Ace Rental Service

"ACE Rental Service... Bars..."

This sign is now completely gone, as the building has been converted into a community center.


Older photo, via Flickr, taken 18 August 1995 by xnedski. Less of the sign has been painted over here.


Above located to right of door, photo taken in 1955. Sign seems to have been painted over and become larger from this version. Note more signage going north on 3rd.

PhillyHistory.org. Philadelphia Department of Records. 27 November 2007. <http://www.phillyhistory.org>.

3rd and Fairmount Streets

Hope Machine Co. One of my favorites.

Main sign above doors reads "HOPE MACHINE CO. Engineers and Machinists." Smaller signs read (left) "Automobiles Repaired" and (right) "Steam & Gas Engines Repaired". Industrial directories have listings and ads for the business as late as 1919. The street still houses a few automobile repair shops and sales lots.

2nd and Dauphin Streets.

Edward Corner Marine Merchandize Warehouse

Edward Corner Marine Merchandize Warehouse, 1921.
"Rope and Canvas," "Anchors and Chains," "Canvas Covers," "Boat Supplies," "New and Used Rope," "Blocks and Falls," "Blasting Mats," and "We Buy Old Rope."

Northeast corner of Shackamaxon Street & Delaware Avenue. [map]

More information here.

Gretz Brewery

Gretz Brewery smokestack.
Some history of the William Gretz Brewing Company here.


Another shot sent in by John Langdon.

Oxford Street at Germantown Avenue [map]

Walton Bros. Grain

"Walton Bros. Grain" on south facing wall, partially obscured by building next door.
North facing wall has "Office' with arrow or hand pointing to front of building.


City atlas lists the business on this block as "Walton Bros. Hay & Straw" in 1887.

2131 North American Street [map]

Catalogs, Booklets, Stationery

"Catalogs, Booklets, Stationery"
Trenton Ave at Norris Street

Sterling Paper Co. / The Schlicter Jute & Cordage Co.

Sterling Paper Converted Paper/Paperboard Product Manufacturers (established 1973) seems to have been the most recent tenants. Most signs have been painted over with some Philadelphia Mural Arts project, but the older lettering can still be seen beneath. Some inside info on the mural here.





City Atlas from as early as 1875 show the ornate buildings and clock tower facing Castor Avenue in place, titled "Aramingo Mills" but the entire area the building sits on labeled "THE SCHLICHTER JUTE & CORDAGE CO." There are large signs at the rear (facing Butler) and sides (facing Coral) of the later buildings that read the same.


2155 Castor Avenue [map]

Cramp Shipbuilding

UPDATE - Building has been demolished to make way for the I-95 Girard Avenue interchange.


"Cramp Shipbuilding Machine Shops"
Signage over the two eastern facing entrances of the shipyard's turret shop.



"...FOREIGN ... CO."
Another sign from a newer business, on the southern face.

This was one of the few remaining structures of a once sprawling complex. You can see the building at the very bottom center of this illustration:

Cramp Shipbuilding in 1943 by Adiel Martin Stern, R.A.



Here is the building in 1955:



PhillyHistory.org. Philadelphia Department of Records. 27 November 2007


Richmond at Beach at the end of Delaware Ave. [map]

Pioneer Leimel Fabrics

Pioneer Leimel Fabrics
Modern sign over large, illegible sign.


Side of smokestack - "UNIT OF..."

Manufacturers of plastic laminations and imitation leather. No longer in business, but as late as 1988 received a patent for "highly plasticized laminated vinyl fabric." Company was about 35 years old when it closed, and latest atlas shows former businesses located there were printing ink and lacquer manufacturers. Early atlases show the location as a Dutch reformed church.


2250 East Ontario Street [map]

Driscoll Constr.

Driscoll Constr. Co., Inc.
Frankford below Girard

G. Spruance Paint Co.

Spruance Quality Paints. Illustration of can.
"Ask Your Dealer" and "Sold by Leading Stores" 


"Quality Varnishes"

UPDATE - Complex has been demolished.
Some pre-demolition interior images here and here.

Richmond St. at Tioga [map]

BAT(TERIES)

"BAT(TERIES?)"
Lettering revealed when structure demolished.
Note lettering revealed where stairs used to be. Apparently lettering covered this whole wall.

UPDATE - Due to exposure (or by someone's hand) more of the sign has been revealed:

"SERVICE AND REPAIR WO(RK)"



You can glimpse the station on the corner in the far right of this photo dated 1958, but unforunately it's the wrong angle and no signage can be seen.



corner, E. Girard and Shackamaxon Streets [map]