SCOUTING
FIELD NOTES

Oldsmobile of Flatbush

I love traveling down Flatbush Ave past Prospect Park because there’s so much history to find hidden on every block. I noticed this Oldsmobile ghost sign (ghost sign: a business sign remaining from a long defunct business) at the corner of Avenue D and Flatbush above a liquor store:

Oldsmobile 01

God knows how long ago this was put in, but I’m guessing at least 50 years. Was there an Oldsmobile dealership on or near this spot? Or was it just a neon advertisement to interest Flatbush passersby?

Oldsmobile 02

Also: why does the clock on the reverse side have “By” written above it?

Oldsmobile 03

Were you able to get an Oldsmobile “by” the time on the clock? Or maybe the clock once had the business owner’s name on it. It’s doubtful, but I’ll have to drive by some time at night to see if this still lights up.

-SCOUT

Many more posts in the archives!

Share this post via…

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

  1. b. Avatar
    b.

    I think there may have been a “by” on the other side as well — I also think the two holes on the bottom of each side probably once held the answer to your question. They look like holes for neon tubing.

    Love the blog! I look forward to every post.

    Reply
  2. Liz Avatar
    Liz

    Hey, I live in Flatbush! Love your blog and loved that you featured my neighborhood. More please. I don’t know that much history about it.

    Reply
  3. Ryan Avatar
    Ryan

    It looks like there also may have been more tubing under the clock? There are the same holes that the “By” tubing comes out of running along the very bottom edge. So maybe it was something like “By Blank” around the clock?

    Reply
  4. Amalia Avatar
    Amalia

    Your blog is amazing (very original comment, I know). It’s wonderful to see such interesting, rarely seen parts of the city that we all love so much!

    Reply
  5. tbiggs Avatar
    tbiggs

    Long time ago, I used to see outdoor clocks which said “Time By Bulova”, where the word Bulova was on the clock face. Bulova made clocks and watches, of course. I wonder if it was some kind of joint-marketing deal? I can’t see the clock face clearly in that picture.

    Reply
  6. Evan Avatar
    Evan

    Oldsmobile was once commonly marketed as “Oldsmobile by GM”, so I suspect the holes on the bottom that others pointed out once held “GM”.

    Reply
  7. SCOUTING NY – www.scoutingny.com » Studebaker of Bedford Ave

    […] for Chrysler, Buick, Pontiac, Ford, GM, and many others (perhaps this explains last week’s Oldsmobile post – was the building a showroom?). The Studebaker building is the only one that remains in tact from […]

    Reply
  8. sweetkali Avatar
    sweetkali

    RE the vintage Oldsmobile sign with the clock- back in de day, the Bulova Watch Company would advertise their wares but displayng the Bulova name on advertising clock faces. So, perhaps the sign used to reqd: “Oldsmobile by:” (then the clock face marked with the word’ ‘Bulova”.

    Love your website, it’s fascinating and your research, images and writing is stellar.

    Reply
  9. SCOUTING NY » Burger-Klein!

    […] go the way of the Stationery Store sign. And while we’re at it, the same goes for the Oldsmobile of Flatbush ghost […]

    Reply
  10. Mr Buick Avatar
    Mr Buick

    Gaines Motors Co. Inc. was an Oldsmobile dealer. 1217-1219 Flatbush Ave, tel BU4-3300.

    Reply
  11. Mark the Brown Street Boy Avatar
    Mark the Brown Street Boy

    It was Gaines Oldsmobile owned by a guy named Jack Schwartz and I used to work for them.

    Reply
    1. Sandy Avatar
      Sandy

      And I’m Jack’s son. Mickey Cox was the manager. Across the streets was Petzinger’s Delicatessen.

      Reply
    2. neil alper Avatar
      neil alper

      get back to me i wprked there neil

      Reply
  12. A Sign Of Its Own Time On Flatbush Avenue | Ditmas Park Corner

    […] commenters on Scouting New York say that the sign on Flatbush did, in fact, belong to Gaines Motors Co., which once resided at […]

    Reply
  13. neil alper Avatar
    neil alper

    i worked for gaines 74 to 75 at service on eramus st iwas a bmech and getready man i rem,ber jack he was my boss the sign was a small olds showroom it held maybe 3 cars i my freind would like to take down the sign and put it on his shop in si neil

    Reply
  14. neil alper Avatar
    neil alper

    please repl ond to my post i would like to talk to anbody that worked there

    Reply
  15. neil Avatar
    neil

    i would like totalk to guys that worked for jack

    Reply
    1. Mark Lipchitz Avatar
      Mark Lipchitz

      I worked on Erasmus St. for the leasing division called Gaines Service Leasing. The manager for the leasing department was a guy named Frank Rupolo and his brother Al Rupolo was the service manager for Gaines Oldsmobile. Many time I had to go over to the office and showroom on Flatbush Ave. to pick up checks and other paperwork that was needed. My main job over there was to pick up and deliver cars mostly Cadilacs the were to be serviced. I also used to pick up new cars from the Cadilac dealer the were going out on lease.

      Reply
  16. Remi Zagari Avatar
    Remi Zagari

    Wow…this is truly amazing! Great post!!!!

    Reply
  17. Mark Lipchitz Avatar
    Mark Lipchitz

    I worked on Erasmus St. for the leasing division called Gaines Service Leasing. The manager for the leasing department was a guy named Frank Rupolo and his brother Al Rupolo was the service manager for Gaines Oldsmobile. Many time I had to go over to the office and showroom on Flatbush Ave. to pick up checks and other paperwork that was needed. My main job over there was to pick up and deliver cars mostly Cadilacs the were to be serviced. I also used to pick up new cars from the Cadilac dealer the were going out on lease.

    Reply

Many more posts in the archives…

PURCHASE

Scout Stories #3
“Hidden New York” Issue
Secrets and oddities to be found throughout NYC…
$12 / 44 pages / full color
Print only!

Scout Stories #2
“Show Business” Issue
True stories from the trenches of La La Land!
$12 / 52 pages / full color
Print only!

Scout Stories #2
“Desert” Issue
Strange encounters in the middle of nowhere…
$10 / 32 pages / full color
Print only!