Fake Porcelain Signs From India

[StudeMichael]

Be careful guys! This seller is selling fake porcelain signs. They look good, but are fake!!! These signs have even the experts debating them.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/EXTREMELY-RARE-PACKARD-SERVICE-WALKER-CO-DETROIT-PORCELAIN-ENAMEL-SIGN-32x12-/252531619054?hash=item3acc0eb4ee:g:UXAAAOSwMgdX0c2-

http://www.ebay.com/itm/STUDEBAKER-PACKARD-WALKER-CO-DETROIT-PORCELAIN-ENAMEL-SIGN-55x24-INCHES-/252531600142?hash=item3acc0e6b0e:g:Uu8AAOSwvzRX0cmi

http://www.oldgas.com/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=263994&page=all

https://cse.google.com/cse?cx=partner-pub-4762225795683346:9826654340&ie=UTF-8&q=fake+india&sa=Search&ref=www.oldgas.com/forum/ubbthreads.php%3Fubb%3Dshowflat%26Number%3D263994%26page%3Dall#gsc.tab=0&gsc.q=fake%20india&gsc.page=1

http://s1218.photobucket.com/user/DBL_NKL/media/Forum%20Images/Red%20Indian%2036%20Inch%20-%20India%20vs%20Original.jpg.html

[StudeRich]

That was enough for me, to read; "Extreme Rare" Packard ...

[kurtruk]

Thank you. I'm not a buyer, but I have a friend that is a HUGE buyer and seller.

As you look at the two ebay signs, realize the chipped out porcelain around the holes is too similar between the two different signs.

The red indian gasoline is a good study.

[Mikado282]

I have no problem buying reproduction signs, auto parts, paintings, furniture, guns, wood shipping boxes, tools or anything else as long the item it is labeled and priced as such. A large percentage of people(of which I include myself)cannot afford to buy high priced originals although they would for whatever reason buy a reproduction to enjoy. The problem obviously starts when people start selling them as real them the object becomes a fake or forgery which there are laws against. One of the problems is the cost of prosecution is way beyond any recovery value in a lot of cases. So it is back to old "buyer beware".

[48skyliner]

I have trouble understanding why someone would spend their time and money restoring an old car, redoing the chrome, new paint, rubber seals around the windows, nice new interior etc, to make it look as it did back when it was new, and then want to hang an old rusty sign on the garage wall. Personally, I would rather have a nice new replica, so long as it is a faithful reproduction of a sign from back in the day. Of course I would put some value on having it finished in real porcelain, rather than painted.

[kurtruk]

Genuine old sign= Survivor

New reproduction=anyone can buy one

Not all old signs are reproduced (yet)

[52-fan]

Things like this don't worry me too much because, although I like this stuff, I am not going to spend much on something to hang on the wall. The whole "collector value" thing is hyped too much in our times. JMHO

[StudeMichael]

I just posted this to give a heads up in case someone here was bidding on it. The thing I learned was that there are a lot of very convincing signs being reproduced in India and people are paying over $3,000.00 for something that is worth next to nothing. I hate to see that.

[jclary]

I just posted this to give a heads up in case someone here was bidding on it. The thing I learned was that there are a lot of very convincing signs being reproduced in India and people are paying over $3,000.00 for something that is worth next to nothing. I hate to see that.

And, I think you have done a good service to alert us. Truth is, they are "real" signs, just not authentic originals. (Nit pick'n/mole-hill=mountan thing) If you want to see a huge pile of this kind of stuff...just take a stroll through Hobby Lobby. At least, Hobby Lobby makes no claim of authenticity, and have their stuff much more reasonably overpriced.

Quite frankly, I have no pity for anyone who pays way too much for this stuff. Ignorance is very expensive tuition to pay in the learning environment of the University of the Real World. It is embarrassing for me, thinking about what I overpaid for my first computer, Car Phone, and the two new Buicks in 1983.

Reminds me of comic Bill Engvall..."Here's your sign" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JuMo...kM7ZdY&index=3

[52-fan]

And, I think you have done a good service to alert us. Truth is, they are "real" signs, just not authentic originals. (Nit pick'n/mole-hill=mountan thing) If you want to see a huge pile of this kind of stuff...just take a stroll through Hobby Lobby. At least, Hobby Lobby makes no claim of authenticity, and have their stuff much more reasonably overpriced.

And at Hobby Lobby you can use 40% off coupons!

[TWChamp]

I agree with all that's been said. I'd also like to have some nice signs, even reproduction, but won't pay too much for a wall hanging.

What John said about his first computer also applies to me. I didn't know much about them, and I really got took for a new computer that was already out of date.

[Silverplate]

I own a mix of real and reproduction signs. I don't mind a nice reproduction any day, but don't want to pay high dollar from someone passing it off as real. The problem is really huge, use caution when buying signs and it's US sellers more than those from India. Here is a site on Old Gas good for checking the latest on fakes...Mike

http://www.oldgas.com/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=postlist&Board=8&page=1

[JLB]

This thread explains a lot to me regarding these signs. I've seen a plethora of 12 inch round and smaller Gulf, Shell, Pure etc., porcelain signs that look pretty good on E-bay. There are several sellers, selling much the same items. I looked at the location of the sellers and they are within 20-30 miles of one another. That told me the signs were fishy. Too many signs, week after week, from the same sellers. They state they are used and have the rust around the mounting holes, and as I said look pretty good in the photos on E-bay.
Caveat Emptor!

[dpson]

Sadly having these fakes around can also diminish the value of originals, as they fill some supply and demand void and they also bring into question the authenticity of the originals out there. Similar to what happened to the NOS 1961 Lark taillight lenses when the reproductions hit the market.

Glad I sold the originals I had over the last few years before the fakes hit the market.

[Coupe Express]

For the guy that just wants to decorate his walls these quality fakes are a good thing because they are more affordable. But for a guy who is a collector there is nothing good about fakes coming into the market. I agree completely with Dan, these fakes can diminish the market value of the originals, or at minimum, make it hard to verify the authenticity of the signs you have.
Mike