Kelly Springfield Tires – NS6853
Brilliant green neon and flowing red script bring this original Kelly-Springfield sign to life. Its rounded porcelain face captures the character of America’s neighborhood tire dealers, roadside garages, and two-lane highways.
The original maker’s mark reads “A-M Sign Co., Lynchburg, Va., 7-53,” consistent with manufacture in July 1953. With the lights off, its cream porcelain, green lettering, and surviving signs of age reveal its historic character. Illuminated, it becomes a striking centerpiece.
Description
When the Road Was Part of
the Adventure
A folded map on the front seat. Suitcases in the trunk. A family heading toward the next town as neon begins to glow at dusk.
This sign recalls that American experience—and the independent dealers, mechanics, and factory workers who kept the country moving. It connects the collector to an era when businesses announced themselves with porcelain, steel, and glass shaped by hand.
A Brand That Helped Put America on Wheels
Founded in Springfield, Ohio, in 1894, Kelly-Springfield began with solid-rubber carriage and buggy tires before expanding into automobile tires. Goodyear purchased the company in 1935. Its Cumberland, Maryland, factory was its sole manufacturing plant from 1925 to 1962, placing this sign within an important chapter of American industrial history.
The company also knew how to capture attention. Its advertising character “Miss Lotta Miles” promised what every driver wanted—more miles ahead. A surviving 1923 booklet, Smilin’ Through, linked Kelly tires with the enjoyment of motoring. During World War II, the Cumberland factory also produced ammunition, connecting the brand to America’s wartime manufacturing effort.
Preserving the Original — Restoring the Light
Specifications
Vintage Kelly-Springfield Tires
- Type: Single-Sided Genuine Vintage Neon Sign
- Style: Rounded Porcelain-Enamel "Bubble" Sign with Neon Lighting
- Advertising Message: Kelly-Springfield Tires
- Products Advertised: Automobile and commercial tires
- Company: Kelly-Springfield Tire Company (a subsidiary of Goodyear)
- Maker’s Mark: A-M Sign Co., Lynchburg, Va., 7-53
- Date of Manufacture: July 1953 (Circa 1953)
- Place of Manufacture: Lynchburg, Virginia, U.S.A.
- Color: Multi-color – Brilliant green and flowing red neon over cream porcelain face with green lettering
- Dimensions: 36" wide × 23" tall x 10" depth, weighing 31 lbs.
- Condition: Original porcelain face with honest, surviving signs of age
- Restoration: H.J. Nick 101-point museum-quality restoration featuring new custom hand-forged steel housing can, fitted rear enclosure, era-correct hand-blown neon glass, all-new wiring, and modern solid-state transformers
- Hanger: Integrated custom hanging provisions on new hand-forged steel housing
- Certification: Includes H.J. Nick restoration identification plaque; certified genuine vintage and restored by H.J. Nick and ArtFactory.com
Under the direction of master builder and artist H.J. Nick, ArtFactory.com completed a 101-point museum-quality restoration, retaining the original porcelain face and its historic character.
The restoration includes:
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New custom hand-forged steel housing can
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New hand-blown, era-correct neon glass
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All-new wiring and modern solid-state transformers
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Fitted rear enclosure and hanging provisions
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H.J. Nick restoration identification plaque
The original porcelain remains the historic centerpiece, supported by newly crafted housing and illumination.
An authentic piece of American roadside history—restored by ArtFactory.com under the direction of H.J. Nick to shine again.
All photographs show the actual sign and its restoration details.
Watch Neon Sign Restorations Video
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ArtFactory.com & H.J. Nick Brass Tag Certification Details
The H.J. Nick Brass Tag Certification ensures each piece to be the genuine article. Backed by our over a century of experience, with our word is our bond reputation and guaranteeing or your money back “forever". The H.J. Nick Brass Tag Certification makes this item one of the highest appreciating, collectible investments that you can make. These items can be insured at stated value, usually on your home owners policy, for little added premium. Thus, making this a safer investment than even those insured by the FDIC, is much more fun to own, and puts you in control instead of the bank.
Investment Quality Collectible Petroliana From ArtFactory.com
This rare vintage Relly Tire neon sign is the perfect conversation piece that will wow your friends and clients alike. Like all of our vintage collectible signs, it is guaranteed authentic, investment quality memorabilia. We specialize in those hard to find signs that serious collectors are looking for. All antique collectables offered are genuine memorabilia and appreciable assets, not fake reproductions. All items are fine collectable art at the highest world class collector level. This is one of those centerpiece type items, that really have that "WOW Factor" to impress your friends and clients. Contact us today for pricing on this genuine porcelain enamel, vintage round Texaco neon sign or any of our collectible Americana, antique signs, old gas pumps, and classic collectibles at 1-800-292-0008.
Kelly Tires Neon Sign Info
All Vintage Memorabilia Offered Is A Genuine Collectable And Appreciable Asset
All Items Are Of Highest Museum Quality World Class Collector Level
Our Latest Investment Quality Authentic Vintage Neon Signs
✨ Visit H.J. Nick’s Art Factory Galleries ✨
7407 E Greenway Rd, Scottsdale Airpark, Scottsdale, AZ 85260
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