Buying Help
Where to buy real Irish street signs
This first ebay seller always seems to have a few. Go to ebay.ie or ebay.uk and search “vintage street signs” if the link become broken. The second link has street signs every once in a while. The third link is an aggregator:
Items for sale by allirish71 | eBay
irish in Advertising Signs | eBay
“irish obsolete, vintage salvage” in Advertising, Collectibles – PicClick
Typically, these signs cost $250-$300 and you pay $40 or so for shipping. It’s hard to find any with names you recognize, and you seldom, if ever, see these being sold by anyone in the US. Rareirishstuff.com mentioned below might also be able to help you find some.
If you are ok with reproduction street signs, and/or want something very particular, check these guys out: (20+) Signs from Ireland | Facebook
There’s also a ton of “gift” ceramic and cast-iron ones out there. A few of the links below (like Old Retro Ireland) will get you to these. These are all smaller than real vintage signs.
Where to find beer taps
The single Murphy’s brass one that I have doesn’t come up often, maybe 4-5 times in the past few yrs (I paid $250 btw, which is generally what you see it advertised for). This link gets you to some nice ones, maybe you can find something that works for you. Timing is everything. Keep looking.
Gavin over at the Tipsey Pigeon in Dunboyne, Co. Meath, Ireland always has a few for sale. Home | The Tipsy Pigeon Bar Hire
They call these things “beer pumps” and/or “beer fonts” so search on ebay (UK) for those if the beer pump link gets broken. (You see a lot of the badges or clips come up in a search, so using the Boolean -badge,-badges,-clip,-clips will help clean up your search.)
Over the years I’ve purchased a number of used single ones. Guinness, Harp, Magner’s Cider (never see Bulmer’s), Kilkenny, Beamish, Smithwick, and Murphy’s all come up every once in a while. Look often. For display, getting them without the old hoses, trays, and UK lighting is fine (and they are cheaper to ship this way). Just get a small single lightbulb plugin cord from a craft store and they look great.
Where to find porcelain advertising signs
Vintage cigarette, drinks, Guinness, and chew signs add a nice touch, such as seen at a few of my favorites – De Barra’s in Clonakilty and the Duke of York in Belfast:
The real porcelain ones (real? never 100% sure, but they look real and they are rusted) are heavy and more expensive, but they are far better looking than the tin reproduction ones. Keep an eye out for the seller location. If it’s India, you know its a knock-off. This place has some unbelievable signs to purchase. Do check them out:
Brittas Bay Antiques in Co. Wicklow is another good one. They guarantee their signs are real. Lots of good stuff for Irish pubs, from ceramics, to porcelains, to hanging lamps. Search all over their site. Brittas Bay Antiques
You can also look on ebay. Here’s a lead that you can also follow to other places:
Original Collectable Advertising Signs for sale | eBay
You can use the same search tree for ebay.ie and for the US, but the above link to the UK seems to have the most and the more interesting ones. Here’s another place that seems to carry a few things (vintage and repro):
The Irish Vintage Pub Shop – Home (facebook.com)
Going after these porcelain signs is like going down a rabbit hole. Lots of them are found on on-line auction sites. If you google image search on “clarkes plug,” you’ll trip across a bunch of current and expired auctions and find other places to look.
One auction site that has a beautiful catalog is Sheppard’s. Sheppard’s Irish Auction House (sheppards.ie) Click on catalog picture to download the auction catalog. It’s like a coffee table art book. If you are into Irish pub art, it’s a good read.
Where to find other options for signs
Maybe you really like the porcelain signs but don’t have the $600-$800 to spend? Here’s an option I give you: Go to the download tab here, print out a color copy of one of these 11×14 signs, find an old frame at a yard sale or thrift store, and boom! Instant pub magic. At least you have something that looks decent – and you only had to spend like 15 bucks.
This guy just did it and for a quick and dirty build, not a bad start. This looks far better than having a bunch of cheap mass-produced Guinness signs tacked up.
If you have a Facebook account, join all the groups related to Irish Home Pubs. There are about five of them. In these groups, there are usually a bunch of people in Ireland and in the UK that somehow figured out how to make reasonably good repro’s of these classic old porcelain signs. If budget is an issue, these might be a good option for you. Here’s one guy that seems to have some pretty good stuff: (20+) Seamus O Hanlon | Facebook (Note, link appears to be temporarily broken.)
Where to buy Guinness showcards
These old celluloid signs are exceptionally interesting and valuable. There are many different kinds, and they usually come from the ~1950/60’s. A few in your pub will go a long way in giving it a real authentic look. Unfortunately, they are becoming increasing more difficult to find and the prices are just getting out of reach. If you ever see one for less than say $150, grab it, as typically they go for more. Here’s where to look:
Where to find handmade reproduction wooden signs, US
This guy in Doylestown, PA is really good. I have a few of his signs. Poke around all over their site, there’s lots of hand-painted, very high-quality, signs. Search: 8 results found for “irish” | Strafford House
This guy in the US (below, Madmor Creations) has a nice touch painting. (He does a lot of Irish/ND football stuff, just look past all that.) I bet he’ll paint whatever you need. He did the truck door below and this fantastic Guinness Gilroy turtle lamp & toucan birds (that’s his pub, also shown on cool pub tab). (7) Madmor Creations | Facebook
Esty is another place to look for personalized signs. Here’s an entry point link. There are tons of vendors, but you need to be careful buying from here. If you don’t know the market, you can be amazed by everything you see and just start ordering things. Keep it in check with this kind of stuff. (A lot of what you see is a bit contemporary/repro looking as well.)
(I bought this sign from Mill River Primitives on etsy, I have it hanging over my bar.)
This company seems to do some nice work: WildGeesesignCo – Etsy
Where to find handmade old school mirrors
This guy in the UK is an amazing craftsman. Truly works of art. Not cheap, but if it’s in your budget, these would really enhance the look of your pub. IrishPubmemorabilia – Etsy
Where to find handmade reproduction wooden signs UK/Ireland
Here’s another seller. I have a few of these as well. They are from the UK, so buy a couple to save on shipping. There’s lots to choose from but be careful, too many of these with the same “look” will be overkill.
As I mention on the home page, there are a lot of crappy looking mass-produced signs you can simply click on a button and get off of ebay for cheap. DON’T DO IT. Go with signs/wall hangings like these instead; you will absolutely be satisfied in the long run. Be patience. Items for sale by smf117 | eBay
They do some really nice work at a reasonable price. They custom make signs as well. I had them do this one for me:
The clock comes up every once in a while, but you can always reach out to them and see if they would make it for you. They also sell this hand-painted resin toucan (for about $80+shipping), which adds a nice touch (I have the 16″ one, they also sell a 3′ one if you want to go big.) It’s one of my favorite pieces.
Where to find bric-a-brac
These guys (RAREIRISHSTUFF.COM) used to make available some really nice pieces, but I think the owner (Ian) went off to do his own television series (something like American Pickers). The store is still open and he’s a super nice guy, so my guess is he’ll respond to any inquires. My Guinness bike came from here, along with quite a number of other pieces. (Once on their site, click on “Pub Decor” to get to their catalog. It looks like you tell them what you are interested in, and then they go and have it made up for you.) I highly recommend RIS and prices were not unreasonable when I was buying. (I think the James Joyce sign was $350 if I recall.)
Very similar to Rare Irish Stuff is this company, Plum & Co (at Irish – Plum & Co (bricabrac.co.uk) This company has been around for a long time. It appears they both tapped into the same product source.
This store, Love Irish Pubs, in Ireland has got some stuff (including furniture), but they advertise as “trade-only” and look like more of a design company. I don’t know much about them. (loveirishpubs.com)
I recently found this seller (RETROPUBSIGNS.IE):
Retro Pub Signs – Retro and antique pub signs for sale, Ireland
I have not ordered from them yet, but some interesting items for sale. These repro Guinness signs are unique:
Here’s yet another vendor Man Cave Collectibles. Shipping From IE to US looks to be about $50 for one or a number of items.
Old Retro Ireland is a reputable etsy vendor that can get you repro signs and large rubberoids. Note: I see this guy now is off etsy. We’ll have to see if he resurfaces and/or find someone else who sells these. (I think what entrepreneurial people do is bulk order 50-100 of these from China (probably through alibaba) and sell until they run out.) They don’t come up every day, but you see them out there.
New: try this site as an alternative: RediscoverIreland – Etsy
This large (28″) Gilroy lookalike ostrich head is $85 from a company called Toscano. It makes for a really unique conversation piece. (Thanks Madmor for the lead.)
Ostrich Bird Trophy Wall Sculpture – JQ10508 – Design Toscano
Below is how I have it set up. kind of my “zoo” corner. The toucan hanging from the ceiling is from the same company. The John Gilroy toucan has a pint glass stuck in its throat (see one on floor in middle), but the Toscano one is close enough. (I told Toscano they should make a Guinness collection. My turtle (before being painted) comes from them as well.)
Where to find Guinness (and other) collectibles
I found the best place to check is this UK ebay site (“Guinness Collectibles”). Many sellers say they won’t ship to the US (too much of a postal customs hassle for them), but if you really want something, you can contact them and ask. The few times I did, they said they’d ship (of course at a price). – Just don’t bid on anything I want!
Below is the best link I’ve found for US based sales. I search on Vintage Guinness and Guinness Collectibles, but I typically see more here:
collectible guinness signs & tins in Collectible Guinness Signs and Tins | eBay
I personally am not into collecting everything I can just because it’s Irish or pub-ish. Toys, figurines, flags, jerseys, fire & police patches (hate that look as I said), beer coasters, empty modern bottles (some people fill with colored water), and beer tap handles I stay completely away from. It’s just too much “stuff” that suffocates you.
Some people go all out collecting Guinness memorabilia, like this guy>>. What a fantastic collection and hopefully he was able to pick up these objects back when prices were not so crazy. There has to be a few thousand dollars’ worth of figurines, watches, and adverts in this picture. I’d love to own it, but for my pub, this is not me. Again, I’m thinking cozy village pub. You might see a figurine or two on the bar back, but these pubs I speak of are not about showcasing collections, they are about music, drink, and conviviality. There is also the issue of what to do with all this at…you know…the end. My kids wouldn’t have a clue how to value and sell, they’d probably donate it all to a thrift store in a cardboard box.
One of the best authorities on Guinness collectibles is this site, The Guinness Collectors Club. It’s a subscription site, but there is quite a bit of free information you can get on it. There are a few books out there on Guinness collectibles too, but I’ve always resisted buying. You always have a little fun reading them once…then they always just seem to pile up and collect dust.
Don’t limit your search to just Guinness. Search also Harp Lager, as you see a lot for this product. Bulmer’s and Magner’s cider also have a fair amount, but mostly new stuff. Searching on Smithwick, Kilkenny Beer, Bushmill’s, Jameson’s, “Irish Whiskey,” Murphy’s, and other product names will also usually yield at least something to put on your watchlist.
The c1960 Guinness seal lamp above is one of my favorites and it took a long time to find. Acquiring it for $450, -it can go for far more, I thought was my crowning achievement and there was nothing more to buy…so I thought.
Where to find pub furniture
You just can’t get anything close to Irish/UK looking pub furniture in the US. I’ve looked all over. You may have to send for it from overseas. This company, Used Pub & Hotel Equipment, in Kilbeggan, Co. Westmeath, might be a resource:
Here’s another company based in the UK. Pub Furniture by Pub Stuff | Manufacturer & Supplier | In stock, fast delivery
Where to find actual vintage looking bars
You see them on the internet in a few places.
Above (and more) can be found at (thekingsbay.com):
Home Bars | Bar Furniture and Pub Sets | Free Shipping (thekingsbay.com)
Here’s another online company (NC furniture maker):
This company in the Philadelphia area sells preowned bars. Many are for commercial pubs, but often some really fantastic smaller scale home bars pop up (such as above) http://architecturalantiques.com/
Same company has a number of fantastic old mirrors and signs for sale. See:
1) https://www.
2) https://www.
Etsy is another place to look. Search on “bar” and you might find some.
Here’s one that comes up (if link is broken, just search around a bit, they’re there.)
14ft Beechwood Cocktail Bar with Brass Footrest Wooden Bar | Etsy
If I was working from scratch and knew about these, I’d definitely buy one and build my pub around it. If I see one come up for a really decent price (< a few $ks), I might be inclined to buy and re-do my entire pub.
Where to find Irish Mail Boxes
The same company mentioned above, The Kings Bay, offers these repro Irish mailboxes for sale. RareIrishstuff.com can also source (where I got mine from).
Where to find bar back mirrors (or custom mirrors)
I’m usually not into mirror signs, and I have no place to put any, but this one I think might work if you are building your own bar back and want a customized graphic. (The sign is not green, it’s a mirror.) The woman in the shamrock is from some old whiskey sign I have posted under downloads. Price is $150. It can be found here (Rion Douglas Gifts).
Where to get large, fiberglass hanging Toucans
I searched out a source for these 3′ hanging Toucans, as seen in this Guinness store in the Las Vegas Mandalay Bay Casino. I called the store, there are just clerks working there and they don’t have a clue. I found the architect, but they never answered my email. After contacting a bunch of potential fabricators, I finally found this company arturban, who said they can make them. Cost is roughly $350 ea. plus $150 shipping from China. I bet they can even make the zookeeper.
(If any interest in buying, let me know as I’m sure they discount for multiple pieces- and I want to get at least one.)
Where to get quality mosaic tile floor inlays
Just beautiful work, they can probably create anything imaginable. Not cheap ($1600 bucks for below), but worth it if you have the budget/space. Mosaic Lettering
You could also go old school:
