Back Bay Sign Company Three-Sided Sketch

This is one of ten sign design sketches created by the Back Bay Sign company in the 1950s. Sketches are chalk and colored graphite on black-colored cardstock. Back Bay Sign Company began in 1945 in Boston, MA.  The company name comes from their original location on Harcourt Street in Boston’s Back Bay. While they did relocate in 1957, they kept the name and as of 2021 are still in operation.

This specific sketch shows a “Proposed Three-Sided V Sign” on the top half with “Proposed Window Neon Skeletons” on the lower half. It was drawn 06/10/1958 and has a sketch number of 675.  In the sketch, we see a 3-sided sign with many hand-written specifications about channel lettering, flashing arrowheads, traveling bulbs, and using different materials such as plastic, corregated metal, etc. The skeleton sign sketches appear to advertise a mock laundry business and show other hand-written notations for specific neon colors.

See also 2008.0048.0001-.0002

Good: in need of protective cleaning; has some small tears on bottom right and middle right, cracking on top right, and several small perforations