This one is pretty tricky to spot, as the old-school red and white sign blends in with the new sign below and the similarly colored building.
But look at the 7Up and Coca Cola logos—beauties! They were spotted on the corner of Hester Street and the Bowery. Anyone want to wager a guess as to the decade the sign went up?
An Ephemeral reader tipped me off to this torn and tattered deli awning and very weathered vintage grocery sign underneath on Manhattan Avenue and 116th Street. Thanks, I. A.
More vintage Coca-Cola signage on city storefronts can be found here.
Tags: antique coca-cola signs, Chinatown street, Hester Street, Morningside Heights street, old signage, old signs Chinatown, old signs Harlem, vintage signs New York City
Ephemeral New York 
April 12, 2013 at 4:29 pm |
Reblogged this on By the Mighty Mumford and commented:
GOOD EYES!
April 12, 2013 at 6:03 pm |
Judging by the font and paint, I’d say the red sign went up in the early 1960s. Looks hand painted, even the “Coca Cola” logo, which is very unusual.
April 13, 2013 at 3:18 am |
I think early 60s sounds about right, thanks!
October 16, 2013 at 3:02 pm |
[…] “I get a lot of traffic for those old signs when I put them up on the site,” said Esther Crain, the creator, producer, editor, writer and photographer of Ephemeral New York, a Web site that has tracked remaining privilege signs. […]
October 18, 2013 at 10:33 am |
I think Chung’s was originally a 7 up sign with white background with 7 up on both ends. Later repainted red with Coca-Cola hand lettered (somewhat crudely.) I have seen the original 7 up style and would say 1950s.
October 18, 2013 at 2:24 pm |
I have one hanging on my garage! It was from my grandparents’ candy store in East New York, Bklyn. I had to marry the man who finally brought it home to me after many years of trying. Would love to post a photo if you’ll tell me how!
October 30, 2013 at 9:23 pm |
Here in Australia, the concept is still alive and well, at least in the case of pubs and drinking establishments. A lot of pubs have generic metal signage which features the name of a brewery often larger than the name of the pub. I find it ugly and tasteless, but these signs from the 60’s are pretty cool, especially considering that some of them are hand-lettered.
November 2, 2015 at 4:06 am |
[…] mom and pop delis and luncheonettes disappear from the five boroughs, so do the wonderful “privilege” signs affixed to […]