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Neat solid cast bronze advertising sign for “THE FAIR STORE.” Marked by maker on reverse, “JOS.J.SAYRE & SON. CIN’TI, O.” Painted background. Outstanding original untouched weathered surface. Weighs 5lbs.

The Fair Store was a discount department store which was founded in 1874 in Chicago, Illinois. Founder Ernst J. Lehmann decided on the name “The Fair Store” as he felt “the store was like a fair because it offered many different things for sale at a cheap price.” Lehmann bought and sold goods on a cash-only basis; he offered odd prices (i. e., prices not in multiples of five cents) to save customers a few pennies on every purchase. 

The Fair Store promoted itself as a Discount Department Store in the early 1900s. In 1915, a booklet published by the store stated “The Fair Store is still, as it always has been and undoubtedly always will be, the store of the people, the down-town shopping center for the Savers, the market place for the Thrifty.” In 1925 the business was sold to a syndicate headed by S.S. Kresge, later to be the founder of Kmart. Under its management, branches were opened on Milwaukee Avenue (1929) and in Oak Park, Illinois (1929).

The sign was produced during this period of expansion in the late 1920’s.

 

 

Date: 1925-29.

 

Size: 17 1/4″  x  4″.

 

Condition: Great.

 

Price: $133

 

Insured US Shipping: $20

 

Non-US Shipping: Contact for Rates

 

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Categories: Advertising, Bronze, Metal, Signs