J. Lyons & Co. were best known for their chain of tea shops which opened from 1894 and finally closed in 1981, and for the Lyons Corner Houses in the West End of London. From the 1930s Lyons began to develop a pioneering range of teas, coffees, cocoas, biscuits and cakes that were sold in grocery stores across the world.

 

Here we have a pot-bellied (convex) "Lyons' Tea" enamel sign. Unusually this example is larger than the standard format, has a darker blue background and doesn't have the 'Sold Here' strapline normally found. This is a nice, early sign - likely to date to the 1930s/'40s. Signs in this form are fairly scarce and this is a good example of it's type. With the middle of the sign pushed forward, examples often have heavy damage along the face, has survived with minimal losses. There are a few scuffs / scratches along with a few patches of loss, mainly around the outer edges. The upper right corner has a little corrosion but all of the original mounting holes are present and functional. 

 

It measures 89cm wide x 56cm high.

 

S/N: #0522