Need help identifying a vintage beer sign.

Discussion in 'Breweriana' started by maltliquor4me, Jun 17, 2014.

Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.
  1. maltliquor4me

    maltliquor4me Initiate (0) Jun 17, 2014

    As much info as I can give on the pic. Believed to have been taken around 1963, probably at a VFW or American Legion lodge on the east coast. The pic in question has the National Beer logo on what I believe to be a gas pump. As you can see part of the image is missing. Any help identifying is greatly appreciated.

    Link to photo...

    https://dumpyourphoto.com/photo/tYdYYHQJIL
     
    seakayak likes this.
  2. HRamz3

    HRamz3 Initiate (0) Feb 9, 2010 Pitcairn

    Can you post the poto? The image is not showing in the link (though problem may be my crappy workd PC).
     
  3. schnarr84

    schnarr84 Initiate (0) Nov 27, 2011 Canada (AB)

    Shroud0fdoom likes this.
  4. spicoli00

    spicoli00 Pooh-Bah (2,305) Jul 6, 2005 Indiana
    Pooh-Bah

    Clicky-pop for a supersize
    [​IMG]
     
    seakayak likes this.
  5. seakayak

    seakayak Pooh-Bah (1,823) May 20, 2007 Massachusetts
    Society Pooh-Bah

    Based on the (red) chevron behind the words National Beer, it looks like the 1960's version of National Bohemian Beer, also known as Natty Boh. Found this image on a can collector site.
     
  6. maltliquor4me

    maltliquor4me Initiate (0) Jun 17, 2014

    I agree, I am mostly looking for more info or a full image of the National Beer sign.
     
  7. maltliquor4me

    maltliquor4me Initiate (0) Jun 17, 2014

    Thanks for embedding the image.
     
    spicoli00 likes this.
  8. schnarr84

    schnarr84 Initiate (0) Nov 27, 2011 Canada (AB)

  9. maltliquor4me

    maltliquor4me Initiate (0) Jun 17, 2014

    Yes, that is the same chevron style logo for sure. Anyone else have any thoughts on the sign itself? It appears to me the logo is on a gas pump. Thoughts?
     
  10. maltliquor4me

    maltliquor4me Initiate (0) Jun 17, 2014

  11. DrunkenMonk

    DrunkenMonk Initiate (0) Jun 2, 2012 California

    I'm still looking for a gas pump. :wink:
     
    jesskidden likes this.
  12. maltliquor4me

    maltliquor4me Initiate (0) Jun 17, 2014

    From what I can see from the pic of the sign (of course most of it is missing) the National beer chevron appears (to me) to be on the lower half of a gas pump that is situated in front of an old unpainted weather board building. There even seems to be a pipe running into the "pump" on the left side and a fuel hose on the right. I am certainly interested in hearing others thoughts or opinions on this. I am hoping someone will recognize this sign and we will be able to see how it really looks.
     
  13. seakayak

    seakayak Pooh-Bah (1,823) May 20, 2007 Massachusetts
    Society Pooh-Bah

    I see what you're describing as a gas pump in the original black and white photo. But, I think the National Beer sign is actually a small rectangle sign mounted on a large round mirror reflecting the room. You can clearly see the hair on the guy chugging Seagram's reflected at the bottom left of the beer sign. Cool old photo, hope you can find more info.
     
    drtth and DrunkenMonk like this.
  14. channels321

    channels321 Initiate (0) Apr 16, 2012 Texas

    Maybe a clock? similar to this one
    [​IMG]
     
    seakayak likes this.
  15. maltliquor4me

    maltliquor4me Initiate (0) Jun 17, 2014

    Good thoughts guys, thanks for the help. Interesting perspective about the guys head being reflected and the thoughts about the clock.
     
  16. DrunkenMonk

    DrunkenMonk Initiate (0) Jun 2, 2012 California

    I agree with it being a sign on a mirror.
     
    seakayak likes this.
  17. drtth

    drtth Initiate (0) Nov 25, 2007 Pennsylvania
    In Memoriam

    Bingo!

    You can also see a reflection of other things in the mirror.

    The impression of there being a gas pump may be created by representation of a beer can with vertical red(?) stripes on the sides of the "can" and the reflections or by the distortions of the photo introduced by age/handling.

    As you say its most likely a rectangular paste on to the mirror. From what I've seen in various shops where they are for sale, most of the surviving advertising bar mirrors put out by companies are often more ad than mirror. Also it looks as though some expense was spared in decorating the room itself because in the photo we also have a Colt 45 advertising sign, something on the wall next to the mirror that looks like it may be a Cutty Sark poster, and a small sign stuck up just below the mirror that tells us, "Its nice to be nice. Try it!"
     
    #17 drtth, Jun 23, 2014
    Last edited: Jun 23, 2014
    seakayak likes this.
  18. HRamz3

    HRamz3 Initiate (0) Feb 9, 2010 Pitcairn

    seakayak likes this.
  19. jesskidden

    jesskidden Grand Pooh-Bah (3,145) Aug 10, 2005 New Jersey
    Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    The coaster says "The National Brewing Co. Balto. MD, also Phoenix, Miami,, Detroit". No "Bohemia " in the brewery company's name.

    National's flagship brand was National Bohemian Beer, which they sometimes called just "National Beer" in ads and on other material. Here's an example from 1961 (so, a few years before they bought Carling's Phoenix brewery in 1966 - as noted on the coaster).​

    [​IMG]
    The strange thing was that even though the brand and brewery names was "National" (including their superpremium, National Premium), they concentrated on their home Maryland/Mid-Atlantic market for those two brands and continued to brew the original local brands at their other breweries (Regal in Miami, Altes in Detroit and A-1 in Arizona) as well as brewing their nationally-distributed malt liquor, Colt 45, in all their breweries. By the mid-60s, Cold 45 made up half their total yearly barrelage.
     
    #19 jesskidden, Jun 28, 2014
    Last edited: Jun 28, 2014
    seakayak likes this.
  20. Skipster

    Skipster Initiate (0) Jun 12, 2014 Michigan

    Hasn't anyone else noticed the guy drinking straight from the whiskey bottle? LOL
     
    seakayak likes this.
Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.