Lenhardt's Plastic Sign

Object/Artifact

-

American Sign Museum

DCIM100GOPROGOPR0414.JPG

DCIM100GOPROGOPR0414.JPG

Name/Title

Lenhardt's Plastic Sign

Entry/Object ID

2021.0004.0002

Description

A double-faced internally illuminated plastic sign. Once a Cincinnati icon for German and Hungarian food, Lenhardt’s was open in the Clifton Heights neighborhood from 1955 to 2013. This internally-illuminated, plastic sign is likely original to the restaurant’s mid-century opening. In 2014, the Lenhardt’s family donated the sign to the Museum. In 2023, this sign along with all of the ASM’s other plastic signs were retrofitted to LED lighting, which is now the industry-standard for lighting signs. Signs made with plastic faces were often internally lit with fluorescent lighting. Since the Plastic Era began around the end of World War II, the material has become a ubiquitous and favorite choice for sign-makers because of its ability to encase and protect fragile interior lighting.

Collection

Permanent Collection

Category

z_New Category Needed (Re-sort)

Made/Created

Time Period

1960 - 1969

Place

City

Cincinnati

State

Ohio

Dimensions

Height

4 ft

Width

6 ft

Depth

9 in

Location

Category

Exhibit

Condition

Overall Condition

Good