Charles Goodyear invented vulcanised rubber in the mid-19th century and went on to become the namesake for Frank Seiberling's 'Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co', founded in 1898. The company, who's growth was vastly accelerated by the advent of the automobile, has gone on to become one of the largest manufacturers in the world. 

 

From advertising blimps in the 1920s, through to heavy motorsport sponsorship the Goodyear logo has become iconic. This enamel sign was produced for the English market (tyres, not tires) and looks to have been made by the Imperial Enamel Co of Birmingham. It uses the variant of the logo used by the company from 1942-1968 and I suspect it to date to the '40s. 

 

Measuring in just shy of 1.7m wide, this is a fantastic, large format example that's survived the decades in good order; the colours remain vibrant and it has a good surface gloss. There are patches of enamel loss throughout the sign, though nothing that impacts the legibility of the piece. It's been mounted to a basic wooden frame for ease of hanging through it can easily be unscrewed from this and fixed to a wall directly...

 

The sign measures 168cm wide x 61cm high.

 

S/N: #1707