Barbershop poles (signs of the times)
I have a lot of favorite commercial signs, so I’ll break them up into manageable categories starting with barbershop poles.
Once upon a time, the working barbershop pole was a common, universal sign. Someone on Pleasant Ave. in Hamburg had one in front of his house. There may have been one at South Shore Plaza; I suspect my dad went to both places. Now they’re almost rarer than a hen’s tooth.
I get excited when I see a barber pole in working order. The first one up is the Varsity Barber Shop in Ann Arbor. The 2012 photo was missing the location data, but I figured it out from the Michigan colors. Varsity is still open.
![Varsity Barber Shop, Ann Arbor, Michigan](https://live.staticflickr.com/4328/36074301135_c211cf254d_c.jpg)
The next one is from Arcade Barbers in Nickels Arcade, Ann Arbor, possibly my favorite shopping area anywhere. The shop started in 1917.
![Untitled](https://live.staticflickr.com/4385/36306325201_3392b75205_c.jpg)
This one is from a couple blocks from me on a stretch of 55th Street with many tiny basement salons/barbershops. I was excited when this pole appeared and remain surprised it hasn’t been vandalized.
![Untitled](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51079524567_42cafab75c_c.jpg)
![Untitled](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51010244250_9f003fa9cb_c.jpg)
Finally, here’s what happens when you can’t bother with a pole or don’t have a place to hang it.
![Untitled](https://live.staticflickr.com/4397/36544990196_9bf1fe8868_c.jpg)
As an aside, I looked up barber poles on eBay many years ago and found some for hundreds of dollars. Now I see several on Amazon for under $100. Have they made a comeback, or have they never been out of style (or a reasonable price range)?
There might be one of these in my little town. I’ll have to check. I’ve been cutting my hair for years (3/8 ” all around) so I’m pretty far removed from barbershops.
It’s not signage, but I’d like to see a towel steamer IRL. Like this: https://www.icollector.com/item.aspx?i=10583604