"All used cars offered for sale are either known by us from the source of supply or completely overhauled" - charming phraseology on this hand-painted wooden car dealership sign. 

 

A very difficult piece to date, the styling and wording would put it around the 1940s... The sign writing is competently done and has aged very nicely, developing a light craquelure. The sign has been painted on a thin ply-board, there are some light surface marks and scuffs, the corners have all rounded and the lower right is damaged as per the photographs. There's a patch to the lower middle where the brown stain / varnish has worn with use - I'd guess that the sign was propped up against something that sat against this lower edge. In my opinion the wear adds to the charm of the piece and doesn't detract from the aesthetics or legibility of it. 

 

The sign measures 45.5cm wide x 30.5cm high x 4mm thick.