Geelong antique dealer, Mark Ward, travels throughout Victoria and NSW looking for unique collectors’ items. His obsession began as a hobby but he now has a serious collection. His most interesting collection is of old advertising signs and artwork. The oldest sign in the collection is that of the Taylor Sharp Jewellers of Hobart which finished trading in 1884, making the baked enamel sign over 100 years old. Classic signs include a Peter’s Ice-cream sign in the heritage colours of green and cream.
A rare piece in the collection is the Ansett Roadways sign that advertises the bus service which Reg Ansett ran before getting into aeroplanes. The collection incorporates other Ansett memorabilia including a 1952 model plane, a model Hills Hoist, the Black and White Scotch Whiskey dogs and the icon of advertising models, Chesty Bond. Other rare items include cardboard signs for Cadbury’s chocolate and a particularly large shoe. It is a museum of advertising, the way things were once advertised.
Mark searches for items for his collection everywhere and confesses that the worst thing you could hear is “Oh you should have been here yesterday”. Another Australian icon that Mark has in his collection is the first ventriloquist doll on television. It belonged to Ron Blaskett and became the prototype for the famous Gerry Gee doll.
Prices for baked enamel signs range from $20 to $3000.
Further information
Mark Ward Trading, 512 La Trobe Boulevard, Newtown in Geelong, Victoria, 3220. Phone: (03) 5229 0190. The antique store is open seven days a week; 8.45am-5.30pm Monday to Friday, 10am-5.30pm Saturday and 12 noon-5.30pm Sunday.