Rare Ford and Buick signs headline Miller & Miller November 29 auction

Miller & Miller Auctions will sell 323 lots of vintage Canadian and American gas, oil, soda and general store advertising in two online sessions on Nov. 29. The sale is led by a rare 1930s Canadian Ford V8 dealer sign, a Buick Lubricare neon sign and an early Ford “Winged Pyramid” porcelain sign.

Why it matters: - The sale concentrates rare automotive advertising that is hard to replace, especially early Canadian Ford dealership pieces and surviving neon. - Strong examples in the catalog could draw collectors of petroliana, porcelain signs, tin signs and breweriana. - The auction spans both Canadian and U.S. material, widening the buyer pool for high-end advertising.

What happened: - Miller & Miller Auctions, Ltd. scheduled two online sessions for Nov. 29 featuring 323 lots of vintage Canadian and American advertising. - The first session starts at 11:00 a.m. EST with 197 lots in a live webcast format. - The second session starts at 6:00 p.m. EST with 126 lots in an online-only timed auction. - Bidding is available through Miller & Miller Auctions and LiveAuctioneers, with phone and absentee bidding also accepted.

The details: - Lot 157 is a 1932-1935 Canadian Ford V8 Dealer sign estimated at CA$45,000-60,000. - The two-piece die-cut porcelain sign celebrates Ford's V8 engine, introduced in 1932. - The sign is 79 by 77 inches and comes from Hammer Ford in New Hamburg, Ontario. - The sign is graded 8.75 on both panels and authenticated by The Authentication Company as TAC #401965 and TAC #401966. - A period photograph showing the sign in place accompanies the piece. - Lot 106 is a late 1940s-1950s Buick Lubricare neon sign estimated at CA$12,000-15,000. - The sign retains its original working neon and original can. - The porcelain sign came from the Len Immke Buick dealership in Columbus, Ohio. - The sign is graded 9.5 and authenticated as TAC #401897. - Lot 159 is a Canadian Ford Sales and Service “Winged Pyramid” double-sided porcelain sign from 1914-1916, also estimated at CA$12,000-15,000. - The design used Ford's first winged pyramid dealership logo, created by Glen Buck in 1912 and discontinued in 1916. - The sign is attributed to Montreal's Gurney Foundry Company. - The piece is graded 9.0/9.0 and authenticated as TAC #502073. - An original 1905 photograph showing a similar sign at an early Ford dealership adds historical context. - Lot 107 is a 1950s Canadian Pontiac Buick GMC Trucks dealer sign estimated at CA$9,000-12,000. - The shield-shaped porcelain sign measures 60 by 56.5 inches and carries General Motors' block-letter and maple leaf logo. - The sign retains its original factory orange-peel field texture. - Lot 116 is an Interlux Marine Finishes Oversized Sign from the 1950s estimated at CA$9,000-12,000. - The embossed tin sign measures 32 by 56 inches and was marked by Stout Sign Co. of St. Louis. - The sign is graded 9.25 and authenticated as TAC #401929. - Lot 110 is a 1945 Canadian McColl-Frontenac Distributor Sign estimated at CA$9,000-12,000. - The 20-inch die-cut porcelain sign was intended for truck and distributor advertising. - The sign bears the mark of Vilas Enamel Products of Orillia, Ontario, and reflects the transition before the company became Porcelain & Metal Products Ltd. in 1946. - Lot 96 is a 1920s Canadian Peg Top Cigars oversized porcelain thermometer estimated at CA$4,000-6,000. - The thermometer retains its original working thermometer, block housing and fasteners. - The sign is graded 8.75 and authenticated as TAC #401930. - Lot 71 is a 1940s NuGrape Soda double-sided painted metal flange sign estimated at CA$3,500-5,000. - The U.S.-made sign features NuGrape bottle imagery and is marked by Stout Sign Co. of St. Louis. - The sign is graded 9.25/9.0 and authenticated as TAC #502021.

Between the lines: - The top lots lean heavily on rarity, condition and provenance, which are the main value drivers in sign collecting. - Early Ford dealership signage appears especially scarce because only a limited number of Canadian Ford dealers sold V8 models in the 1930s. - The catalog also shows how full-service auto marketing, soda advertising and general store pieces all sit in the same collector market.

What's next: - Miller & Miller is publishing the full catalogues online and taking bids through its own platform and LiveAuctioneers. - The company is also accepting consignments for future sales. - More information and the complete catalogues are available at the company's announcement, Session I catalogue and Session II catalogue.

The bottom line: - The November 29 auction is built around a small group of exceptional signs, led by a rare Canadian Ford V8 dealer piece with strong collector appeal.