Advertising was everywhere in the 1950s and 1960s, from colorful signs hanging outside gas stations to cardboard displays sitting on grocery store counters. Most of these materials were designed to be temporary, and few people imagined anyone would still want them decades later.
That disposable nature is exactly what can make surviving examples desirable today. Condition, rarity, brand, graphics, size, and whether an item is an original period piece all influence value. Here are 18 types of mid-century advertising that have developed strong collector followings.
1. Coca-Cola Porcelain Signs
Coca-Cola produced an enormous variety of advertising signs for restaurants, stores, gas stations, and roadside businesses. Porcelain examples from the 1950s, particularly those with vivid colors and limited damage, remain popular among soda advertising collectors. Less common shapes and designs can command significantly more than ordinary reproductions.
2. Mobil Pegasus Signs
The red flying Pegasus once appeared prominently at Mobil gas stations across America. Original porcelain and metal Pegasus signs from the mid-century era have become recognizable pieces of petroleum memorabilia. Large examples with strong color and minimal rust or chipping are particularly desirable.
3. Vintage Pepsi-Cola Thermometers
Advertising thermometers allowed companies to put their logos on something store owners could actually use. Pepsi produced numerous versions during the 1950s and 1960s, often featuring its familiar bottle-cap imagery. Complete examples with functioning thermometers and clean graphics tend to attract collectors.
4. Texaco Gas Station Signs
Texaco’s red star logo was once a common sight along American highways. Original signs from service stations can now be sought-after pieces of automobilia, especially porcelain versions. Size, age, condition, and specific logo variations can make a substantial difference in collector interest.
5. Campbell’s Soup Store Displays
Campbell’s used its famous Campbell Kids and instantly recognizable red-and-white branding in grocery store advertising. Cardboard displays were usually thrown away once a promotion ended, making intact vintage examples much harder to find today. Pieces with strong illustrations and little fading can be especially appealing.
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6. Chevrolet Dealership Signs
Automobile dealerships were filled with branded signs promoting manufacturers, models, parts, and service departments. Chevrolet advertising from the 1950s and 1960s is particularly popular because of the era’s enthusiasm for American cars. Original dealership signs featuring the bowtie logo can become impressive garage collectibles.
7. Kellogg’s Cereal Advertising Displays
Breakfast cereal companies competed aggressively for attention in grocery stores. Kellogg’s created colorful displays featuring characters, cereal boxes, and promotional offers. Since much of this advertising was made from cardboard or paper, well-preserved originals from the period can be surprisingly difficult to locate.
8. Esso and Humble Oil Signs
Before Exxon became the dominant name, American motorists were familiar with Esso and Humble Oil branding. Signs, pump plates, maps, and other station advertising from these companies have developed a following among petroliana collectors. Pieces connected to recognizable logos or regional stations can be especially interesting.
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9. Budweiser Lighted Bar Signs
Beer companies supplied bars and taverns with illuminated signs designed to keep their brands visible after dark. Vintage Budweiser examples from the 1950s and 1960s can feature clocks, scenic images, rotating components, or glowing logos. Working examples with their original electrical components are often more desirable than incomplete ones.
10. RCA Victor Advertising Signs
RCA Victor’s famous image of Nipper the dog listening to a phonograph became one of the most recognizable trademarks of the 20th century. Dealers displayed RCA signs in stores selling televisions, radios, and record players. Original mid-century examples featuring Nipper can appeal to both advertising and music-technology collectors.
11. Route 66 Gasoline and Motel Advertising
The growth of automobile travel created an enormous roadside advertising industry. Motels, restaurants, filling stations, and tourist attractions along Route 66 used signs and promotional materials to attract passing motorists. Authentic pieces tied to actual Route 66 businesses can be particularly collectible because of the highway’s cultural significance.
12. 7UP “Fresh Up” Advertising Signs
7UP’s bright graphics and distinctive advertising campaigns produced some memorable mid-century promotional pieces. Metal signs, thermometers, clocks, and store displays carrying the “Fresh Up” branding survive today. Original examples with colorful graphics can stand out in collections of vintage soda memorabilia.
13. Harley-Davidson Dealership Advertising
Motorcycle advertising from the postwar period has become increasingly collectible, particularly material connected to Harley-Davidson dealerships. Signs, posters, parts displays, and dealership promotional items from the 1950s and 1960s can attract both motorcycle enthusiasts and advertising collectors.
14. Gulf Oil Porcelain Signs
Gulf’s orange-and-blue circular logo appeared on countless service stations during the golden age of American motoring. Original porcelain signs are now classic examples of petroliana. Large station signs are especially dramatic, while smaller pump plates and service signs can also have significant collector appeal.
15. Marlboro Advertising Displays
Marlboro transformed its image during the 1950s with rugged Western-themed advertising centered around the Marlboro Man. Original store displays, signs, and promotional materials from the early years of that campaign have become pieces of advertising history. Surviving cardboard displays can be particularly scarce because they were never intended for long-term use.
16. Ford Dealership Posters
Ford dealerships regularly received promotional posters and displays announcing new models and features. Artwork showing cars such as the Thunderbird, Galaxie, and Mustang can capture the design style and optimism of the era. Original dealership material can be much more desirable than later decorative reproductions.
17. Sinclair Dinosaur Advertising
Sinclair Oil turned a dinosaur into one of the most memorable symbols in American gasoline advertising. The company’s green dinosaur appeared on signs, maps, service-station items, and promotional merchandise. Original mid-century Sinclair advertising remains popular, with unusual dinosaur-themed pieces often receiving additional attention from collectors.
18. Neon Advertising Signs
Neon signs were an essential part of the visual landscape of mid-century America. Restaurants, motels, bars, dealerships, and stores used glowing advertisements to compete for attention at night. Original branded neon signs from the 1950s and 1960s can now be highly desirable, particularly when the glass, transformer, metal housing, and painted graphics have survived in good condition.
More Related Notes
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• 15 Vintage Ads That Would Never Be Approved Today.
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• 18 Classic American Brands That Quietly Became Collectors’ Favorites.
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