• Welcome to this forum . We are a worldwide group with a common interest in Birmingham and its history. While here, please follow a few simple rules. We ask that you respect other members, thank those who have helped you and please keep your contributions on-topic with the thread.

    We do hope you enjoy your visit. BHF Admin Team

The Sign Service, Erdington Painted Sign At Risk

Morturn

Morturn

Super Moderator
Staff member
13906798_10153986895934563_5215757114584132047_n.jpg
The signwriting company ‘The Sign Service was established in 1948 and is one of the oldest sign manufacturers in the Midlands. The “Man up the Ladder” logo is a local landmark and has been on the side wall of their building for over 60 years.


The sign is unusual as it is a hand painted Trompe-l'œil that is incredibly realistic and was often mistaken for a man actually working. The sign showcases a method of working from the past, using realistic imagery to create an optical illusion that the depicts an object that exist in three dimensions. It is both unusual and interesting.


The company has now moved and the iconic sign is now at risk of permanent loss.


in my opinion this sign is too precious to just be lost, I recall it was there in the late fifty’s; it’s been a part of people lives for over half a century and stands as an icon to a way of life now gone.


I have started the ball rolling and have made an application to Historic England (English Heritage) to put a preservation order on it. I have also written to the Birmingham Mail. By itself, this is never enough, so perhaps some of you will get in touch with the local newspapers, Council, councillors and civic society’s. It would be a sad day if we lost this sign.
 
image.jpeg
Aaaah the painter and his ladder outside the Cross Keys! I loved that sign. That was certainly a part of my life for a long, long time. Like all painted signs it will disappear eventually. Pity it's not covered over but still visible in some way. This photo fromBill Dargue's site is how I remember it (though not in B&W !) Certainly hope it gets a preservation order Mort. Viv
 
Given that the sign that is there now is not the original and is comparatively new, do you think there is any real chance of it being covered by a preservation order?
 
I used to wait for them to paint over the man at Christmas, does anyone else remember Santa? I can still feel the disappointment the year they used a clip-on plastic Santa instead. That was probably in the 1960's. Do they still do it?
 
The photo takes me back to 1960, pity if the painting disappears it will be another part of 'old' Erdington village gone.
Hope they listen to you Morturn.
 
We lived in the Lyndhurst Estate when it was first built. I recall the sign then when the man was up the ladder paining the letters in the traditional way with a brush and mile stick.
 
I know this sign very well, also the original from the 50's, shame it was converted to neon, not much chance of it being saved, I would love to re-paint it as it was, been a signwriter for the last 63 years and still working.
 
Quite sad to see it go. The story in the Mail was what I wrote to heighten public awareness of the loss of another landmark. Unfortunately while historic England agreed the sign was of significant local interest, they have rejected an application made by me to have the sign listed as it has been over painted on a number of occasions.
 
Another one from the past.
The Mail article had a poll asking whether the sign should return to Erdington. Of curiosity, I voted for the return (although I know the article is a couple of years old) where it said 85% wanted it back to its original place.
I guess that never happened then.
My view was as it could not be put into a position, according to the owning company, where the public could see it, it seemed appropriate to return it to its erstwhile home. After all it would still have been a good advert for the company and as much business is done by internet and phone nowadays where originally it would have been phone and passer by maybe.
 
Morturn said:
Quite sad to see it go. The story in the Mail was what I wrote to heighten public awareness of the loss of another landmark. Unfortunately while historic England agreed the sign was of significant local interest, they have rejected an application made by me to have the sign listed as it has been over painted on a number of occasions.
Click to expand...

I seem to be responding to a lot of old posts this week. Historic England don't realise that of course he was overpainted - he became Father Christmas every year who disappeared once New Year arrived.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top