I have this REA sign in my train room, and have seen some with the word, "Incorporated" below the name of the company. Which is older, the one with or the one without the "Incorporated", and when was the change made?
Many of the older signs from before March of 1929 are lettered "American Railway Express Incorporated". At that point the old American Railway Express was dissolved and its operations and assets were transferred over to the Railway Express Agency Inc. Most signage on the side of railroad head end cars was changed to that. I don't know when the building signs dropped the "Inc". In around 1947 the railroads dropped lettering the "Inc." on the sides of new cars and cars that were repainted. However, many cars kept the "Inc." lettering until they were retired in the 50s, 60s and 70s.
Boxcab; I don't doubt the sign's authenticity; I am trying to figure out how old it is. Russell, so the "Incorporated" was on the older signs, and the "newer" signs don't have them, correct? Thanks, guys! John
I would assume, based on my observations of what was put on the side of baggage cars that the building signs would have followed the same practice. That would mean the signs with Incorporated or Inc. would be the older signs. I know the "Inc." was starting to disappear on the Santa Fe in 1947. A heavyweight baggage car was repainted to the two tone gray scheme in that year and still had the Inc. while new baggage cars were being delivered from ACF without.
I am embarrassed not to be able to answer your question. My dad was a career REA employee. Never noticed the difference in the "Inc" vs. plain signs.
