1959. Single-sided tin (SST). Embossed. Authenticated by The Authentication Company (TAC #402541). All items are guaranteed authentic by Miller & Miller Auctions. All purchases are eligible for free delivery to the Check the Oil Show on June 26, 2026. 29.5" x 15.25".

Size
29.5" x 15.25".

Condition
Grade: 8.5. Excellent colour and gloss. Stable edge flakes and one stable flake to the right of the 'S' in "Hires". Edge creasing and impressions to margins.

Medium
The company was formed in 1976, in Cowansville, Quebec, by Robert A. Barker, a grandson of the founder of the J.J. Barker Co. Ltd. (a major player in the Canadian advertising sign business from the early 1900s to the late 1970s). For reasons unknown, during the late 1950s through to the late 1970s, the J.J. Barker company, despite having a successful sign business, appeared to pay less attention to its sign business and more attention to its decorative tile business. In response to this observation, in 1976, Robert Barker purchased J.J.’s sign division and formed the Barker Sign Company. His company was now separate from the J.J. Barker Co. Ltd., with the two having no structural or financial linkage. The newly formed company retained the “sign” clientele from the J.J. Barker company along with all of its inventory, plates and machinery, allowing it to exclusively continue to produce quality tin signs for major industries and products including lithographed tin bottle-shaped and thermometer soda signs, soda advertising of all types, tobacciana advertising, agriculture and automobilia related signs. Along with a rapid expansion to include outdoor advertising signs, the company easily maintained and continued its staunch presence in the advertising industry. It was said, at the time of the formation of the new company, that “had Mr. Barker [Robert] not decided to purchase the ‘sign division’ it is likely the division would have been closed”. Robert clearly was a forward thinker who understood the value and importance of the sign business that his grandfather had started. The Barker Sign Company is still in business in Cowansville, Quebec.