A Very Cool Skil-Craft Painted Sign on eBay, It’s Gonna Be One Of “Those” Days.
Skil-Craft, Branson Boat Works?
There is a bit to unpack here today, I will warn you ahead of time, there is some possible driving on the ice type writing thats gonna go on. Maybe even a loop or two. Ready?
Not Glen this is me and the day we found THAYER IV
Okay, fellow Woody Boater Glen Thayer, yes, Thayer, as in THAYER IV, the Thayer family from On Golden Pond, but they are a made up family, and Glen’s is not.
Henry Fonda, NOT GLEN either, and THAYER IV, which really has nothing to do with anything here
In fact I don’t think there is any connection other than the name. Okay, put that in a box and close the box, because it means nothing. And yet you are still reading. So?
One side, note the hands at the top for size reference.
Okay, Glen the real Thayer, and not the IV’th if thats a thing, anyway Glen has listed a very cool Skil – Craft hand painted sign on ebay. DOUBLE SIDED mind you. But you already have seen it, because I used it as the art above. Keep this box open.
The other side. Better patina?
Okay, okay, very cool, yes, hand painted, and real, like they are spectacular real.
Love it all. But, what is a Skil-Craft? According to Glen, Branson Boat Works “Skil-Craft” boats built on Lee Highway, Bristol Virginia. So made in Made in Bristol Virginia? Lee Highway. BTW, no longer Lee Highway, renamed to something more PC. And that road changes it’s name in each town in VA so that really adds to the confusion. Anyway.
NOT A SKIFF-CRAFT which the dam internet keeps telling me I really mean.
AND: Wait for it. The sign was produced by Tickle Brothers Sign Company. One of Bristol Tennessee’s oldest sign companies. So? Bristol Tenn, or Bristol Virginia?
TICKLE BROS
So, now I will need to go dig out my series of Bob Speltz books, which are someplace. Maybe Bristol Rhode Island? Yes, thats a place as well. I wonder if there is a Ulysses Grant Highway there? Hold on… YES, there is a Grant St, in Bristol Rhode Island?
The books.
Okay, okay, okay, let’s recap. Cool Skil-Craft sign. Made in Tenn, but the boat was built in Virginia, and has NOTHING to do with On Golden Pond, or Grant st in Rhode Island. Right? There is also one in Conn, but really?
I am not even going to ask what that Gear is doing in their logo. They list sidewalks and access to highways as one of their town features and reasons to visit.
Okay, now, if you want to buy this sign, and by now you need to go pee, and lay down. HERE IS THE LINK ON EBAY.
I need to go pee now and lay down. Thanks for that Glen. Thanks alot.
Cool sign!
Don’t forget Bristol Maine! The red circle is home.
Maybe it’s my old eyes and I need a thicker set, but first glance at today’s header and I thought the name on the side said Sh#t Craft. Anybody else see this?
I thought the same thing. I looked before the coffee improved my outlook on life.
Bristol, Tn and Bristol, Va, basically same town home of Bristol Motor Speedway called thunder valley. Bristol, Maine was also home to Nate Hammond??? who had a huge collection of ephemera boat manufacturers catalogs, boat ads, etc. I wonder if he’s still around and where all those boat catalogs went. He would be at Sunnyland show for years as well as Clayton and other big shows.
Curious! Remember Nat Hammond for sure as per Floyd and I think some fellow has his stuff and goes to shows? Or did. As to Bristol Va as the building place of those boats ??? Their lit says headquarters in like Ohio? and I too thought the log on the sign said poop. John in Va
That wasn’t their lit. It was for Henry Boat Company in Plain City, Ohio. They built Skiff Craft lapstrake boats for many years but finally went of business a few years ago.
Hello Matt,
This is Glenn Thayer!
I have the Skil-Craft boat sign on eBay. I’m from Bristol Virginia-Tennessee “The Twin City”, state line runs down center main Street.
Also have Chris-Craft outboard & Chris-Craft drop-leaf table on eBay. Let’s make a package deal on all 3 items?
561-723-1621
Boothbay Harbor, ME! On my first assignment for a well known automotive enthusiast magazine (yes, an actual printed monthly magazine), I was sent to a resort on Boothbay Harbor, ME – my first ever visit to the “The way life should be” state. Subaru was introducing the revised 2001 model year Outback wagon, which we drove at length after an in-depth technical overview. That evening, the other journalists & I were hosted/wined/dined in fine fashion by Subaru. It was the first time a waiter had ever asked me, “Would you like ANOTHER lobster?”. “Uh, YEAH!” I’ll never forget it.