Tivoli Denver Sign

[Badlanders]

I recently came across this beautiful Tivoli lighted sign. Never seen one like it before. Just wondering if anyone has any idea of it's age, rarity, value, history, etc. Any info appreciated!

[Scott Rollert]

Nice score! The clue to the age is the style of the Tivoli logo and the "great taste" script. I'd put it in the late 50's era. I have not seen this particular sign, but it sure looks sweet and in good condition.

[Longhorn Mike]

Looks like mid 50's to me. Is the back metal and are there any manufacturer tags? Hard to tell from the photo, but it looks like it might be two inserts from smaller signs placed into a home built wooden case.

It is unusual to have two seemingly unrelated scenes right next to each other. They are usually separated by a large logo or "Cold Beer" or "Beverage Department" section.

- Mike

[Badlanders]

There are no labels or mfg info inside or outside of the sign. The back is metal, it seems to be cut cleanly in the slots where the middle piece of wood divides the two images. One of the images has a piece of white card stock between the image and the back plate of glass, the other side does not, as you can see from the pictures. The screws seem original and old. Not sure if it could be homemade, if it is it was done quite some time ago, and done very well. Someone told me they have a sign from a company called Neon Products Inc but may have had a clock or a price board on one side. The person that I got it from said he saw the exact same sign once on ebay when he was researching it quite a while ago, but I haven't been able to find anything even remotely like either side...

[Longhorn Mike]

Thanks for the extra photos. I retract my statement about possibly being home made. From the back I can tell it is made by the same company that produced signs for Hamms and Lone Star. Here is a photo of a Lone Star "peg" sign that is also made out of wood with the same metal back.

- Mike

[Badlanders]

Thanks for the info, Mike. Anyone else ever seen one like this before?

[canman65]

No, but I sure do like it!!

[Scott Rollert]

I KNEW I had an advertising piece with the "Good Taste" slogan on it somewhere. I have a framed version of this ad in my living room. No wonder I couldn't find it. So here is a way to really pin down the age of your sign. Sorry it took so long...

Click to supersize the pics.

The name on this is my grandparents

This ad appears on pg. 109

This ad (as far as I know) never appears anywhere else other than in this vacation guide. 1959 was also the centennial for Tivoli, so the cans in the pic are the duller gold "Centennial" cans.

[Canadacan]

That is really neat neat Scott!....the $1 seems pricey for a magazine in 1959?

[canman65]

Those GOLD ones seem to get spots quickly! Nice add!

[Randy Karasek]

That is really neat neat Scott!....the $1 seems pricey for a magazine in 1959?

From one inflation calculator $1 in 1959 would be $8.13 in 2014. Yes, seems very pricey for a magazine back in 1959. Wonder if that is a yearly subscription price?

Similar for Fortune Magazine. The 1935 issue with article "Beer In Cans" was 160+ pages and $10 for a yearly subscription. $10 in 1935 equates to $172.41 in 2014 dollars. I can't picture anyone in the 1930's spending equivalent of $170 dollars on a magazine.

[John S.]

The magazine was a one time release for the centennial of statehood for Colorado.
It is a very large book sized publication, not a magazine. 100's of pages, lots of advertising.

[Badlanders]

Thanks for the info, Scott Rollert. A guy I know just bought this one off ebay last week for $70. I REALLY like this one, wish I'd have seen it first!

[tivolibeer]

The sign you have is from the mid to late 50's. It is unusual to see two photo panels on the sign. I have seen about 6 of these signs and only two have had the double photo panels. All of the others including the one I own have a product panel with pricing. Mine advertises a six packs of cans with an illustration of a six pack and a place to put a price on it. I hope that helps.