highly collectible c. 1930's vintage american industrial single-sided heavy gauge steel porcelain enameled "keep away" danger sign originally posted in or around a city of chicago power substation. the die cut steel sign exhibits typical surface wear consistent with age and/or prolonged exposure to the outdoor elements. contains four holes for mounting purposes. likely fabricated by the stonehouse steel sign co., denver, co. william stonehouse opened a sign shop in chicago in 1863 and taught his son james wesley the art of painting gold leaf lettering on store front windows. by turn of the century j.w. moved west with the gold mining boom and set up shop in douglas, arizona. ten years later, he moved to colorado, and it was here that the accident prevention sign business was born. j.w. saw a need for safety in the mining industry. he created standard bell signal signs to better communicate in the mines, therefore reducing accidents and injuries. he lobbied for the codes to become standard in all mines in colorado and was ready to sell his silk screen printed signs when the mining bureau enacted the standard. in 1913, j.w. moved to denver, where he continued to design signage that would set the standard for the "safety sign" industry. the stonehouse steel sign company was formed as a corporation in 1914, and has stayed in business through multiple generations. measures 15 x 11 inches