Ghost signs

[Fading Fast]

⇧ Absolutely fantastic - largest consumer of paint, paint that was, effectively, "indelible ink," marketing partnership where you outshine your partner on their store - and they're happy with the results. Coke didn't become hugely successful by being stupid or thinking small.

 

[2jakes]

The sign that “Refreshes”...

This style of sign below reminds me of the movie “Hoffa” (’92)
when the workers went on strike during the depression in the 30s.

Sign that goes back to the Civil War times.

 

[LizzieMaine]

⇧ Absolutely fantastic - largest consumer of paint, paint that was, effectively, "indelible ink," marketing partnership where you outshine your partner on their store - and they're happy with the results. Coke didn't become hugely successful by being stupid or thinking small.

They really were the masters from whom the Boys learned everything they ever knew. The most remarkable thing about Coke signs is that they've become so completely ingrained in the American collective consciousness that you don't even need to see the entire sign to know what they are and to have that understanding flash a certain reaction in your mind. No matter who you are, how old you are, where you come from, you can look at a brick wall with a palimpsest of chipped old ads going back a hundred and twenty years and you might not be able to read a single word of any of them -- but if there's a Coke sign there, all you need to see is the slightest suggestion of the curve of the lettering and you will know that it's a Coca-Cola ad, and the meaning of what a Coke is -- a frosty cold, crisp, stimulating drink with strong psychological associations -- will immediately spring into your mind.

This was intentional, just as the idea of a Coke bottle being instantly identifiable even from broken fragments was intentional. Coke understood the power of psychological marketing decades before anyone else. And because of that, the Coca-Cola logo painted on a brick wall stands with the swastika and the cross as the three most instantly-recognizable symbols of twentieth century civilization.

(And note in the example above that Coke didn't confine its privilege ad program to grocers and druggists. Any business -- *any* business -- was fair game.)

 

[2jakes]

Swastika comes from the Sankrit svastica, which means “good fortune” or
“well-being”. Symbol goes back thousands of years.

Swastika bordered Coke ad.

 

[LizzieMaine]

And the cross as a religious symbol goes back to the Phoenician letter "taw," but nobody will ever view it that way again.

There's a movement afoot to rehabilitate the swastika for just such reasons as you mention. Ain't ever going to happen.

 

[BobHufford]

That dang swastika is what keeps me from wearing vintage Navajo jewelry with the "whirling log" symbol.

We do have a vintage basket displayed that has the symbol. I have had to explain that one to concerned parents of my kid's friends more than once.

 

[Fading Fast]

And the cross as a religious symbol goes back to the Phoenician letter "taw," but nobody will ever view it that way again.

There's a movement afoot to rehabilitate the swastika for just such reasons as you mention. Ain't ever going to happen.

One of the smaller evils of the Nazi Germany was that it destroyed what otherwise is an impressive and powerful symbol. I agree with 2Jake's implication that a few more generations will have to be dead and buried before it has a chance at revival, but at some point, it will come back, hopefully, associated with good this time.

 

[2jakes]

Bob...I know the feeling!

Pre-war bicycle bell-ringer made in U.S.

 

[Fading Fast]

I honestly believe we need LizzieMaine to take charge and start making it happen!.

There's a WWII film clip (more than one, I'm sure) of a Nazi rally where the planes fly over in a swastika formation. It is insanely impressive and I always have to check myself as I'm almost awed until I remember all that they made it stand for.

It is too powerful and emotional a symbol not to have a revival, but as you noted, several more generation must first pass on.

My guess is another hundred or so years at most as we felt animosity toward the UK until we didn't (War of 1812, British burn down the White House in 1814, then, in 1917 the US fought shoulder to shoulder with the UK) - enough generations had to pass.

 

[LizzieMaine]

I tend to think it'll take a lot longer than that, if ever. The British torched a building, but what's a few scorched bricks among cousins? The swastika flew over a movement that set out to methodically eradicate an entire race of people off the face of the Earth. The Babylonian captivity hasn't been forgotten, and that was 2500 years ago. It'll take a lot longer for the "Final Solution" to pass from human memory.

Speaking of ghost signs....

 

[EngProf]

That dang swastika is what keeps me from wearing vintage Navajo jewelry with the "whirling log" symbol.

We do have a vintage basket displayed that has the symbol. I have had to explain that one to concerned parents of my kid's friends more than once.

I recently saw an early Western (~1932) in which the hero's Indian friend was wearing a headband with swastikas all around it. I could not help saying to myself, "Wow! A Nazi Indian..." even though I knew better.

 

[2jakes]

Yummylicious

 

[2jakes]

I think I’ll pass on comments with this one.

 

[LizzieMaine]

And you know, it really does. Photoshop manipulation nonwithstanding. (The original said "Relieves Fatigue.")

 

[LizzieMaine]

The original, in Schenectady, N. Y.

 

[Stearmen]

That dang swastika is what keeps me from wearing vintage Navajo jewelry with the "whirling log" symbol.

We do have a vintage basket displayed that has the symbol. I have had to explain that one to concerned parents of my kid's friends more than once.

Another great thing that the "Little house painter ruined!"

 

[1mach1]

Front Royal, VA

 

[1mach1]

Richmond, VA
Corner of Cary St and Cherry St.
Restored

 

[1mach1]

Richmond, VA
Cary St and 14th

 

[BobHufford]

Willow Springs, MO