Basinger’s Jewelers Porcelain and Neon Sign

Basinger Jewelers was a downtown Lima family shop started by Menno Basinger in 1893 and operated by generations of Basingers. When Menno was about 19 years old he purchased interest in a jewelry shop when his employer retired, and after selling that interest, opened his own. Menno was a noted community philanthropist who supported local athletics and  helped raise funds a new YMCA building. The shop was care-taken by 3 generations: first Menno, then Warren, and finally Bob and Ken—the latter both World War II veterans. However, at the turn of the 21^st century, the family found themselves without a successor, and closed its long-time operations after more than 107 years in business in 2001. In 1993 for its centennial anniversary, Basinger’s was recognized by the Ohio Council of Retail Merchants as one only 100 remaining 19th century specialty stores.

ASM’s 1930s Basinger Jewelers sign is comprised of two halves of metal, porcelain enamel and neon lettering. It was manufactured by Artkraft Sign company, also founded in Lima, by leading sign-maker dubbed “the lamplighter of Broadway”, Jacob Starr when he left his NYC employer, Strauss Signs, in the 1920s. After a successful first few years, Starr eventually merged his new Artkraft company with his former employer Strauss in 1931, creating the Artkraft Strauss Sign Company. The Lima location remained although the business was headquartered in NYC. By the 1950s, Artkraft Strauss was a goliath outdoor advertiser, responsible for the “smoking” Camel cigarette ads and the flying Anheuser-Busch eagle. Additionally, the company initiated the Times Square New Year’s Eve ball-drop tradition in 1907. Today, the company still maintains billboards, and provides advertising consulting for architects, designers, historians and outdoor advertising companies.

No date on invoice: additional fabrication/lower section replaced, 2 additional covers, hand fabricated founded top panels, steel, paint and acide done by Elite Customz at a cost of $1,550

Projected/estimate for neon restoration: two complete readings of Basinger’s and Jewelers and neon accent strips; new transformers all at a projected cost of $3820. Restoration projected April-June 2024