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Author Topic: Vintage burgers  (Read 6155 times)

ta0

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Vintage burgers
« on: November 16, 2009, 09:47:51 AM »

I perused a collection of reproduction tin signs at a shop in the Riverwalk for the long shot that I could find something spintop related. The family was getting impatient when I struck gold:


The other tin signs were reproductions of real ad signs, so this joint must have existed. Does anyone have more info on it? I want the top on top for my collection  ;D
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SpinQueen

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Re: Vintage burgers
« Reply #1 on: November 16, 2009, 10:40:42 AM »

What a great find!  The top on top of the restaurant looks a lot like an ice cream cone.... mmmmm
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jim in paris

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Re: Vintage burgers
« Reply #2 on: November 16, 2009, 01:45:09 PM »

super joli !!

did you get the sign ?


jim
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ta0

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Re: Vintage burgers
« Reply #3 on: November 16, 2009, 02:45:12 PM »

Well, at $10 it was not an excruciating decision to make  :P It is 15" x 12" (probably not the original size.)

Unfortunately it was the only one they had. Maybe they can be purchased on the internet. The back says on the edge: Manufactured by Sign of the Times, Vernon, CA 90058.

We discussed before a couple of California burger joints with tops on their names. This could be related to those. The cone top on top of the place looks like it may have been motorized to rotate (for a barber pole effect.) I doubt it would have also precessed, but that would have been so rad! (or what was the right term at the time?)
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SpinQueen

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Re: Vintage burgers
« Reply #4 on: November 16, 2009, 03:05:00 PM »

I think "cool" would have been the right term for the 50's. 

Here's the link for Sign of the Times:

http://sottproducts.com/
« Last Edit: November 16, 2009, 03:07:25 PM by SpinQueen »
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RunBMC

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Re: Vintage burgers
« Reply #5 on: November 16, 2009, 05:04:06 PM »

exactly!
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the Earl of Whirl

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Re: Vintage burgers
« Reply #6 on: November 16, 2009, 05:54:34 PM »

I have looked through those shops with metal signs a number of times but I never came up with any gems like that.  Good work, Jorge.  I spent a few moments going through their website and never did find anything like that tops sign.  I'll just have to keep searching around here in Ohio.
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Spinningray

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Re: Vintage burgers
« Reply #7 on: November 16, 2009, 09:40:23 PM »

Here is a link to a place that sells retro signs including that one. They have one available.

http://www.retroplanet.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=RP&Product_Code=21973&Category_Code=Shop_the_50s

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silvertop

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Re: Vintage burgers
« Reply #8 on: November 17, 2009, 08:43:57 PM »

About 10-12 years ago we went to a Tops Burgers place in California.  I got paper cups, napkins, etc.  I talked to the owner/manager, and ordered a case of their plastic drink cups with lids and straws which I gave to our employees at the holidays.  I probably still have some around, but not sure where.  I tried to buy one of the floor mats, but was not successful in that.  They did have a big top on the roof.  As I recall, the place did not look like the one on the tin sign, but I think there was more than one location?
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ta0

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Re: Vintage burgers
« Reply #9 on: November 18, 2009, 09:17:17 AM »

Was it in Pasadena?
There seem to be at least 3 Tops burger places over there:

www.theoriginaltops.com
www.topsburger.com

   
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the Earl of Whirl

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Re: Vintage burgers
« Reply #10 on: January 27, 2021, 03:10:04 PM »

This does not have anything to do with burgers but it is a sign I saw quite a while ago....



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the Earl of Whirl

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Re: Vintage burgers
« Reply #11 on: January 27, 2021, 03:15:33 PM »

And this company is in Coos Bay, Oregon, the hometown of distance running legend Steve Prefontaine....







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ta0

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Re: Vintage burgers
« Reply #12 on: January 27, 2021, 04:13:47 PM »

Wow! How do you find all these signs?

The top on top of that Body Shop sign is 3 dimensional. I could actually be spun!  >:D
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Texture

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Re: Vintage burgers
« Reply #13 on: January 28, 2021, 12:13:09 AM »

Tops everywhere...  :o :o :o :o :o :o :o :o :o :o
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the Earl of Whirl

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Re: Vintage burgers
« Reply #14 on: February 18, 2021, 01:08:23 PM »

Here is something interesting that I saw today.  In Washington D.C. there is a radio station with the call letters WTOP!!!
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