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For sale is an authentic, vintage Ande Rooney heavy enameled porcelain-on-steel advertising sign featuring Charles Lindbergh\'s historic \"Spirit of St. Louis\" aircraft.
This specific piece comes with the original Ande Rooney paper label fully intact and attached to the back. The label explicitly details their traditional manufacturing process: crafted in the U.S.A. by layering liquefied enamels of ground glass crystals onto steel plates and kiln-firing them at 1350°F to create a durable, rust-resistant finish with a lustrous color.
Having this original vintage backing label intact adds excellent collector appeal and completely verifies its authenticity.
Unlike cheap, thin modern tin signs, this authentic piece is crafted using Ande Rooney’s traditional technique—utilizing finely ground glass crystals fired at 1350°F to fuse the multi-color enamel permanently onto heavy-gauge steel. It has a beautiful gloss, authentic depth of color, and features brass grommets in the corners for durable wall hanging.
The Ande Rooney maker\'s mark on the back confirms this piece is an authentic reproduction porcelain sign.
These signs were manufactured between the 1970s and 1990s by the Erie Ceramic Arts Company in Erie, Pennsylvania, specifically for the Ande Rooney Sign Company.
The Back Story & Markings
The Back Story & Markings
The back typically features a fired-on black or dark blue text block that contains historical context about the image alongside the manufacturer details:
• The Historical Note: It explains that the \"World\'s Greatest Flyer\" graphic was originally taken from a vintage 1920s or 1930s cigar box top celebrating Charles Lindbergh\'s 1927 transatlantic flight.
• The Process: It often includes a short blurb about Ande Rooney\'s authentic
• reproduction process, noting that they utilized finely ground glass crystals fired at 1350°F to fuse the enamel to heavy 18-gauge steel (unlike cheap, modern thin tin plates).
Production Status
Ande Rooney officially retired from the sign-making business and closed production lines. Because these porcelain-and-steel variants are completely discontinued, they have become solid secondary-market collectibles for aviation and advertising enthusiasts.
Features & Details:
• Brand: Ande Rooney (Features official authentication paper/historical text on the reverse side)
• Material: Heavy 18-Gauge Steel & Fired Porcelain Enamel (Weatherproof)
• Dimensions: Approximately 10.5\" Wide x 7.75\" Tall
• Subject: Charles Lindbergh\'s Spirit of St. Louis over transatlantic map route
• Production Era: circa 1980s / 1990s (Discontinued & retired lines)
Condition:
Pre-owned condition as shown. The front graphic features excellent color retention and gloss. The authentication paper on the reverse side remains attached, providing excellent historical context and verifying its authenticity. Please see photos to evaluate the exact condition of the sign, paper backing, and corner grommets. Perfect for aviation
