FIRST A GENERAL RULE ABOUT THE REPRODUCTIONS ON THE MARKET. IF THE SIGN IS A "TIN" SIGN WITH ONE OF THE OLD BELL OR INDEPENDENT LOGOS IT IS MOST LIKELY A REPRODUCTION. GO TO MY PAGE (LINK BELOW) ON PORCELAIN TELEPHONE SIGNS TO SEE SOME OF THE OLD LOGOS.

MANY OF THE PORCELAIN REPRODUCTIONS HAVE PROBLEMS THAT ALLOWS A COLLECTOR TO SPOT THEM AS FAKES. TAKE THE REPRO SIGN AT THE TOP LEFT OF THIS PAGE. THIS LOGO WAS USED ON MANY DIFFERENT AT&T SIGNS BETWEEN 1908 AND 1921. BUT NO ORIGINAL WAS EVER MADE IN THE SIZE THAT THIS REPRO IS MADE IN, 8"x8". OTHER INDICATIONS THAT IT IS A FAKE ARE: THIN PORCELAIN. ORIGINAL PORCELAIN SIGNS OF THIS ERA HAD THICK PORCELAIN. EACH COLOR WAS PUT ON AS A LAYER FOLLOWED BY THE LAYER OF THE NEXT COLORED PORCELAIN. IF YOU RUN YOUR FINGER OVER THE  AREA WHERE THE COLOR CHANGES YOU WILL FEEL A NOTICEABLE DIFFERENCE IN HEIGHT. THE SIDES OF THE LETTERING ON THE SIGN ARE RAGGED, THAT IS NOT STRAIGHT AND EVEN AS THE ORIGINALS WERE. NOW THE SIGN ON THE RIGHT IS A HIGHER QUALITY FAKE. MORE CARE WENT INTO IT'S PRODUCTION SO THE LETTERING IS SHARPER WITH BETTER PORCELAIN.

LISTED BELOW IS A LINK TO A SITE THAT SELLS A WIDE VARIETY OF REPRODUCTION  TELEPHONE PORCELAIN AND TIN SIGNS. THEY ARE CLEARLY SOLD AS REPROS AND MAKE GREAT DECORATOR ITEMS. ONE OF THE  BEST WAYS TO  PROTECT YOURSELF FROM  MISTAKENLY BUYING A REPRO IS TO KNOW WHAT REPROS ARE ON THE MARKET.
 
 

LINKS

REPRO SIGNS PAGE TWO

PHONECO IS A COMPANY THAT SELLS REPRODUCTION
TELCO SIGNS & ANTIQUE PHONES PLUS NEW PARTS
FOR ANTIQUE PHONES
 

BELL PORCELAIN SIGN PAGE

QUESTIONS? CONTACT TOM

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