Cycle & Motor Works, Catford

At first sight, this is a pretty straightforward sign.

Cycle
&
Motor
Works
But why does it look like they tried to hide the lower half by painting it over? A bit of work in Photoshop shows traces of an earlier sign....maker
Jeweller
...
...eaman [written diagonally and cutting the sign in two]
...
...
...
Actually this isn't it. Although it is impossible to read anything, there was even a third sign on this wall.

Location: Stanstead Road / Picture taken on: 23/07/2009