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Missouri Signs (page 4)

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California Motel
California, MO		 Cal's 2
California, MO		 Sky Bank
Wellston, MO
The California Motel sign is probably from the 1950s.

The Cal's 2 sign was built in the late 1990s. The pouring bottle is animated. For more, see this website.

The Sky Bank rooftop sign tower was erected in the late 1940s. In the early 1950s, it became the State Bank. The tower's sign still bears both names. The upper part of the sign originally revolved. It also had a weather beacon on top. Later, the building housed a Regions Bank but the sign was not altered. I believe this building has been vacant since 2006 when the Regions Bank relocated nearby. The building will be demolished in 2013 and the sign will go to a private collector. The sign may be restored and repurposed. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, and 3.

More California Signs:
Pontiac

GMC Trucks
Kirksville, MO		 Starlite Motel
Chillicothe, MO		 Ireland Advertising
& Electric
Chillicothe, MO		 Masonic Lodge
Chillicothe, MO
This GMC Trucks sign is installed at Weber Motors. It is lit at night. The signs were mass-produced in the 1940s. I only know of one other one in Nunda, NY. The signs are now being reproduced. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2.

The Starlite Motel sign is probably from the 1950s. It is lit at night. The sign was previously painted different colors. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2.

The Ireland Advertising & Electric sign was probably adapted from another business. The business name part of the sign is plastic.

This Masonic Lodge sign appears to be in great shape and is probably lit at night.

Steak Burger
Independence, MO		 Big Boy Burgers
Independence, MO		 Queen City Motel
Independence, MO		 V's Italiano Ristorante
Independence, MO		 Gateway Sporting Goods
Independence, MO
This Steak Burger sign is probably from the 1950s. The place is now Lobito's Steak Burger & Mexican Food but the sign remains the same. It is lit at night. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2.

This Big Boy Burgers has been here since 1962. This sign is lit at night. For more, see this website.

The Queen City Motel was originally called the Queen City Court. The text was changed accordingly on this sign which appears to be from the 1950s. It is lit at night and the crown's bulbs flash. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2.

V's Italiano Ristorante was established in 1963. They moved to this location in 1971. This sign is lit at night. For more, see this website.

Gateway Sporting Goods is gone but this sign remains. An antiques store is beneath it now.

Vickers
Independence, MO		 Great Western Motel
Independence, MO		 Sterling Lanes
Independence, MO		 Diamond Bowl
Independence, MO
This Vickers gas station has been closed for years but the building and this sign remain. Vickers Petroleum was a Kansas-based refining and marketing company. The company was bought out by Total Oil in 1980 and most of these signs were removed. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, and 3.

This Great Western Motel sign is from the 1950s. It is lit at night. The sign originally had a horse and cowboy with a neon lasso on the upper right. There was also a AAA logo attached to the upper left. There was also another panel below the arrow which advertised television, air conditioning, etc. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2.

The Sterling Lanes opened in 1959. This sign is probably from then.

The Diamond Bowl opened in 1947 and moved to this location in 1972. The building was completely renovated and this sign was installed in 2007. The diamond-shaped piece on top of the sign revolves. It is lit at night. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2.

Fun House Pizza
Independence, MO		 Blue Springs Bowl
Blue Springs, MO		 B.P.O.E.
Lexington, MO
This Fun House Pizza location opened in 1968. This sign is lit at night. The circus tent part of the sign probably revolved originally. For more, see this website.

The Blue Springs Bowl signs are probably from the 1950s. They are lit at night. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2.

This B.P.O.E. (Benevolent & Protective Order of Elks) sign was produced by Federal Sign. The company began producing these signs between 1901 and 1915. They were still produced in the 1920s after the development of neon. Each bulb-studded letter is a separate, modular panel. On this particular sign, the bulbs were replaced with overlying neon tubing. For more examples of these signs, see this page.

abandoned sign
St. James, MO		 Shadow Rock Lodge
Forsyth, MO		 Fun House Pizza
Raytown, MO
This abandoned sign is called a C-152 Lectra. It was produced in the 1960s by the Standard Neon Supply Company. These signs were designed as flashy sign additions. Here is another example in Hardeeville, SC and a couple that are gone now in Muskogee, OK and Kearney, NE. The Standard Neon Supply Company also produced the Neo-Lectra, a larger three-dimensional star-shaped sign. There are examples of those at this page. [photo of the St. James sign thanks the lope]

This Shadow Rock Lodge sign originally featured a Neo-Lectra. At some point, that element was replaced with this C-152 Lectra. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2.

This Fun House Pizza location also has a C-152 Lectra sign. This one is lit at night. This restaurant opened in 1964. For more, see this website.

Smith Bros. Hardware
Raytown, MO		 Clark's Appliances
Raytown, MO		 Raytown Car Wash
Raytown, MO
Smith Bros. Hardware has been here since the 1930s. This sign is lit at night and the bulbs flash. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2.

Clark's Appliances opened in the 1950s. This sign is lit at night and the diamonds flash. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2.

The Raytown Car Wash sign is probably from the 1960s.

Travelier Motel
Macon, MO		 Southpaws
Veterinary Clinic
Maryville, MO		 Farmers State Bank
Stanberry, MO
The Travelier Motel was built around 1950. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, and 3.

This Southpaws Veterinary Clinic sign has obviously been adapted from a previous business. I assume it originally advertised for a mobile home dealership or something similar.

This Farmers State Bank sign might have been located elsewhere. It stands next to a drive-up ATM location now.

Jan's Liquors
Belton, MO		 Crest Food Center
Belton, MO		 Boomland
Charleston, MO
The Jan's Liquors sign probably had a different name on top originally. The bulbs and neon appear to be in good shape.

The Crest Food Center closed in 2010. I don't know what will happen with this sign. It was lit at night. For more, see this website.

Boomland is a big fireworks market and gift shop on the KY/IL/TN border. They have two other locations in MO. They also have an RV park and campground. The first sign is a huge pole sign visible from the interstate while the second sign is ground level near the store. These photos are from 2006. On a 2010 visit, the second sign seemed to be missing. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2.

More MO Signs:
Red Goose Shoes (Lexington) [gone]

MO (page 1) MO (page 2) MO (page 3) Kansas City St. Louis
Main Signs Page