Black Over Brass 1920's Bonded Detective Agency Sign

These type signs were very typicial for private investigative agenices of the 1920's and 1930's. They were placed in retail estalibhsments of the clients of agenices. This was, of course; before the age of alarms. This sign is brass with black painting. They were normally affixed in a conspicuously seen area on an entrance door or at the cashier's station in hopes of deterring criminal activity on or to the business.  Printed in bold letters are the words, PROTECTED BY.  Below these words is the official seal of THE CREDIT RATING ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA with an image of an Eagle and the word, MEMBER etched across its chest.  Below the official Seal are the words, THROUGH BONDED DETECTIVE AGENCY A MEMBER OF INTERNATIONAL SECRET SERVICE ASSN. INC. OFFICES IN PRINCIPAL CITIES.  $50.00 REWARD FOR INFORMATION CAUSING ARREST AND CONVICTION OF ANY  PERSONS COMMITTING AN ACT OF LARCENY, ROBBERY, HOLD-UP OR ARSON AGAINST THESE PREMISES.  Of particular interest, the International Secret Service Association was founded in 1921 and in 1950 became a merged member of the World Secret Service Association, Inc. 

From The Ralph D. Thomas PI Vintage Collection
THOMAS INVESTIGATIE PUBLICATIONS, INC.
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF INVESTIGATIVE SPECIALISTS, INC.
SPY EXCHANGE AND SECURITY CENTER
P O Box 82148, Austin, Texas 78708
Showroom: 9513 Burnet Road, Austin, Texas 78758
Phone 512.719.3595 Fax 512.719.3594
Email: RThomas007@aol.com

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Copyright: 2007, Thomas Investigative Publications, Inc. All rights reserved.
Thomas Investigative Publications, Trademark, 1981.
National Association Of Investigative Specialists, Inc, Trademark, 1986.
Spy Exchange, Trademark, 1999