Ancient TV Store Ghost Signage Uncovered on Fifth

I love uncovering ghost signage. Hidden from view for years, often decades, it reappears when an awning or newer sign is removed, briefly transporting us back in time and giving us a glimpse into the neighborhood's past.

Many thanks to a loyal reader for sending over the above photo, of a 50s-era sign that was recently revealed when the owners of the Uncle Louie G's franchise on Fifth near Seventh Street took their awning down. The only word that's visible is "T.V.,"  possibly with the word "Marconi" above it, but it's hard to tell. Looks like there's an old phone number on there as well, along with some still covered words below, maybe "Repair Shop?"

Either way, it's very cool, and handpainted in a couple different now-retro fonts. 

Comments

[Jon]

Great to see! Those old sign painters really knew their craft.

FYI - the type geeks will point out, when it's custom hand lettering it's never called a "font", just a lettering style. :)

[Jocelyn]

A "Marconi's TV Service" is listed in the phone directories of 1968 and 1973 (but not '63 or '78) under the phone number 788-8821, which is exactly what the number in the photo looks like, although they're using the old-style "ST8" exchange.

Here's the odd thing: in both cases its address is listed as 387 Fifth Ave. That would be the same block as the photo but on the other side of the Avenue. Were odd numbers sometimes used on both sides of Fifth Ave.? Never heard of that before.