NORTH BUY NORTHWEST COLLECTIBLES
Brewed in Time, The Blog Spot
Catch the latest blog posts here. Uncapping the Stories Behind Vintage Beer.
History of Biolite Bubbler Signs
Biolite Inc. was a prolific producer of back-lit, bubbler-lighted signs from the 1920s through the 1940s. Following the repeal of National Prohibition in 1933, the company expanded its offerings, creating a wide array of bubbler-style advertising signs not only for breweries but also for various other industries.
Bubbler signs are typically back-lit displays, usually around 18″ wide by 4″ high, featuring raised glass tube lettering filled with colored liquid. When illuminated, the heat from the bulbs causes the liquid to bubble—hence the nickname “Bubblers” or “Biolite Bubbler Signs.”
The distinctive look of these signs was heavily influenced by the Art Deco movement of the 1930s. Due to their high craftsmanship and eye-catching design, Biolite’s signs were likely among the more expensive point-of-purchase advertising options available at the time. In the competitive advertising landscape that followed Prohibition, breweries were eager to stand out, and many turned to Biolite’s vibrant, high-quality signage to attract attention.
Biolite Inc. produced custom bubbler signs for a range of breweries, including Goetz Country Club, Leinenkugel, Burkhardt’s, Geo. Ehret’s, Golden Drops, Lucky Lager —just to name a few.
The Story Behind the "Hamm's Man"
In 1974 Ed Tobias the creator of the Hamm's and Burgermeister ceramic mugs and decanters created a special item.
​
This was a protype decanter featuring Earl and Sascha the "Hamm's man" and Hamm's bear. Earl had designed and released a plate with these two characters in the same year called "Man and Companion".
​
Here is the prototype decanter Ed crafted and and designed and it never made it to production. This is the only example and it is unpainted.
​
This one-of-a-kind item is available to a serious Hamm's collector. If you are interested in this rare piece of Hamm's history please contact me.
