ANCIENT FRAME SHOP AD, Downtown Brooklyn

by Kevin Walsh

From Paul Lukas of Uni Watch comes this extraordinary find: The demolition of some buildings on the south side of Flatbush Avenue between 5th Avenue and Pacific Street reveals this ancient painted ad for a framing concern. I make it out to be approximately 1880 or so. Amazing stuff and thanks Paul for being Johnny on the spot. If anyone has further details, leave a message in Comments.

In Comments: Henry O’Neill Picture Framing at 587 5th Avenue per Lain’s Business Directory from 1885 [weird because the house numbers on 5th Avenue here are 1 to 10]

11/27/17

8 comments

Jon November 28, 2017 - 5:34 am

Can’t quite make out the name. Would you have an address for the building?

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Kevin Walsh November 28, 2017 - 9:54 am

I think it’s O’Neill Framing

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Edward Findlay November 28, 2017 - 10:34 am

Henry O’Neill Picture Framing at 587 5th Avenue per Lain’s Business Directory from 1885

Reply
Kevin Walsh November 28, 2017 - 11:21 pm

587 5th avenue is at 16th Street

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Anonymous November 28, 2017 - 7:20 pm

Looks like ONeil Picture Framing.

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John November 29, 2017 - 2:32 pm

May not be the sole sign on that wall. Note what could be the word “lunch” in the upper left hand corner of the sign. There maybe some ghostly white script above the big “EILL” in O’Neill. Am I making it up?

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Kevin Walsh November 30, 2017 - 9:32 am

Actually Quick Lunch

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Joseph Fliel November 29, 2017 - 9:07 am

“In Comments: Henry O’Neill Picture Framing at 587 5th Avenue per Lain’s Business Directory from 1885 [weird because the house numbers on 5th Avenue here are 1 to 10]”

Not really weird. This doesn’t necessarily mean that O’Neill Picture Framing was located at this particular spot. This could simply be a wall ad for the business with the address still under the brickwork yet to be removed.

Reply

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