Not Vintage, but I just bought a Piece of a Lifetime

[CarltonHendricks]

Very cool....I lean towards leaving it in the state it is....it sort of speaks to what it is and where it came from....Architectural salvage pieces are very cool and rare...I'd want it to hold the flavor...I wouldn't doll it up, just my opinion. Congrats, very nice pick up.

[Jewish-collector]

Nice item to see for Jewish player/coaches collectors like me.

[perezfan]

I don't think it would hurt to even it out and make it symmetrical. You don't have to "doll it up" at all... just do a better job of cutting than was originally done.

It looks like they just paid some "part-time" kid to cut out this portion of the fence, and that he did a haphazard/lackadaisical job of it. I would be disappointed if it came to me this way, as it looks like they put NO thought, time or effort into the removal of this piece. I dont think that the wavy left side and asymetrical cut do anything to enhance the value or aesthetics of this piece.

I personally would fix it (while cutting as little off that left side as possible) Just square it off and get the right even with the left. Just my opinion... though it's usually the minority one! Great pickup, btw.... Congrats!

[CarltonHendricks]

Originally Posted by perezfan

I don't think it would hurt to even it out and make it symmetrical. You don't have to "doll it up" at all... just do a better job of cutting than was originally done.

It looks like they just paid some "part-time" kid to cut out this portion of the fence, and that he did a haphazard/lackadaisical job of it. I would be disappointed if it came to me this way, as it looks like they put NO thought, time or effort into the removal of this piece. I dont think that the wavy left side and asymetrical cut do anything to enhance the value or aesthetics of this piece.

I personally would fix it (while cutting as little off that left side as possible) Just square it off and get the right even with the left. Just my opinion... though it's usually the minority one! Great pickup, btw.... Congrats!

To each his own, but still I don't think I would try to enhance it by squaring it up etc....It's an architectural remnant not a piece of art...I would want it to look like such. What if it was really messed up...like with part of the surface ripped up with bare wood showing....it wouldn't change a thing as to what it is....it would still be part of the stadium, and you'd be lucky to have it...it's not suppose to look perfect or symmetrical.

[perezfan]

Just a personal preferance, Carlton...

Since we seem to agree on 99% of everything else, it's ok not to see eye to eye on this one. And for the record, you have many pieces in your collection that I admire/envy as much as anything I've ever set eyes on. I just view these sloppy cuts as something done by a random worker (after the fact), and not something intrinsic or original to the sign itself.

I personally think it would look better cleaned up a bit, but that's obviously AntiqueTiger's call in the end. I respect your position on it, as I normally prefer everything in its unrestored state (from Stadium Seats to Bobbing Heads). Normally, I'm as "anti-restoration" as they come, and don't ever condone it unless a given piece is otherwise falling apart.

I just feel like this thing was already altered the second it was cut from the fence, so what's the harm in doing a better job of it? To your point, if the restoration work had any chance of chipping it or exposing bare wood, I would refrain. The restorer (AntiqueTiger) should be 100% sure he can do it in clean fashion before attempting any work on it.

[CarltonHendricks]

Originally Posted by perezfan

Just a personal preferance, Carlton...

Since we seem to agree on 99% of everything else, it's ok not to see eye to eye on this one. And for the record, you have many pieces in your collection that I admire/envy as much as anything I've ever set eyes on. I just view these sloppy cuts as something done by a random worker (after the fact), and not something intrinsic or original to the sign itself.

I personally think it would look better cleaned up a bit, but that's obviously AntiqueTiger's call in the end. I respect your position on it, as I normally prefer everything in its unrestored state (from Stadium Seats to Bobbing Heads). Normally, I'm as "anti-restoration" as they come, and don't ever condone it unless a given piece is otherwise falling apart.

I just feel like this thing was already altered the second it was cut from the fence, so what's the harm in doing a better job of it? To your point, if the restoration work had any chance of chipping it or exposing bare wood, I would refrain. The restorer (AntiqueTiger) should be 100% sure he can do it in clean fashion before attempting any work on it.

Oh sure...you say you're an "anti-restorationist" but it's pretty evident you're a southern sympathizer

[theantiquetiger]

I did end up cutting it square (and it is still huge). It was WAY too big to try and keep with cutting it (plus I sold eight pieces I cut off for $20 a piece to help pay for the framing). I squared up the sides and after realizing framing it myself was ay too big of a job, I had some one frame it for me. I decided to cut the top and bottom to match the sides because it was 6' tall. It is still 58" tall and wide. :