Images(3)

Sign, Advertising

Object number2017.94.33

Date1930-1957

OriginDes Moines, IA

MediumPlastic; Foam; Paper; Ink; Adhesive

Credit LineGift of Robert Thomas

DescriptionRectangular molded plastic advertising sign. Black faux woodgrain border with inset gold border. Hole at top center. Center section has dimensional detailing including light yellow striped background; at left is polychrome horse-drawn carriage with man and woman occupants and brown horse; at right are faux-wood signs with beige text alternating with raised black text.DimensionsHeight x Width x Depth: 8.75 × 14.438 × 0.938 in. (22.2 × 36.7 × 2.4 cm)
InscriptionsOn front's right half there is a "hanging" faux-wood sign with beige text "Old Shay", above raised black text "Lager", above faux-wood sign with raised beige text "BEER", above raised black text "Real / Oldtime / Flavor".

Raised text along bottom edge "FORT PITT BREWING COMPANY" and "PITTSBURGH, PA."
MarksReverse has orange maker sticker at bottom center with printed brown text including "This fine 3rd dimensional / ... & COUNTER DISPLAY / ...E...Y PRODUCTS MFG. / Des Moines, Iowa / Mfrs. of the Timely AD-Display..."
Historical NotesOld Shay Beer sign. Part of a collection of Fort Pitt Brewing Company artifacts that was collected by donor Robert Thomas to document the time his family ran the company (1930s through the 1950s). The donor’s great uncle, Michael Berardino, became president of Fort Pitt Brewing Company two years after one of the original owners and founder, Samuel Grenet, died suddenly in 1935. Grenet had started the business in 1906 with Herman Hechelman. They built a brewery in the suburb of Sharpsburg, Pennsylvania, survived Prohibition and were set to be the number one brewery in the state when Grenet passed. Berardino began an aggressive sales campaign to turn the company around after lagging sales the year before. The company also bought the Victor Brewing Company of Jeannette, Pennsylvania, but continued to produce their signature Old Shay beer. In the early 1950s due to local strikes and an increase in national brand popularity, Fort Pitt struggled. After Berardino died in 1957, the company stopped brewing at the Sharpsburg plant and expanded into other products and became the newly incorporated Fort Pitt Industries. The rights to the brand were sold to Gunther Brewing of Baltimore. In 2010, the Fort Pitt name was purchased by Mark Dudash who began producing Fort Pitt Ale.

Related institution Fort Pitt Brewing Company (1906 - 1957)

Related person Michael Berardino (died 1957)

Collector Robert M. Thomas

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