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neon sign
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumartifact86079
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Accession Code
- BV016.18.2
- Description
- Eagle Ford neon sign. It is a large double-sided hollow sheet metal sign measuring 13.3 feet tall and 8.9 feet wide. The sheet metal and structure of the sign retains most of the eagle's original painted image, including the dramatic wings with their blue and white feather pattern.
- Object History
- Eagle Motors Limited was established by the well-known Burnaby businessman Frank McCracken at 4161 Hastings Street in 1948. The car dealership became a successful local Heights business and was the largest Ford car and truck retailer in the province during its operation. The company had adopted the silhouette of the classic Bald Eagle in full flight to serve as a logo which was utilized in advertising and promotional materials. The eagle symbol was famously developed into a classic chrome badge with the name "Eagle Ford - Burnaby, BC" that was installed on all the Eagle Ford cars and trucks sold by the dealership. After a new showroom building was constructed on the site in 1950, the company commissioned Neon Products of Vancouver to manufacture a very large double-sided neon eagle. Typical of neon signs of the era, the eagle was painted with dramatic designs and bright primary colours on metal with blue, white, and gold neon tubing serving to highlight the outline of the eagle.
- The "Burnaby Eagle" sign immediately became a landmark on the Burnaby Heights business district. From its high perch atop the dealership building, located at Carleton Street, the Burnaby Eagle shared the night sky with other nearby classic neon signs of the era including the "Swinging Girl" sign of the Helen's Children's Wear store. Eagle Motors was a successful dealership until the recession of the 1980s, and in 1985 the business was closed. Vandalism on the site resulted in damage to the neon tubing of the sign before the leased sign was reclaimed by its owner, Neon Products Limited. The sign was obtained by a local collector, who carefully looked after it for 25 years. In 2012, the sign was sold to the City of Burnaby.
- The sign will be restored and installed near its original location on Hastings Street in 2024.
- Reference
- Community Heritage Commission report to Council, September 17, 2012.
- Measurements
- Height: 14 ft. Width: 9 ft. Thickness: 14 in.
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Vancouver Heights (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Planning Study Area
- Burnaby Heights Area
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