original c. 1930's single-sided wall mount new york city interior subway station information sign manufactured by the nelke-porcelain metals co., ny. the sign is comprised of die cut steel with original porcelain enameled finish. the vintage subway sign contains a raised black border with four pierced hole mounting brackets affixed at the tip and bottom of the sign. the very first signs to appear in the new york city subway system were intricately designed mosaic tile station names on platform walls created by heins & lafarge around 1904. in 1918 vickers commissioned the use of porcelain enamel signs from both the nelke-porcelain metals sign co. and the baltimore enamel company, which continued to make enameled subway signs throughout the 1930's. the directional and informational signs typically hung from the ceiling or were mounted on the tiled walls. directional signs included those on the outside of the station entrances as well as those intended for the corridors and platforms underground. many of the informational signs warned against criminal, dangerous or unhealthy behavior: no peddling wares, no leaning over the tracks, no crossing the tracks, no smoking, no spitting. the sign measures 27 x 23 inches.