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Vintage railway toilet signage - anyone know the age?

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Rateroo

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Hi all. New to the forum and railwayana. I have just bought an old wooden "Ladies" sign which I understand came out of Waverley Station in Edinburgh. Can anyone suggest how old it is? It is painted in cream and brown (are these GWR colours?) but shows remnants of the original colours of green and red underneath. Any help would be much appreciated re age as would suggestions of value/collectability. Thanks!
 

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Dr Hoo

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Welcome to the Forums.

Do you have any provenance that this is a railway sign? Most railway companies tended to use cast iron because the majority of their signs were largely exposed to the elements. Sorry to say this but it seems so me that this may be a misrepresentation/fake/pass-off.
 
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Rateroo

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Hi Dr Hoo!

Thanks so much for your reply. I'd assumed it was an internal 'over-the-door' sign (for a door off of a ladies waiting room perhaps) as wooden ones wouldn't have lasted very long outside, as you rightly suggest. I can't help wondering why someone would bother repainting a fake one but of course it's always possible. The provenance was just verbal from the dealer I purchased it from, who we buy from regularly, who said that it came from a friend of his who had cleared out a load of stuff at Edinburgh Station recently.
 

Peter C

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I can't help wondering why someone would bother repainting a fake one but of course it's always possible.
You'd be surprised what some people with an interest in railways do at times... :D
Even if it is a reproduction/fake, it looks quite nice. People buy London Underground "Mind The Gap" stuff which looks like it's from a Tube station but it isn't all the time so it's not the end of the world if this is in a similar vein.

-Peter :)
 

Rateroo

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I can imagine! So many fakes around in all areas of collectables these days - sad, isn't it! Anyway I didn't pay a fortune for it, so not too worried. It looks the part, as you say. Thanks so much for your time, Peter. Cheers, Jane
 

Dr Hoo

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The North British Railway (which built Edinburgh Waverley) didn't seem to use curved signs (although some locomotive names were painted in an arc on the wheel splashers). It did use a non-serif font but the proportions of the 'L' on your sign are most unusual. If you look for images of 'Ladies door signs' on the internet there are virtually no curved examples.

Rateroo; I'm glad that you're happy with your purchase. Nothing more to add.
 

Rateroo

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Don't I know it - I spent ages researching it before I posted on the forum! Thanks again for your time, Dr Hoo - much appreciated. Cheers, Jane
 

John Webb

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Two thoughts:
(a) Is it curved to go over an arched door?
(b) Could it be a wood pattern to use to make sand moulds to cast cast-iron signs?
 
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