Wagenbau-Anstalt, Dresden

Until the 1990s, many ghost signs could be seen along the streets of the Äussere Neustadt neighbourhood of Dresden, usually by or above the doorways of buildings erected during the second half of the 19th century or the early 20th century. Unfortunately many disappeared when, following the reunification of Germany, many buildings were either restored or demolished. One exception is the ghost sign for Theodor Richter, which still spans the entrance of his former carriage works. The building dates from 1895 and given the style of the sign I would assume Richter moved there immediately or soon afterwards. I haven't any information about this company though.

The books of the series Aus der Geschichte eines Dresdner Stadtteils, about the history, social and cultural life, and economy of the different districts of Dresden (16 volumes so far), include some pictures of ghost signs taken in the 1990s and early 2000s, many of which have now disappeared. Each volume is well-illustrated, and looking at the old black and white pictures, one rapidly realizes that parts of the town were absolutely covered with painted signs.

Wagenbau-Anstalt von Theodor Richter
[Theodor Richter's Carriage Works]


Location: Böhmische Straße, Dresden, Sachsen / Pictures taken in December 2009

Cole, Tottenham

Visible from far away, this gable seems to have three ghost signs painted on it, but only one is still complete.

Two ghost signs promoted Cole's business. The original version almost completely disappeared when the new one was painted. Only the nameColeis still visible, at the same level as "Hair."
On the second, more elaborate version of Cole's sign, the letters project a red shadow. It readsCole
Hair
Cutting
Rooms
Finally, two additional lines can still be read but they appear unconnected:Naturals ... [& ?]andDealer in
Glass Shades
These can be seen more clearly on the picture below.


Location: High Road / Pictures taken in June 2008

Norville, Gloucester

Based in Gloucester, Norville was founded more than a century ago. Since then the exterior of the practice seems to have changed relatively little. The façade still displays the lovely Edwardian fascia and a simple but effective painted sign can be seen on the side of the building. In spite of changes introduced over the years to telephone numbering, this sign was left untouched. Nowadays there are several Norville optician practices around Gloucestershire and in the Bristol area but I doubt they are as attractive as the original one.

Norville
Spectacle
Maker
Telephone 22033
Location: Eastgate Street, Gloucester, Gloucestershire / Pictures taken in July 2010

Haig whisky, Camberwell

The story of Haig whisky goes back to 1627, the year Robert Haig set up a distillery near Stirling. But this was just the beginning. The story, together with lots of information about how scotch whisky is made, is told in the promotional documentary "Scotch by Haig," shot in 1979.

This prominent ghost sign near Camberwell Green features the famous rhyming slogan for the brand.

Don't Be Vague
Ask For
Haig
...
The Oldest Scotch Whisky
Distillers in the World
Nowadays the central part of this ghost sign is white but I can't imagine it was originally like that. Small traces of the same blue paint used for the last two lines can be seen here and there but not enough to give us a clue. Could there have been a bottle of Gold Label and one of Dimple?

Ask For
Haig
The Oldest Scotch Whisky
Distillers in the World
Location: Milkwell Yard / Pictures taken in April 2008

Austin's Library, Petersfield

As mentioned in an earlier post about the ironmonger F. A. Allsworth, until the late 1950s Lavant Street was one of Petersfield's main shopping streets. Originally, near the junction with Chapel Street, one could find Llewellyn Eley Bradley's shop. Although according to an article in Petersfield Life he was a jeweller, this is certainly wrong. Indeed other sources and a picture in the collection of Petersfield Museum indicate he sold books, stationery items and a whole range of fancy goods, including toys. Actually one of the toys in Bradley's shop was most certainly the inspiration for Adventures of the Little Wooden Horse by Ursula Moray Williams. The author of this classic book for children, published in 1938, was born in Petersfield and spent her youth in the Hampshire town. An article in Portsmouth News about that link also includes a copy of the picture of Bradley's shop mentioned above.
As for Llewellyn Bradley, who was born in 1877, he is also remembered for his photographs of Petersfield, several of which were printed as postcards. I have not found what happened to Bradley over time but it appears he sold his business in the early 1930s (possibly earlier). Indeed according to the 1933 edition of The British Book Trade Directory, Austin's Library was trading in lieu of Bradley's. Austin's Library appears on a picture of Lavant Street taken c. 1955 (the first shop on the left) but what happened to it after that date is unknown to me.

The ghost sign, which promoted both businesses, is found round the corner from the shop itself and would have been seen by people coming from the town centre and heading towards the shops of Lavant Street and Chapel Street or going towards the train station at the end of Lavant Street. Since both offered essentially the same services and goods, all that was needed when Austin's Library took over from Bradley's was to change the name on the first line.

Llewelynn Bradley / Austin's
Stationer, Newsagent
Books, Toys & Fancy Goods
-- Library --
Location: Chapel Street, Petersfield, Hampshire / Picture taken in September 2011

Builders, Earl's Court

Thanks to a hoarding, part of the side wall of this building avoided the brown-ish paint. When it was was removed, part of a ghost sign emerged.
Enough can still be read to identify the different trades advertised there.

Carpenters
Ironmongers
Builders
Plumbers
The first, second and fourth lines were written twice, using a different typeface.


Location: Earls Court Road / Pictures taken in February 2008

Mondial Oil, Cognac

Lubricating oils, greases and other by-products manufacturer and importer Mondial-Oil was founded on 14th March 1929. The forerunners of this French company were the Etablissements A. Moruchon et A. Dumet, fom La Rochelle. In spite of the global pretence of its name, Mondial-Oil operated essentially in southwest France. The refinery was located in La Pallice, just outside La Rochelle. From there lubricants were dispatched to depots in Bordeaux and Nantes. The company also had an office in Paris, where it was registered, although it seemed to have been run from the Bordeaux offices on Quai Deschamps.
There is very little information available about Mondial-Oil (quite frustrating really). By the late 1950s the company was seeking a licensing agreement with a US firm for manufacture in France of a US line of lubricants and by-products. I have not found whether Mondial Oil was successful in its search nor what happened to it after 1962, when the name appeared in a publication of the US Department of Trade.

Marque déposée
Mondial-Oil
L'assurance du moteur
huiles et graisses
En vente ici
<--- Garage G. Poulon ...

[Registered Trademark
Mondial-Oil
The Motor's Insurance
Lubricating Oils and Greases
Available Here At
<--- Garage G. Poulon ...
Most of this ghost sign used to be covered by a hoarding. This explains its good state of preservation. Unfortunately the part that was not hidden has badly faded, including the French cockerel that stood on the globe. Only its feet are still visible nowadays. You can get an idea of what it would originally have looked like by checking this enamel plate.


Another ghost sign was originally painted on this wall. A few letters can still be seen here and there but not enough to identify the product or company it advertised.

However the name of the advertising agency responsible for this wall is still visible in the lower right-hand corner.

Publicité
F. Lafond
Cognac
Location: Rue Claude Boucher, Cognac, Charente / Picture taken in June 2010 and January 2011