Coke

Coke, a photo by William 74 on Flickr.

Another vintage Coca Cola sign, this one hanging in front of a laundromat in Genoa City, Wisconsin. This sort of sign would have originally been in front of a store or restaurant, the name of which would go where the laundromat's name is now. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if this sign was recycled from an old diner or drugstore.

Hotpoint Appliances

Hotpoint Appliances, a photo by William 74 on Flickr.

Once again, it pays to wander around back alleys. This vintage Hotpoint Appliances neon sign (with a bonus hanger for a hardware store) was spotted in an alley in the tiny town of Polo, Illinois. I've visited this town a couple of times, yet this is the first time I've seen this hidden gem. I don't believe this was a hanging sign, but was a wall hanger from the beginning. I also don't know if this is anywhere near the original location of Port's Hardware, or if such a business even existed in Polo. It certainly isn't there now.

Moose

Moose, a photo by William 74 on Flickr.

A vintage Moose Lodge, with an equally vintage neon hanger. It's well faded but the glass is still nice and bright.

This building had a nice Vitrolite front too-I'm thought I'd shot it but I guess not.

Elizabeth Banking Center

Elizabeth Banking Center, a photo by William 74 on Flickr.

Elizabeth, Illinois is a small town located in Jo Daviess County, amongst the area's rolling hills and valleys. Despite it's small population (less than 1000 at the last count), Elizabeth's downtown features plenty of shops and businesses, and includes this excellent neon sign at the bank.

Central Furniture

Central Furniture Sign #2-Chicago, IL, a photo by William 74 on Flickr.

A bright-and-night of the Central Furniture Mart sign in Wicker Park.

Tivoli Lanes

Tivoli Lanes, a photo by William 74 on Flickr.

When I rule the world, I will enact a law making it mandatory for all bowling alleys to have cool neon signs out front.

Tivoli Lanes, Downers Grove, IL

Cole's Furniture

Cole's Furniture Sign-Chicago, IL, a photo by William 74 on Flickr.

An interesting collection of neon at an old-school appliance store on Lincoln Avenue in Chicago. The Admiral sign is particularly interesting-Admiral Electronics was bought by Maytag in the 70's and was exclusive to Monkey Ward's for years. Now Admiral is exclusive to Home Depot. Fun fact, during the opening credits of M Squad, as Detective Ballinger is driving through Chicago at night, you can see the enormous Admiral neon billboard that used to feature prominently in the Loop.

I also think this must be one of the last surviving Hotpoint neons in existence. The "Official Union Discount Store" part must be rare too. This whole thing must have looked awesome all lit up at night!

Larson's

Larson's, a photo by William 74 on Flickr.

This sign is a bit of a mystery to me. It's in the town of LaSalle, Illinois, tucked away from the downtown area, in a section that looks like it is (or was) a neighborhood shopping district. Just a few storefronts and an old gas station. The current business is an antique/junk type of shop (it didn't look open the day I was there), but it's not called Larson's. So I really have no idea what a Larson's is or was.My best guess is a restaurant or bar, but what's "BPS" mean?

I mean, look at it. This is a really nice sign. The colors are great, and most of the glass is still there, and it's not all rusted through. My research so far has turned up exactly one reference to this building, and that's my photo.

Any ideas?

World Real Estate

World Real Estate sign, a photo by William 74 on Flickr.

This beauty must have looked great all lit up at night. Note the tree branch growing through it.

Seen on the north side of Chicago several years ago-I've no idea if it's still there.

Royal Blue

Royal Blue, a photo by William 74 on Flickr.

A vintage Selz Royal Blue Shoes sign, in the town of Chenoa, Illinois, right along historic Route 66. This is a bit of a cheat-it's a restoration of an old Selz sign that was uncovered when a building was demolished. Although it is starting to fade and flake again-I wonder if they'll restore the restoration?

Moose Lodge 799

Moose Lodge-Elgin, IL, a photo by William 74 on Flickr.

An oldie but a goodie! This vintage sign was on the Moose Lodge 799's building in downtown Elgin, Illinois. The sign was in pretty bad shape by the time I shot it in 2009, and the lodge had moved to a new location by then as well. But it still looked pretty cool, very Streamline Moderne. It disappeared sometime in 2010, reputedly stolen off the building.

Thinking about it, I've noticed that Moose lodges tend to have neon signs out front-I'll have to take a closer look as I drive around exploring.

The Colonial Motel

The Colonial Motel-Elgin, IL, a photo by William 74 on Flickr.

I don't know much (okay, anything) about the Colonial Motel, except that it's on the east side of Elgin, just off U.S. Route 20, the Grant Highway. Which makes sense, because the Grant is a coast-to-coast road, and motels dot the length of it.

Oh, and it has this excellent fifties sign out front-I can totally imagine rolling up in an old '59 Chevy, back in the day.

Enjoy Sprite!

Enjoy Sprite!, a photo by William 74 on Flickr.

Of all the pop brands out there, the one you usually see being used as a store sign somewhere is Coke, followed by Pepsi. Other things show up, but are few and far between compared to the Big Two. This one's a sixties Sprite sign, advertising a grocery store in Rockford, Illinois. I've only ever seen one of these old Sprite signs, up north near Wisconsin, perched on top of an old gas station in the middle of nowhere.

I think it's pretty cool, especially with the stars in the middle section, and it's in fantastic shape.

The Egyptian

The Egyptian, a photo by William 74 on Flickr.

Some more TtV goodness of the Egyptian Theater in DeKalb, IL.

Protected by the Pinkertons

Pinkerton's sign-Chicago, IL, a photo by William 74 on Flickr.

The Pinkerton Agency is probably the world's most famous detective agency. They had offices everywhere in the U.S., and were involved in all manner of security work as well as investigations.

This vintage porcelain sign was on the door at the former Erickson Jewelers shop in Andersonville, a neighborhood on the north side of Chicago. The shop's neon sign hung there for quite some time after the shop closed as well. The space has since been turned into a restaurant, and I don't know if this little sign is still there. I rather doubt it.

Lake Aire

Lake Aire, a photo by William 74 on Flickr.

Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, is located just over the border from Illinois, and has been a popular weekend retreat for many years. Lots of cool old buildings in the area, including the excellent, old-school Lake Aire Restaurant, with this fantastic slab over the door.

The place is packed all summer long. Naturally I went when it was rainy and cold-I'm kind of glad. The colors really popped.

Workin' At The Car Wash Blues

Elgin Car Wash-Elgin, IL, a photo by William 74 on Flickr.

A non-neon Neon Friday entry. This classic old sign is in Elgin, Illinois. It looks a little beat up but it works pretty well.