Charming 1920s Light-Up Radio Battery Service Sign, Rare, Working History Piece!

Description

In my ongoing quest to thin out my collection, I am or will soon be posting on Ebay a number of 1920’s battery sets, early crystal sets, and radio accessories and related items that I picked up over the decades in here in northern New England, and never got around to restoring or even testing. This is one of the most interesting such items I have come across in many decades of collecting – it’s a Radio Battery Service sign from the 1920’s. Many years ago I stumbled upon this in an old storehouse in western Maine, where I had gone to look at an old phonograph. The elderly gentleman who owned the property told me that the building had originally been a garage, where his father had run a business repairing and servicing farm machines and automobiles. One of the services he provided was rebuilding car batteries – he explained the process to me; it sounded complex, and hazardous – and, later, radio batteries. Before the late 1920’s, all radios were powered off batteries, and thrifty Mainers appreciated the fact that you could save a couple of dollars by rebuilding your dead batteries instead of buying new ones; ultimately, his son told me, he ended up servicing more radio batteries than car batteries! That should tell you something about how much time people spent listening to the radio a century ago.
Apparently, this sign was hung in one of the building’s windows. (The hanging rings are still present.) The old gent didn’t know where his father had gotten it, and I had suspected it was a one-off (there is no manufacturer’s label), but I have since seen a picture of another one online, so there are at least 2 of these out there. The sign itself measures 14.25”w x 8.5”h x 4.5”d, and is powered by a lightbulb, set behind a sheet of red construction paper, or something like that (one on each side), over which is laid (again, one on each side) what I would guess is a sheet of oak tag, with “Radio Battery Service” stenciled and cut out. As you can see, the letters on one side of the sign are in better shape than the other. The sign has been electrically restored, and works just as it did when new. (You can see it lit up in the second and fifth pictures.) I love this sign, and have hung it in my workshop for many years; it’s just about the first thing any visitors there notice and comment upon. Now, though, I’m running out of space, so it’s time to pass it on to another collector who will light and enjoy it for years to come just as I have. If you’ve always wanted something like this but were thought you’d never find it, especially in such nice, unmolested condition, this is your lucky day! Odds are good you’ll never come upon another like it. I offer it here with NO RESERVE – high bidder takes it!
I will ship this item ONLY within the United States. If you live elsewhere and are interested in it, please contact me BEFORE bidding so we can discuss the shipping charges, which can be very expensive outside the U.S. I ship once a week (whenever possible). Having received, over the years, some items that did not survive shipping, I always take care to pack very carefully. If you prefer, I will be happy to drop it off at a nearby UPS store and have it professionally packed and shipped at your expense. I reserve the right to raise or lower the shipping charges should they prove to be significantly different than those determined by the shipping calculator. I reserve the right to refuse sale to anyone with excessive negative feedback or an otherwise suspicious history. Payment is due within three (3) days of the auction's close. Due to its age I am selling this item without any warranty. All sales are final. I am not a dealer, and don’t have a big operation with a staff, so I would appreciate your patience while I take the time to pack your items with the care they deserve.
Be sure to see all the pictures! I'll be happy to answer any questions you may have, but please try to ask as early as possible, as it sometimes takes me a while to get to my email. Please see my other listings, as I am running out of space and am thinning out my collection considerably. I have several fine items up on Ebay right now, and will be listing many more in the weeks and months to come, so please keep checking. Good luck and happy bidding!