Hi all I'm new to the forum, and here for some help if possible please - I haven't been able to get any information anywhere on the sign in the attached photo. It's quite significant in size (exactly 4ft square / 1.22m x 1.22m) and on iron/steel.

The wear you see has been part of it since it came into my possession some years ago. I like to think of it as character... (cough). It's a very striking and imposing object, not to mention it ways a significant amount.

I dug something up a while back regarding it possibly being related to paraffin sales, but have not been able to find anything that's an absolute match at all anywhere. given the scale of it I've assumed (probably incorrectly) that it's a forecourt sign of some sort, but I have no idea at all where it's come from, as it was in a house we bought some time ago and since then has made the move with us on more than one occasion.

Any help regarding the identity and background to this variant of the shell logo and the sign itself would be incredibly appreciated.

Many thanks 

 Hi Yojimbo . Well first of all it's a Shell sign ,not an Esso sign ! LOL. Anyway the Shell company was founded in April 1907 , and this design was the earliest they used , so it will date from that late Edwardian era . It won't have stood on the forecourt , it would have been on the front of the petrol station hanging on the wall above the forecourt .Although it's a bit "tired " it's still a desirable sign to the automobilia collecting fraternity .

DOH hahaha what a schmuck I am. I blame rushing to sneak it in on a break in work - apologies for that school boy error. Note I did use the word possibly though trixon haha.

I knew you guys would be on it in terms of knowledge, it's always worth asking a passionate community to get help with these things. That's genuinely knocked me back, I had no idea at all. Wow. Now I'm going to have to really keep it in good order. Thank you very much trixon, very grateful to you one and all for the input.

I guess I need to work out what I want to do with it now - duly noted on the sale front banjo boy. Will be sure to post 'Very early rare SHELL  sign for sale' on here if I go down that route and give you a nudge.

Thanks again guys.