‘LIFTS’
Vitrious enamel sign in original painted wood frame. Produced by Chromo Wolverhampton for Underground Electric Railways of London. Measures 92cm x 41cm. In lovely original in-situ condition. Wooden frame has many layers of paint with some pealing, chips and loss.
This charming sign dates to 1900-1910 and would have been situated at platform level in one of London’s first deep-level tube stations. These stations were initially accessed by a manned lift service before escalators were installed a decade or so later. Whilst the first Underground lines (Metropolitan and District) were just below ground, the later underground lines were tunnelled and therefore much deeper and required lifts to access them.
The thickness of the typeface used suggests it was located on the earlier Tubes, most likely the Central London Railway who regularly used Chromo Wolverhampton for their signage. There are many layers of red paint on show; This became common practise at the turn of the century to make signage stand out from the crowded platform walls, where every square inch carried advertisements, posters and bills. It was for this reason that saw station names being highlighted with a big red circle behind them.. and so the roundel was born!
‘LIFTS’
Vitrious enamel sign in original painted wood frame. Produced by Chromo Wolverhampton for Underground Electric Railways of London. Measures 92cm x 41cm. In lovely original in-situ condition. Wooden frame has many layers of paint with some pealing, chips and loss.
This charming sign dates to 1900-1910 and would have been situated at platform level in one of London’s first deep-level tube stations. These stations were initially accessed by a manned lift service before escalators were installed a decade or so later. Whilst the first Underground lines (Metropolitan and District) were just below ground, the later underground lines were tunnelled and therefore much deeper and required lifts to access them.
The thickness of the typeface used suggests it was located on the earlier Tubes, most likely the Central London Railway who regularly used Chromo Wolverhampton for their signage. There are many layers of red paint on show; This became common practise at the turn of the century to make signage stand out from the crowded platform walls, where every square inch carried advertisements, posters and bills. It was for this reason that saw station names being highlighted with a big red circle behind them.. and so the roundel was born!
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