Rescued Zenith TV shop signs in Chicago
 

I was able to save this large Zenith store front sign from the former "Hi-View Television Service" located at 26th and Pulaski in Chicago on June 2nd. It measures 36" x 72" and is in surprisingly good shape for a sign from 1969. It had a north exposure so it never saw direct sunlight and thus was spared the effects of UV rays. The new building owner who I bought the signs from had purchased the building so he could start his restaurant supply business. By the time I got to the building, he had already removed the signs including the frame which hung off the building, otherwise I would have gotten a "before and after" photo.
From what I was told, the shop contained many TV's and parts from the 1980's and a few "older" things as well. All of which was scrapped unfortunately.
Also included was a nice original Zenith neon window sign, measuring in at 18" x 48". The neon sign had a crack on the "Z", so it's already at the neon repair shop getting worked on as I write this. A Zenith neon has been on my want list for years and will put both signs in my shop. Thanks to John Marinello for giving me the heads up on this deal.

http://i1275.photobucket.com/albums/...ps09222ffd.jpg

http://i1275.photobucket.com/albums/...ps514f4640.jpg

I hate you! (in a friendly kind of way) :D

Great score!

Can you get your "before" photo from Google's Street View?

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Nice signs, Doug.

I will be very interested to know if the shop can fix the cracked neon tubing and re-fill it. I have a Motorola neon sign here that I would like to get repaired if I could.

That's apprentice work for signage glassblowers, I'm sure it can be done.

Just for yuks, I did a Google street view of 26th/Pulaski in Chicago. I didn't find any store that fit the bill for a TV shop. Probably would need an exact address.
Lots of small stores along the intersection.

-Steve D.

The exact address was 2617 S. Pulaski. Here is a timeline of google street views of the old building. The sign was already removed by August, 2007. It used to hang off that large bracket that hung over the sidewalk.

August, 2007:

http://i1275.photobucket.com/albums/...ps5260ef68.jpg

September, 2007:
http://i1275.photobucket.com/albums/...ps567f7808.jpg

March, 2009:
http://i1275.photobucket.com/albums/...ps4ae6d121.jpg

April, 2009:
http://i1275.photobucket.com/albums/...psb283bae9.jpg

June, 2011:
http://i1275.photobucket.com/albums/...ps1a229c16.jpg

August, 2012:
http://i1275.photobucket.com/albums/...psc2a85721.jpg

Wow, Doug, great rescue of those signs, congratulations! Nice to see your 1960 Chevy in the background, I was a baby when that Car was brand new! :-)

Doug,

Thanks for posting the address & photos.
Here is the latest Google Street photo taken this year. Looks about the same as your last timeline photo.

-Steve D.

You're welcome, Doug!

Thank you for the note. I will take the sign to one or more neon places around here, then.

Wow! Amazing score! The Zenith color sign is spectacular.