A fun productive day and pictures of a couple of Public Telephone signs.

[Greg G.]

I was ordered by Anita to not do any household business and go have some fun.  So after I bought the pink Trimline, I went to "Antique Row" in a town near the seller (Snohomish, WA) and spent a good part of the day exploring the antique shops.  Although I did find some phones, they were the usual over-priced stuff.

In the last shop I came across these 2 signs.  I'm most curious about the "M. Telephone" sign that has a Bell System bell, but doesn't have any words on the bell.  Anybody know?  The other sign was definitely a Bell System sign, but the price seemed high.  I also found a couple of WW2 era aircraft carrier microphones, which I also passed over.

[Fabius]

The connections sign is a nice sign but not $549 nice. The arrow sign is also nice especially in good condition. Never seen one with a M before. Did the other side also have the M? The only thing I can think of is the M (motor) indicates a call from car phone?

[Sargeguy]

I think it is a highway sign and is the m stands for miles.  There would have been a number placed on it depending on the distance.

[Sargeguy]

The public telephone sign is nice.  I have seen the regular ones fetch $350 and I think the "connections" would add a few bucks to it. 

[Fabius]

I think it is a highway sign and is the m stands for miles.  There would have been a number placed on it depending on the distance.

You jarred my memory. I think you're right.

[Greg G.]

The arrow sign is also nice especially in good condition. Never seen one with a M before. Did the other side also have the M?

Yes, the second picture is the opposite side, taken from outside the shop.

[Sargeguy]

Bob Alexander shows a similar sign, without the "M", and  with a blank '39 bell.  The caption says that signs of that type were used "all over the Sierra Nevada range"

[Greg G.]

Bob Alexander shows a similar sign, without the "M", and  with a blank '39 bell.  The caption says that signs of that type were used "all over the Sierra Nevada range"

So is that a '39 bell?  What about the $349 price tag?

[Sargeguy]

That's a 21' bell, the similar one in the book has a 39' bell. 

[Fabius]

That's a 21' bell, the similar one in the book has a 39' bell.

The arrow with the M in the photo? That's a '39 bell. Look at the lack of detail in the bell hanger compared to the '21 bell.

[Sargeguy]

Here is a version that just sold:

[Sargeguy]

Here is another recent sale of a sign similar to the first one.  This one did pretty well considering the damage.