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Federal Electric Sectional Signs (page 2)

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Illinois Soldiers & Sailors Home
Quincy, IL

2009:
2024:
Since Federal Electric sectional sign letters were rectangular, they were normally used in either vertical or horizontal formats. However, two still-existing signs demonstrate there was some flexibility. The Welcome sign in Yreka, CA (see above) and the Illinois Soldiers' and Sailors' Home sign feature tightly grouped panels with just enough overlapping edges to create a convincing curved archway. This sign was installed in either late 1912 or early 1913. Originally, there were massive iron gates between the pillars which support the sign. The gate cost the State of Illinois $1,200 and the sign was an additional $500. The eagle and American flags above the sign are made of zinc and bronze. While it is not known if they were produced by Federal Electric, they were part of the original installation. In 2022, the sign's porcelain panel letters were painted which covered over Federal patent letters and the detailed borders. For more, see this website. [map]

Onarga
Onarga, IL		 YMCA [gone]
Kokomo, IN
The Onarga welcome sign was supposedly installed in 1931 which seems rather late. Most of these signs were installed in the 1910s. [map]

This YMCA sign was installed at an operating YMCA facility. This sign must have originally been a back-to-back projecting panel sign. It was probably installed lower on the building or at a different location. This photo is from 2010. It was still there in 2013 but gone by 2017.

More Indiana:
Auburn Hotel (Auburn) [map]

Kentucky:
Plaza Theatre (Glasgow)

Kolb's Restaurant
New Orleans, LA		 Grand Opera House of the South
Crowley, LA
Kolb's Restaurant opened its doors in 1899. This sign was installed sometime between 1910 and 1925. The ornamental panels above and below the sign’s letters were options offered by Federal Electric. The sign company also sold customized add-on panels for generic signs. This was practical and cheaper if the business had a long name. Federal Electric also gave its customers choices for border details. From the remaining examples of these sectional signs, we know that there were at least four border designs available.

Neon was added to the Kolb's sign sometime after 1936. The neon was still lit when the restaurant closed in 1994. The letters were lit with green tubing while the decorative panels above and below the sign were lit in red and green. Sometime between 2003 and 2007, the neon was removed. The holes in the letters and stumps of broken neon are still visible. Kolb's also had three neon signs but this is the only sign that remains. After 20 years, the former restaurant space still remains vacant. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, and 3. [map]

The Grand Opera House of the South was built in 1901 as The Grand. The sign was added soon after opening. The Grand featured vaudeville and minstrel shows. Silent movies and "talkies" were added later on. The Grand closed in 1940. After a $4.5 million renovation, it reopened in 2008. This sign is hung under the canopy. [map]

More Louisiana:
Lazard's (New Orleans) [vintage; gone]

Massachusetts:
YMCA (Beverly) [map]

Arms' Men's Wear
Milford, MI
The Arms' Men's Wear sign's porcelain enamel Men's Wear portion had been painted over. The Arms Brothers Store for Men was established in 1836. I don't know when the store closed but it was still open in 2007. The "Bling" store had closed by 2017 and the painted over panel at the bottom of the sign was revealed. [map]

Long Prairie Leader
Long Prairie, MN		 B.P.O.E.
Lexington, MO
The Long Prairie Leader newspaper was founded in 1883. [map]

The bulbs on this B.P.O.E., Benevolent & Protective Order of Elks, sign have been replaced with overlying neon tubing. [map]

More Missouri:
L.E. Music Co. (Springfield) [vintage; gone]

New Jersey:
Days Ice Cream (Ocean Grove) [map]

North Carolina:
Drugs (Raleigh)

private collection
Albuquerque, NM
These Hotel and Drugs signs are located in a private collection in Albuquerque, NM.

Ohio:
Cafe (Cincinnati)

Savoy Hotel
Nowata, OK
The Savoy Hotel was built in 1909. After years of neglect, the building and sign were restored in 2009. This photo is from 2011. In 2014, the sign was missing from the entrance. In 2023, the building was boarded up and the sign was still missing. [map]

South Dakota:
Orpheum Theatre (Sioux Falls)

Young Avenue Deli
Memphis, TN
This "EAT" sign has been installed inside the Young Avenue Deli since at least 2008. The restaurant opened in the mid-1990s.

Washington:
Sam's (Seattle)

Wyoming:
Rex Hotel (Rock Springs)

Canada:
"Rooms" and "Hotel": 1, 2 (Chatham, ON) [map]

Federal Electric Sectional Signs
page 2		 Main SCA Article
Companion Page		 Main Signs Page