moines, but we are not retiring here.  Shenandoah, Red Oak and similar towns are what we are considering moving to.

I am a big RailFan and Shenandoah has retained their train depot and it's now a restaurant.  If you tell me about where the sign is, I will check it out next time I am in town. 

On the way back on Highway 59 I went as far as Avoca, then cut over to Walnut, which is the antique city with the KF sign. 

[amkfken]

I got my 5ft round KF sign from a trash pile in Illinois, dealer was throwing it out, my brother picked it up, dealer said pay me what ever you want, he hauled it out to Colorado for me, has a few small chips, complete cast iron hanger,springs and all for ------$50-!!!

[Fid]

The one in Shenandoah is the other type, this one as I recall:



and if I recall correctly, it was being used as a sign for a different business with neon tubes over it. I thought it was right on Main street but it was 40+ years ago so I could be wrong about that.
More info when I hear back from my cousin.

We got  two KF products from Red Oak, IA in the 1970s - a low mileage '51 Henry J and tutone green '49 Frazer Manhattan - both were pictured in the book "Dinosaur Cars."

The attached pic is of my '53 Henry J at the Super America in Shenandoah in June 1974 when we were there looking at the sign.

[kaiserfrazerlibrary]

Don't forget there are two versions of the 5 foot round K-F sign.  One just says "Approved Service" in the center section, the other says "Approved Parts and Service".  Also in 5 foot round is the red and white Kaiser-Willys service sign.

The larger dealer sign came in two shapes; an L-shaped and the "key" type rectangular.

[Gordie]

There is also another version with the bottom of the sign being removable with screws and nuts.  One of those was on display at the convention in Prescott this year.

[Roadmaster49]

I was just speaking with my cousin yesterday and he informed me there is still a KF Dealer sign on a building in Shenandoah, IA.  I remember my dad and I went to see that sign back in the early '70s.  We met the owner, who I am sure has long since passed.
I was quite surprised to learn the sign is still there as of last week.  If you're ever in / near Shenandoah, IA you can still see the sign.  My cous said he'd shoot me a picture next time he goes through there.

Fid
I was back in Shenandoah yesterday for work, and to look at a house for sale and I saw the KF sign on Highway 59. I was not able to take a photo due to a tight schedule, but I saw it and will be back in town.

[Fid]

Sorry, I didn't see this till now.  I'm suprised (but happy) to know that sign is still there and survives!  You also mentioned Red Oak, IA. We acquired several KFs from Red Oak and stripped several parts cars there - one being a '51 Frazer that was made into a pickup! I'm sure it's long gone by now but it was sitting in a yard there in town.  This picture was taken in Red Oak the day we got this '51 Henry J and towed it home behind a '51 Frazer.  For those who like to argue about originality/authenticity let me describe this Henry J.  It had 20,000 miles on it, had been sitting in a heated garage since 1958 and was owned by a KF dealer employee.  In 1958 it already had these modifications - '52/'53 style tail lights (they were caulked as opposed to using gaskets but for the most part quality work), it also had the 'Vagabond' scripts on the fender (from a '51 Frazer not a Henry J), held on with screws, beauty rings on the wheels and an anti-sway bar in the rear. It was also tutoned.  I mention these things to remind people that cars were being modified way back when they were new so never assume something is original.  Of course, these things did not make it a bad car. In fact it was quite good and very dependable - but it was not 'all original' as is often claimed about these cars.

[Roadmaster49]

Interesting story and photo Fid.  I wonder if what appears to be a bowling alley or old timey grocery store in the background is still there. 

I live in Des Moines, with my wife and daughter. She graduates in 2 years. I cover a 3 state territory for my company, as a service technician. Iowa-Kansas-Nebraska.  That is why we are considering moving to SW Iowa.  We love Red Oak and like Shenandoah.

Red Oak and Shenandoah are on the east side of a prairie river, the Nishnabotna.  I prefer Red Oak because it has more hills, or a hill run to the east and that gives the town a bit more character.  This is probably boring anyone reading it but now you know why I go that way.

Walnut, Iowa is a town on the way home from Omaha-Shenandoah-Red Oak and that is how I came to drive through and see the huge KF sign.   So, along with your stories, I find it interesting that there is a lot of KF history over that way.   The last time I was there, I was on the look out for the sign you mentioned and spotted it.  I thought maybe it would be on the way toward downtown but it's right there on Highway 59.   

[Fid]

Walnut, Iowa is a town on the way home from Omaha-Shenandoah-Red Oak and that is how I came to drive through and see the huge KF sign.

My father has cousins in Walnut / Avoca. I spent lots of time there when I was kid.  Now it's all Antique shops which is very cool.  Johnny Carson was a from Avoca.  Great territory.