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The glass advertising face of a Gillco sign was of very high quality. Gillco used the term "porcelain enameled". They were literally glass, fused to glass. The process consisted of a vitreous compound made up of very finely ground glass, colored with metallic oxide, and suspended in an oily host medium that could be applied by screen onto the advertising sign face. The sign face was then fired in a kiln, at which point the host medium burned away, leaving the colored glass (or porcelain enamel) bonded to the advertising face. It was necessary to repeat this step for every additional color applied to the sign face.

The result was a very durable advertising face that was not easily affected by temperature or the elements. Many of these Gillco signs, such as the gasoline advertising globes they made, were exposed to weather and temperature extremes outdoors all year long. While it's possible to scratch or chip the ad face of a Gillco sign with excessive abuse, the porcelain enameled finish is quite tough and durable. Many have been found in perfect condition, after many years spent languishing in inhospitable environments. By contrast, many competitors of Gillco used a cheaper quality method of silk-screened paint on their lighted advertising signs. The result is many of these competitors signs are often found today with the paint on the advertising face peeling, cracking, or already fallen off.

_______________________________________________________________________________________ WANTED: ANY INFORMATION ON, OR PHOTOS OF, GILLCO ITEMS YOU MAY HAVE TO SHARE WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. I AM ESPECIALLY INTERESTED IN ANY GILLCO ADVERTISEMENTS ANYONE MIGHT HAVE FROM OLDER BREWING INDUSTRY PUBLICATIONS SUCH AS MODERN BREWERY AGE, BREWERS JOURNAL, BREWERY AGE, MODERN BREWER, ETC.                                  THANK YOU! _______________________________________________________________________________________

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