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This actually looks like an old NYC Transit sign. On the older cars the destination was shown on the side of the car and would be rolled around to correspond with the appropriate train line. I know Transit has a part of their site where you can buy old train memorabilia. Search NYC transit on google and it will take you to the site.

transit museum store?

Yes, these are destination indicators from old subway trains. Transit authority museum is your best (and probably only . . .) source. Good luck.

(PS - had a great old sign years ago in my office that said "To IND Subway and Street" -- left in my office when I changed jobs 'cause I couldn't take it home that day -- when I went back a week later the new idiots had tossed it -- UGH!)

Also -- have seen these a lot in Banana Republic stores her in NYC.

They're also called bus destination blinds. Try contacting Ivan Home in Berkeley -- the store is in the process of closing but he had ones for NY and other cities, and he may have some left. I bought a British one on eBay and it turned out to be so long that I've been selling off pieces on Craigslist.

Click on my name for the Ivan home post on AT:SF (there's an older post here on AT:NY, too).

You want to look for Subway "roll signs" or "destination signs" ... transit museum might have them, or the originals pop up on ebay from time to time (this one's gone):
http://cgi.ebay.com/RARE-NY-SUBWAY-TRAIN-BMT-SIDE-DESTINATION-ROLL-AB-SIGN_W0QQitemZ280024686771QQcmdZViewItem

NYC MTA TRANSIT MUSEUM ARCHIVE & STORE:

(718) 694-5411

the ebay seller than ann mentioned seems to have other ones for sale now.

This was asked on metafilter last week. Possibly by the same poster?

http://ask.metafilter.com/mefi/46438

I have seen them for sale at one of the Armory shows (maybe the Works on Paper show?). If I have a catalog around I'll see if I can find the gallery/vendor

Just remembered that in our house tour of his cool abode, Todd had an SF one -- he mentioned where he got it somewhere in the questionnaire or the comments (link to the house tour via my name below), I can't recall offhand.

And patrick (the other one) has one; I remember it from the first Smallest Coolest Contest. ptoo, where'd you get yours?

I think this is close to what you're looking for. I found it just yesterday and wished I had the room for it my place.

http://www.urbanremainschicago.com/item.aspx?itemID=366

I searched "subway signs" on ebay and several turned up. now I want one too.

Yes the mta sells these vintage rollers and other subway signs on ebay. also vintage dealers sell these rollers framed try 1stdibs.com to see if any dealers have them. There is also a dealer on bedford street that had framed destination rollers. good luck

There's a furniture store on 9th avenue in Chelsea, I think at 19th or 20th that has a large selection of these. I look at them on my walk home from work everyday.

Erin, ther's a guy on eBay named subwayal who sells actual salvaged subway rollsigns that look like the picture you show. Right now he's not listing any old ones, but if you email him I bet you'll find he has some. I've bought a couple of things from him -- he's an honest, enthusiastic person and very accommodating.

I actually found out about him because one of his auctions was highlighted on Apartment Therapy. (http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/ny/scavenger/scavenger-via-kentucky-molly-005391)

im looking toooooo ...they have one in greenwich ct theory the clothes store.....so if you know any info let me know

I knew y'all would point me in the right direction.
I thank you, and my bare and boring walls thank you even more!

they had alot of these exact same framed posters at Jux-ta-po-si-tion Home, located on Pacific Coast Highway in Newport Beach, CA. Their phone # is (949)715-1181 I have seen them at other stores too, I would have to try to remember where though. good luck!

David Winter of Winter Works on Paper has them here in NYC.

Blackman Cruz in LA has them, and that's where I originally got mine.

(Blackman Cruz is where the ones in Banana Republic came from)

'd like to draw your attention to one work of australian artist rosalie gascoigne. try this link: http://www.insideartexpress.com.au/education/quotes/gascoigne

i have this poster in my house (i can only afford a poster from the gallery) and it has such energy! it's made up of old street signs.
it doesn;t help you in your search, but as soon as i saw your pic i thought of this.

Erin - I have a bunch of these and have been listing various sections on ebay over the last few months. This particular one from the Ralph Lauren Paint website is actually three different sections of the rollsign simply framed together. These three sections would not have appeared in succession on the actual sign. If you are still looking, feel free to email me at mfb9066@yahoo.com

I would try NYC Transit's Memorabilia & Collectibles Page. This is separate from the Museum because they sell authentic items taken off of trains and subways, unlike the museum where most of the items are mass produced. They have really great stuff, like retired subway tokens, station signs taken from actual stations, rollsigns (which is what you are looking for) and redbird memorabilia. Here is the link: http://www.mta.info/nyct/materiel/collectsales/index.html it is under Surplus Materials.

Good Luck

I have loaded a bunch of these on ebay - do a general search on "destination rollsign" and that will pull them up.

Sigh... Wish these weren't so expensive!

I just saw a pair of subway signs very similar to the one pictured above at http://metropolismodern.1stdibs.com/itemdetails.php?id=118824 for $1600.00. The signs were about 1/3 the height of the one pictured though.

There are several different signs also very similar to the one pictured above on ebay in their stores, not necessarity their auctions. Go to ebay and search for stores that have "Framed Subway Sign" in the name. Here's the URL: http://storenamesearch.ebay.com/search/search.dll?MfcISAPICommand=GetSNResult&fp=&ht=&query=framed subway sign&rd=on

Correction: http://storenamesearch.ebay.com/search/search.dll?MfcISAPICommand=GetSNResult&fp=&ht=&query=framed subway sign&rd=on

I am actually looking for one of these and the ones on ebay are more then I want to speand. Were you able to find a replica in the form of a poster? Please let me know. I totally want one for my apt!