130

130, a photo by William 74 on Flickr.

A ghost sign in downtown Nashville. There are quite a few ghost signs around town-Nashville has a pleasantly small town feel in places. This one caught my eye because it's right next to the Shelby Avenue Bridge, which crosses the Columbia River. It's pretty obvious that it was meant to be seen by travelers on the bridge, and that the wood door was for loading freight onto the second floor.

Betty Boots

Betty Boots, a photo by William 74 on Flickr.

Huge neon sign for a boot store in downtown Nashville. Lots of detail on this one, it's pretty impressive in person.

I just like it cause it's so intricate. Yeah, that's it. Intricate.

Nashvegas

Nashvegas, a photo by William 74 on Flickr.

A retro-ish sampling of Broadway.

Bridge

Bridge, a photo by William 74 on Flickr.

I genuinely don't know where I took this. Somewhere in very southern Illinois, or northern Kentucky.

The National Underground

The National Underground, a photo by William 74 on Flickr.

Another Nash-classic. I don't think this is an especially old sign, but it's shaped like a National guitar, and that makes it really damn cool.

Advertising without posters is like fishing without worms

Hatch Show Print, a photo by William 74 on Flickr.

Founded in 1879 by brothers Charles and Herbert Hatch, Hatch Show Print is quite possibly one of the most famous print shops in the world. Their first print job was for an appearance by the Reverend Henry Ward Beecher, brother of abolitionist and author Harriet Beecher Stowe.

Orders poured in soon after, and the Hatch brothers' work began to appear on buildings all over the south. The brothers printed posters for all kinds of events and businesses, and created some iconic images. The Hatch Show Print style is recognized all over the world, and the shop is still in business today, doing concert posters, handbills, reprints of some classics, and custom print jobs. It's a really neat place, and well worth a visit if you're in Nashville.

Oh, and they have this awesome neon sign out front!

Marathon Motor Cars

Marathon Motor Cars, a photo by William 74 on Flickr.

Having grown out of the Southern Engine and Boiler Works of Jackson, Marathon Motor Cars were built in Nashville, Tennessee for just four years, between 1910 and 1914. Then as now, it was common for auto manufacturers to buy in parts and assemblies, but Southern chose to engineer and make everything in-house.

Initially badged as Southerns, the company changed the name to Marathon and moved to a new factory in Nashville. The cars were well regarded-probably because of the total control the company had over it's engineering-and demand soon outstripped supply. However, like so many other early auto manufacturers, management didn't keep up with engineering, and within a few years the company ceased automobile production.

The factory complex on Clinton Street in Nashville still stands, and has been partially converted to retail and gallery space. In addition to some old signwriting, some old logos have been lovingly recreated on the factory walls, including this beauty.

Nashville

Nashville, a photo by William 74 on Flickr.

Nashville, as seen from the historic Shelby Avenue Bridge.

I like this shot, even though it doesn't show the AT&T building's distinctive silhouette. It has it all-newer, modern buildings (the AT&T and the Bridgestone Arena), as well as the classic 1957 vintage Life and Casualty Building (with it's neon "L&C" sign on the top.) But, you can also see a corner of historic Broadway, and the vintage storefronts along 1st Avenue North. It represents both sides of Nashville's personality-the modern, efficient city of tomorrow and the rowdy, countrified town of yesterday.