Tip Top Tailors Ghost Sign
I found this ghost sign downtown on Richmond St West and if you look closely you can see that there are actually 2 ghost signs - the predominant smaller one is the older one and you can see the faint outlines of a taller sign that had been painted over it. I found a pic of the building taken in 1916 when the building was 5 stories tall showing the small sign occupying the whole side. The building is now 6 stories high so the tall, more faded one was painted after and didn't last as well! Anyway, Tip Top Tailors has been a major menswear retailer in Canada since its first store opened in 1909 and they occupied this building until 1929 when a move was made to a wonderful Art Deco building on Lakeshore Blvd.
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I wonder if there is some kind of finish than be done to the bricks to preserve these ghost signs. That would be nice - especially since they kept the old rooftop sign on the condo building.
ReplyDeleteFive and six stories high - what a job that had to be! Great find!
ReplyDeleteMy sign entry is here: Signs
It has held up rather well all things considered!
ReplyDeleteYou just don't see signs like this anymore on sides of buildings, right? It's a rare find!
ReplyDeletei agree with lesley's comment. shouldn't there be a movement to preserve these old signage?
ReplyDeleteAmazing what you can discover in these ghost signs. We have quite a few in the older parts of Melbourne.
ReplyDeleteTipTop sign, RedPat!
ReplyDeleteThey made them to last in those days!
ReplyDeleteYes, that is tiptop! Well seen!
ReplyDeleteUnfotunately we don't see ghost signs around here, it's an interesting theme to photograph. ;-)
ReplyDeletea lot of effort went into painting these signs. love the idea of ghost signs. a cool name. this is a fabulous find. genie
ReplyDeleteVery cool.
ReplyDeleteCool ghost sign! I always like seeing these. Advertising was simpler back then. :)
ReplyDeleteI like this ghost sign. You are quite a sign historian, aren't you?
ReplyDeleteI love old signs like this.
ReplyDeleteHi Red Pat, I like this pic. Ghost Signs - That's a good theme to follow up....!
ReplyDeleteSeeing these old ghost signs brings back memories from my past. Tip Top Tailors used to also be manufacture of clothing.
ReplyDeleteAmazing it's still there!
ReplyDeleteSpectacular!
ReplyDeleteI love these old signs!
ReplyDeleteThey're still in Vancouver and they've moved once or twice over the years but they're part of the mall now.
ReplyDeleteLove ghost signs, they are such a special part of the past
ReplyDeleteGhost sign, a fantastic name. Interesting shot.
ReplyDeleteCoincidence! I also found an old tailor sign in Lisbon I will post soon. :-)
ReplyDeleteOh well done Pat, for finding the ghost signs and for all the info to go with them.
ReplyDeleteOnce again you taught me something new. I've seen these types of sign my whole life but never new they were called ghost signs. Makes perfect since now that I have read it.
ReplyDelete