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| NORGE BALLS |
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Norge Village Cleaners was a nationwide laundromat chain based in Chicago. In the early 1960s, the company developed these plastic, polka-dotted ball signs, now affectionately nicknamed "Norge Balls". The dots remind many people of Wonder Bread wrappers. These signs revolved and were lit from the inside. They were usually mounted on freestanding poles but many were also installed on the laundromat's roof. In addition, Norge Village Cleaners featured other plastic signage on their storefronts. These signs are even rarer than the balls now.
In 1967, there were 3,400 Norge Village locations. My guess is that all or the majority of them had these signs. Of the roughly 50 known to still exist, I don't believe any of them are still lit. As far as I know, the only one that still spins is in Iron Mountain, MI (see below). |
| Dean's Village Cleaners Tucson, AZ |
cleaners Dalton, GA |
Shop N Save Harvey, IL |
Vanity Box Chicago, IL |
Venus Envy Ottawa, ON |
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The Dean's Village Cleaners Norge Ball includes their name. I don't know if these signs could be ordered with customized lettering or if this was altered later on.
This Dalton cleaners has their ball mounted on the roof. The Shop N Save Norge Ball is also a bit battered. The Vanity Box, a beauty salon, has adapted this sign. Venus Envy has adapted this Norge Ball. This is the only one that I know of in Canada. It does appear from this photo that it was previously used at a laundromat. However, I don't know if Norge had locations in Canada or if this sign was brought here from the States. |
| Star Deli Food Store St. Petersburg, FL |
Maitland Coin Laundry Maitland, FL |
Norgetown Miami, FL |
4 Paws Oasis Largo, FL |
former coin laundry Largo, FL |
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The Star Deli Food Store probably took over a former laundromat at this site. All of the Florida Norge Balls that I have seen are striped. There is another one in St. Petersburg as well.
The Maitland Coin Laundry is another striped example. The apparently original "Norgetown" lettering makes me wonder if this wasn't a spin-off company from Norge Village. That might also explain the unique striped ball design. The Miami Norgetown's striped ball is on top of a pole in front of their store. The 4 Paws Oasis pet shop was previously a laundromat. This sign is still installed on their roof. For more, see their website. This former coin laundry, whether a Norgetown or a Norge Village, is gone now. This ball still stands over the adapted sign for Michael's Food Store. |
| Norgetown Laundromat & Dry Cleaners Sanford, ME |
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| The Norgetown Laundromat & Dry Cleaners closed in 2009. The laundromat moved down the street and will not be taking these signs with them. I don't know if there were other striped versions of these Norge Balls in Maine or if this one was brought up from Florida. |
| Wondermat Maplewood, MN |
Norge Ball Rolla, MO |
Manchester Karate Studio Manchester, NH |
Video Palace Tucumcari, NM |
Natural Pet Center Fargo, ND |
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The Wondermat sign and laundry are from 1961.
This Norge Ball sign stands on the lot of an abandoned gas station. The Manchester Karate Studio has been here since 1984. Their ball is installed on the roof. [photo thanks DinerFan] The Video Palace updated the ring around their ball with their own name. The Natural Pet Center ball is on a freestanding pole in their parking lot. |
| Fashion Care Corp. Colonie, NY |
Norge Village [gone] DeKalb, IL |
Norge Cleaners and Laundry San Gabriel, CA |
Norge Village Cleaners Long Beach, CA |
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The Fashion Care Corp. has a vintage non-Norge sign in addition to their ball.
The Norge Village laundromat was replaced with Inboden's Meat Market but the Norge Ball remained for several years. It was one of the best preserved balls I have seen, however, it disappeared in 2007. This San Gabriel Norge ball is mounted on the roof of this location, still going by the name of Norge Cleaners and Laundry. The Long Beach Norge Village Cleaners has this fading Norge Ball installed on the the roof. |
| Ranburn Laundry & Cleaners Gary, IN |
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| Ranburn Laundry & Cleaners is a former Norge Village Laundry. This location has the nicest collection of Norge signage that I have seen. |
| KD Sales Kalamazoo, MI |
St. Ignace Laundromat St. Ignace, MI |
Washboard Coin Laundry Iron Mountain, MI |
4-C Cleaners Salt Lake City, UT |
4-C Cleaners Ogden, UT |
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KD Sales updated their Norge Ball for their party supplies business. The laundromat left behind a Norge clock which has since been removed. For more, see their website.
The St. Ignace Laundromat is no longer a Norge Village but retains the sign. The Washboard Coin Laundry features a striped example that I have not seen outside of FL. It makes me wonder if it wasn't brought up from there. This ball is still lit and spins! 4-C Cleaners must have been a Utah chain that took over some Norge Village locations and adapted their ball signs. I have not been to all of their laundromats but, as far as I know, these are the only two that have the Norge balls. |
| Hart's Dry Cleaning & Laundry Roy, UT |
Beverly Hair Studio Los Angeles, CA |
Krazy $1 Store Redondo Beach, CA |
R&S Cleaners Portland, OR |
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The Norge Ball at Hart's Dry Cleaning & Laundry is in great shape. For more, see this website.
The Norge Ball at the Beverly Hair Studio is mounted atop a multiple business pole sign. The broken Norge Ball in Redondo Beach is located at the Krazy $1 Store. The R&S Cleaners Norge Ball also has some damage and fading. |
| Norge Cleaners & Full Service Laundry Ukiah, CA |
Uptown Cleaners & Laundry Richland, WA |
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The Norge Cleaners & Full Service Laundry still retains the name and signs but is no longer a self-serve place. I have not seen a Norge Ball with a blue band before.
The Uptown Cleaners & Laundry continues to use this repainted Norge Ball. |
| Norge Laundry & Cleaning Village Oakland, CA |
former Norge Laundry & Cleaning Village San Mateo, CA |
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This Oakland Norge Laundry & Cleaning Village no longer has a Norge Ball but it does have this projecting plastic sign.
In 2008, this San Mateo Norge Laundry & Cleaning Village building was under construction. The most recent tenant was Dave's Hubcaps. I'm not sure if this Norge sign will be repainted again by the next business or if it will be demolished. This mid-century building is identical to the Norge Cleaners in Albany, CA. |
| Georgia Dollar Decatur, GA |
Mary's Coin Laundry Marietta, GA |
Norge Laundromat Little Falls, NJ |
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The Decatur Norge Ball is hidden behind the Georgia Dollar store sign. The building is now vacant and I'm concerned what might happen to it at this point. For more, see this website.
The Norge Ball at Mary's Coin Laundry still revolves but the city sign ordinances will not allow it. For more, see this website. The Little Falls Norge Laundromat probably had a complementary ball sign at one time. |
| Wilson Wash-A-Teria Easton, PA |
Mt. Washington Cleaners Cincinnati, OH |
Glen Raven Norge Village Laundry Burlington, NC |
Eli's Beauty Supply Greensboro, NC |
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The rooftop Wilson Wash-A-Teria Norge Ball sign is in great shape. The laundromat below is still in operation.
The Mt. Washington Cleaners Norge Ball is installed on a freestanding pole next to the laundromat. The Norge Ball at Glen Raven Norge Village Laundry is missing its midsection. The laundromat is still open. [photo thanks Robby Delius] Eli's Beauty Supply has painted their Norge Ball white. The flat sign is probably also a painted over Norge plastic sign. Since this photo was taken, the business now sells car rims. [photo thanks Robby Delius] |
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More Norge Balls:
Arcadia, CA Lomita, CA [gone] Los Angeles, CA Santa Ana, CA Washington, DC Coeur d’Alene, ID [gone?] Hobart, IN Ashland, KY [gone?] Louisville, KY Highland Park, MI [mostly gone] North Platte, NE Falconer, NY [gone] Portland, OR North East, PA Brigham City, UT Clearfield, UT Plymouth, WI advertisements: 1, 2 If you know of any not on this list, please let me know! |
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