Old gas station scene showing classic round porcelain advertising signs mounted on metal lollipop stands

How Were Porcelain Signs Displayed? (Single-Sided vs Double-Sided)

January 22, 2026 Darrien Eouse

If you’ve ever bought your first real porcelain sign (or even just looked at originals in a collection), you’ve probably asked the same question almost everyone asks:

“How were these signs actually displayed back then?”

Because here’s the truth—kiln-fired porcelain signs weren’t made to sit on a shelf.

They were built to be seen.

Out in the open.

Hanging in storefront windows, mounted on buildings, bolted to poles, and catching attention from across the street.

And depending on whether a sign was single-sided or double-sided, the display method was completely different.

This guide breaks it down the same way it was done in the real world. Learn more about the History of Porcelain Signs in our blog post retelling the whole story.

Single-Sided Porcelain Signs: How They Were Displayed

A single-sided porcelain sign is exactly what it sounds like:

Artwork on the front
Plain steel/enamel on the back
Designed to be viewed from one direction

These were commonly used in places like:

inside service stations
on walls and storefronts
inside garages and repair shops
in windows and behind counters

Most Common Ways Single-Sided Signs Were Mounted

1) Wall-Mounted (Most Popular)

This is the classic setup everyone recognizes.

Single-sided signs were mounted flat against:

brick walls
wood siding
concrete
interior shop walls

Most were hung using the original mounting holes with screws or bolts, often with simple washers to spread the pressure.

Collector tip: porcelain is glass-hard, but it can chip if you overtighten mounting hardware. Snug is enough.

2) Mounted to Posts or Uprights

Some single-sided signs were mounted to posts when they needed to be displayed at a certain height, especially:

at the edge of a driveway
outside a shop entrance
near a pump island

This style is where you start seeing the “sign on a pole” look.

3) Freestanding Floor Stands (“Lollipop Stands”)

This is one of the coolest display styles for collectors today, and it’s also historically accurate for certain uses.

A steel floor stand uses:

a heavy base ring
a vertical steel post
the sign mounted at the top

This creates that unmistakable “showroom display” look — the kind of setup you’d see in:

an old parts store
a tire shop
a dealership display
a promotional display near the counter

It’s also one of the cleanest ways to display a round porcelain sign without putting holes in your wall.

Double-Sided Porcelain Signs: How They Were Displayed

Double-sided porcelain signs were made for one purpose:

visibility from both directions.

These signs weren’t exclusive to porcelain and show up as real neon signs throughout mid century American life, commonly used when traffic needed to see them coming and going, like:

roadside advertising
gas station driveways
storefront sidewalks
intersections and busy streets

And because they were meant to be seen from both sides, they were rarely mounted flat on a wall.

Most Common Ways Double-Sided Signs Were Mounted

1) Hanging Brackets (The Classic Look)

This is probably the most iconic way double-sided porcelain signs were displayed.

They were hung from:

steel wall brackets
storefront awnings
building overhangs
porch beams
shop rafters

Usually the sign would hang from chains, hooks, or steel loops so it could swing slightly and stay visible.

This is where you get that classic “hanging out over the sidewalk” look that made these signs so effective.

2) Crossbars / Pole Mounts

Another very common setup was mounting a double-sided sign to a pole using:

a crossbar arm
U-bolts or clamps
steel brackets

This was especially common for signs placed near:

pump islands
driveway entrances
roadside poles

The goal was always the same: get the sign up high and visible from both directions.

3) Ceiling Hung / Shop Hanging Displays

In some cases, double-sided signs were also hung indoors from:

ceiling beams
shop rafters
dealership interiors

This gave a strong “floating” display effect and made the sign visible from multiple angles.

Why Display Hardware Matters (Especially With Porcelain)

Porcelain enamel isn’t like aluminum signs or modern printed tin.

A real porcelain sign has:

weight
thickness
rigidity
a glass-like enamel surface

That’s why display hardware matters.

The wrong setup can cause:

chipping around mounting holes
stress cracks
bending (especially if mounted unevenly)
an overall “cheap” look that doesn’t match the sign

The right display setup makes the sign look the way it was meant to look:

bold, clean, and built to last.

The Best Display Setup Depends on the Sign You Have

Here’s the simplest way to choose the right style:

If you have a single-sided sign…

Best options are:

wall mounting
a floor stand
a fixed upright mount

If you have a double-sided sign…

Best options are:

hanging bracket + chains
a hanging sign holder
pole/crossbar mounting

A Display Should Match the Era

One of the biggest reasons collectors love porcelain signs is the feeling they bring back.

The right display setup doesn’t just “hold” the sign…

It makes it look like it belongs in the Golden Age again.

The kind of display that makes your buddies stop and say:

“Where in the world did you find that?”

Coming Soon: Porcelain Sign Stands + Hanging Holders

We’re currently working on launching proper steel display hardware designed specifically for porcelain signs—because these signs deserve better than cheap hooks or flimsy brackets.

If you’ve ever wanted a clean way to display a round porcelain sign on a stand (or hang one the right way), keep an eye out.

The goal is simple:

Make it easy to display your sign the way it would’ve been displayed back then.