[Fading Advertisements] Indiana Stamp - Fort Wayne, IN

Unlike many of the ads in the book and documented here, this one isn’t a remnant of hand painted advertising. Rather, it’s fading elements were from a former physical sign. When removed, the parts of the building protected from weathering by the sign left clues to what it once said. “Indiana Stamp” was about all I could make out when we passed through Fort Wayne, IN to see some family. I reached out a business of the same name to see if it had been their sign.

Sure enough, it was. Indiana Stamp Co. had sold the building about 15 years ago before relocating to a different spot in town. Mr. Collins, their Vice President and General Manager was kind enough to send the above photograph of how the sign looked.

Today, Indiana Stamp “manufactures marking products used to imprint everything from envelopes to pallets. Products include hand stamps, pre-inked and plastic self-inking stamps for the office, as well as self-inking and inspection stamps for industrial use.”

Another division of their company specializes in engraves signs, personal identification products, and stencils.

Down on Calhoun St. in Fort Wayne, there’s a fading sign for a sign manufacturer. Thankfully, unlike so many others, this fading advertisement reflects a business that’s still going strong.