Cab Lights question

[jwcans]

Does anyone how many of the Gillco, or Cab Lights were produced. Maybe a list of the known brands that used them?
I love the look of them, but have never seen one that fits my niche of collecting.
Actually, I bet everyone would like to see some photos, so how about showing some off for us all to ogle.
Thanks in advance

[thebackbar]

Cab lights were produced for hundreds of brands of beer (too many to list here) especially when you count those made by Cincinnati Advertising Products and those made by Gillco.

Both companies also made cab lights for products other than beer -- such as ice cream, radios, eye glasses, irons, washing machines, beer cooling systems, state liquor authorities -- to name a few.

The majority of the cab lights were made by Gillco. Gillcos have a cast metal base, with a fired glass front lens, and a silvered or painted, glass reflector back lens; except for the National Beer and Pilsner Urquell brands, which have no back; and the Lowenbrau brand, which has a metal back (no doubt there are other exceptions). The parts are held together with a metal trim ring.

C.A.P made fewer cab lights than Gillco. C.A.P.s have solid, wood, painted bases, with a fired or painted glass front lens and a metal back. The metal back has two tabs for screwing it to the wood base; and an integrated lip, or flange, that holds the front lens securly in place.

Here are a few cab lights:

Star by Gillco

Budweiser by Cincinnati Advertising Product

Fairday (non-beer) by Gillco

I love the look of them, but have never seen one that fits my niche of collecting.

What is your niche of collecting? Maybe I have (or can locate) a cab light for your niche -- I have thirty-two cab lights in my collection. Anyone selling or trading cab lights should contact me. I buy them and trade for them, or I can hook you up with someone who does.

[RON BACON]

Do you know where I can get a Berghoff Cab light? Never had an opportunity yet?
Ron

8cc5_7.jpg (17.68 KiB) Viewed 3559 times

[Pokey]

I only have one cab light, but I am always interested in adding more. Mine actually looks better when it is off. Then you can see the magnificent green coloring!

[thebackbar]

Do you know where I can get a Berghoff Cab light? Never had an opportunity yet?
Ron

Ron:

At the moment, I don't have a Berghoff cab light in my collection. The last time I saw one (like the one in your photo) was about four to five years ago at a consignment auction in Fort Wayne. The consignor was a Berghoff collector who sold most or all of his collection in the auction (I think he was moving). If my memory is right, the light didn't meet reserve, and then the owner put it on eBay once or twice. It eventually sold, but I don't know who bought it. The former owner might know, but I don't recall his name -- I'd remember his name if I heard it again. Sorry I can't help you more than that.

John

[thebackbar]

I only have one cab light, but I am always interested in adding more. Mine actually looks better when it is off. Then you can see the magnificent green coloring!

That's a nice Hyde Park light, Pokey. This style is called a band shell "halo" light, instead of a cab light, becasue it has a flat lens (as opposed to a convex lens like a cab light) and it has a deeper back (like an outdoor concert band shell) instead of a shallow back. The gaps between the edges of the glass and the base and back produce the halo effect when the light is on. The light was made by Price Brothers circa 1937 - 1938.

Compare the patent drawings for each:

(left) Band shell light by Price Bros. ---------- (right) Cab light by Gillco

and here's a page from a catalogue for the band shell style light and others by Price Brothers
(see Golden Glow example, left column, fourth down from top):

[CVforMe]

Do you know where I can get a Berghoff Cab light? Never had an opportunity yet?
Ron

8cc5_7.jpg

Ron,
Was that photo taken at the auction (D.E.'s stuff)? That light is in my collection, and I believe it is the only one to exist. PM me for more info.
Phil

(pic from last year's post:

[John H.]

John, that black and white article was fascinating. Do you know how many (or if) any of those pictured cab lights actually exist? I love the Golden Glow light, it looks very similar to the one Wally Gilbert had when his collection was sold. I was almost on my knees begging Pat Franco to sell it to me, but alas, no such luck. I'm still trying to find some kind of light from Golden West, so far just cans, bottles, and the factory prepro tray.

John H.

[thebackbar]

Do you know how many (or if) any of those pictured cab lights actually exist?
John H.

The Golden Glow is a band shell halo light, not a cab light, and Pat has the only example I know of. As for the other lights pictured in the catelogue, they are not cab lights either. I have an example of the Schlitz (only one known), two examples of the Pabst (two of four known), and one example of the Trommer's (White Label, which is somewhat common). I have seen one Old Milwaukee, about four Schaefers, but none of the Stern Brau. As for the non-illuminated examples shown, I don't know how many there are becasue I don't follow non-illuminated signs.

[ohiocoasterswanted]

Here are a few more photos of those great Cablights. I have owned many and have done restoration work on many also. It is possible to polish the bases and repaint the rear glass if needed. If anyone would like help or need restoration tips, I can help.

[Pokey]

This style is called a band shell "halo" light, instead of a cab light, becasue it has a flat lens (as opposed to a convex lens like a cab light) and it has a deeper back (like an outdoor concert band shell) instead of a shallow back. The gaps between the edges of the glass and the base and back produce the halo effect when the light is on. The light was made by Price Brothers circa 1937 - 1938.[/attachment]

Good information. I had not known about the Halo light. Damn, now I need a cab light for my collection. Anyone have a Budweiser Cab Light for Sale!?!?!?!?

[RON BACON]

Do you know where I can get a Berghoff Cab light? Never had an opportunity yet?
Ron

8cc5_7.jpg

Ron,
Was that photo taken at the auction (D.E.'s stuff)? That light is in my collection, and I believe it is the only one to exist. PM me for more info.
Phil

Phil,

Yes that is D.E.'s light or at least was his. I guess begging is out of the question?

Ron

(pic from last year's post:

[Pokey]

So according to this descriptive sheet,


this is an "Illuminated Edge-Brite Sign"??

[ronsmall]

Pokey,

There was a beautiful Budweiser cab light for sale at Blue Gray. I don't remember the name of the person who was selling it, but I do believe he still had it at the end of the show. Perhaps someone else here (John B.?) can give you his contact info?

Ron

[Pokey]

Pokey,

There was a beautiful Budweiser cab light for sale at Blue Gray. I don't remember the name of the person who was selling it, but I do believe he still had it at the end of the show. Perhaps someone else here (John B.?) can give you his contact info?

Ron

Yes! Please let me know who to contact! I would love to add that to my collection!!!

[thebackbar]

Pokey,

There was a beautiful Budweiser cab light for sale at Blue Gray. I don't remember the name of the person who was selling it, but I do believe he still had it at the end of the show. Perhaps someone else here (John B.?) can give you his contact info?

Ron

Yes! Please let me know who to contact! I would love to add that to my collection!!!

Pokey:

I left a message for the person who was selling the Budweiser cab light at Blue Gray. When he calls or e-mails back (it may take a few days) I'll ask him if he still has the cab light up for sale. If he does, I will let you know. The CAB light he was selling was made by Cincinnati Advertising Products. It is the type with the wood base and metal back. It is identical to this Michelob cab light, except it says Budweiser:

I also know where there may be a Budweiser (similar to this one pictured below) for sale. But the condition of the front lens and the overall condition of the sign were not that good; and the price was (in my opinon) too high for the condition. If you want me to reach out to the owner to see if he still has it, let me know:

[thebackbar]

So according to this descriptive sheet, this is an "Illuminated Edge-Brite Sign"??

Correct! The Blitz Weinhard sign is style #650 shown on the Price Brothers catelogue page.

[Barry Travis]

I guess this could be called my holy grail...

[John H.]

These posts have been some of the most informative I've read on this site. There is always so much to see and learn. I have only one halo light as John describes it, from Buffalo brewing in California. I'd love to get a cab light, but I imagine they are not cheap. I think I've seen a cab light from Ram's Head ale and the Star one John's shown here, and that Travis takes the cake. Does anyone know if there are any California cab lights? If anyone has any for sale (from any state), please let me know, I'd love to see what you have, though I may not be able to afford it.

John H.

[Mike Wilbur]

John, you've got to show your Buffalo Brewing one! -Mike

[thebackbar]

. . . that Travis takes the cake.
John H.

Uh, John . . . the picture of the Travis is a fauxtograph.

[John H.]

Just goes to show I've been swimming in the shallow end of the gene pool lately. The Buffalo light I have is buried deep, but I'll look for it this weekend. There's no glorious picture of a buffalo on it, as I recall it has a green face, but you'll see all of that when (and if) I can find it.

John H.

[Mike Wilbur]

buried deep??? It needs to be up in my garage. I'm a Sacramento guy so where would be better? What can I trade you? mmm... mmm... mow my lawn? -Mike

[John H.]

Sorry Mike, it's not leaving my collection. In fact, it's the only light I have from this line of discussion, and the only one from Buffalo (except for the the odd one described below). Cab, Halo, or Gillco, are all severly underrepresented (more like nonexistant) in my light collection. In addition, I'm always trying to add California lights to my collection. I think Andy, Frank and Pat all have the most impressive California light collections, and 2 of them, Andy and Frank will be in Las Vegas. My collection is tiny in comparison, plus I include lights from other regions of the U.S. From California, I have lights from Grace Bros, Regal Amber/Pale, Acme, Burgermeister, Wieland's, Golden State, El Rey and the aforementioned Buffalo. Tops on my want list from CA are any light from Golden West, Aztec, and Globe. There will be one of the Acme and Wieland's lights in my display at Vegas. There is one item I have that I'm not sure about, some time ago, somebody sold on ebay a roll or strip of some kind of plastic material that had a black backround, and the Gilt Edge logo across the front with a bottle of buffalo beer on one side, and Gilt Edge on the other. It had damage issuses on all edges, like it had been mounted or framed on something before, but I have no idea what. When I flattened it out and held it up to a light, it really looked cool. Knowing nothing at all about old lights, I commissioned my dad, who knows nothing about beer or lights, but is a wiz at engineering or creating just about anything, to create a light using it (what else was I going to do with it?) as the face. To flatten it out, he sandwiched it between 2 pieces of plastic, then built a box around it. It was a great job, but doesn't look anything like a real light. Although it's not part of my display in Vegas, I'll bring it to see if anyone can identify it. The other neat thing is that I managed to get the 2 bottles shown on the light and can display them flanking the sign, which is kinda cool.

John H.

[thebackbar]

John, you've got to show your Buffalo Brewing one! -Mike

The Buffalo light I have is buried deep, but I'll look for it this weekend.
John H.

John, does your Buffalo band shell halo light look like either of these examples:

[jwcans]

Well, this has proggressed almost as I hoped.
Mr. Backbar, you seem quite knowledgeable on the subject. I'm always watching the back bar display form Blu Grey , and there are only a few pictured each year. You mention there were hundreds of brewers who produced them. I see so few, in fact I thought they were produced in a similar quantity to vitrolite signs. So to be correct, were you saying hundreds of brewery's or hundreds in combination with the other categories you mentioned?
I have always admired these lights, but had no idea there was that amount produced, and I seldom see any of them? I do, on the other hand know they are generaly pricey, and rusty ones don't seem to make the cut.

I'd love to see more , if any of the rest of you have some?

[thebackbar]

Cab lights were produced for hundreds of brands of beer . . .

You mention there were hundreds of brewers who produced them. I see so few, in fact I thought they were produced in a similar quantity to vitrolite signs. So to be correct, were you saying hundreds of brewery's or hundreds in combination with the other categories you mentioned?

I mentioned brands, not brewers; which may be confusing if “brand” and “brewer” are considered one and the same by some. By “brands” I mean all types, flavors, recipes, etc. -- beer, ale, lager, malt, light, dark, “Special”, “Pale Ale”, “Banquet Ale”, "Select Stock Lager”, etc. -- produced by a brewer.

In the “hundreds”, I am including the brewing industry only: not food products, appliances, services and such.

So, for example, here is a cab light for Pabst Blue Ribbon Beer and Ale;

and here is one for Pabst served in the TapaCan;

and here is one for Pabst Export (in the Keglined TapaCan);

and there is another for Pabst Old Tankard Ale (I don't have a photo, but I have seen the real deal in person).

And there are cab lights for Old Reading and Old Reading Pale Reserve. For Trommer’s Malt Beer, there is a cab light in a red and white color scheme; and one in a blue and yellow color scheme. Rams Head Ale has one with the slogan “The Aristocrat of Ales” across the bottom of the lens; and another that says “On Draught” across the bottom of the lens. There are at least three Zoller’s variants.

So from the photographed examples and the described examples above, we have covered only five brewers; but between the brands and variants for those brewers, we have covered thirteen different cab lights. However, those are just the ones we know of; there are many lurking about just waiting to be documented. And there are many more that we'll probably never even know about -- the mid to late 30s (when they were produced) was a long time ago; and, no doubt, WWII claimed a lot of them for the recycling effort.

No one knows for sure how many brewers had cab lights made for them, but based the illustration above, the number of different cab lights produced for the brewing industry alone easily reaches the hundreds.

By the way, Gillco cab lights were produced in three sizes with a variety of bases, but I did not factor the size or base differences within the “hundreds”.

Also by the way, in addition to producing cab lights, Gillco and Cincinnati Advertising Products also produced several other striking styles of back bar lights:

Reverse-fired glass "button" light by Gillco (patented 1935/36)

Reverse-fired glass "bullet" light by Cincinnati Advertising Products (patented 1939/40)

[menke]

Is there a general price range that's the going rate for these lights? I don't have the experience with them that I have with cans, and don't like the idea of finding one in an antique shop and paying twice the market price. I realize specialists will drive up particular brands, and others will be far more common than the rest. I love the art deco, and the metal/glass combination. I've been slowly looking to add 5-10 pieces of breweriana, and wood/paper/chalk all leave me cold.

[carnegiebeer]

a gillco tally ho cablight just sold for $3500 on ebay. you can see it in the completed items section.

[John H.]

"a gillco tally ho cablight just sold for $3500 on ebay"

Which is why I don't have any Gillco lights. John, regarding the 2 Buffalo lights that you've shown here, I think mine is different, but I'm not sure. I'll see if I can find it after work today. I love that Pabst showing the instructional can. Anybody else have pictures of their cab/gillco/taxidome lights?

John H.