HAMM’S REPLACEMENT PARTS & HAMMS' CLUB POLICY

   Replacement parts for Hamm’s signs are a reality.  This is good in the sense that people often buy a sign that lacks that one or more part that is needed to make it run or to make it look as it should.  

   Just like most everything some people can take sign parts a little too far and sometimes criminally too far.  An example of this is where one creates a sign part that when installed on the sign makes the sign appear to be a unique sign, a rare sign or something that it originally was not.  Unfortunately this has occurred and is the stimulus for this Hamm’s Replacement Parts education link.  We at the Hamm’s club want to let Hamm’s Sign buyers and collectors know a little more of what’s out there to be aware of when buying these signs.   

Valuation Differences 

   If one compares two side-by-side 65 Panoramic Ripplers that are both in good condition and one has replacement parts to the front of the sign and the other is original, the original is worth more money.  Many collectors and buyers want original and will pay more to get it.  Most also want to know when they are buying what replacement parts the sign might have.  The one exception to this is replacement motors, which are seen by most as a necessary replacement part that really does not affect value.

   When buying Hamm’s signs ask if the sign has replacement parts which parts it has and discuss with the seller how it affects the value of the sign.  If the seller says replacement parts (other than motors) don’t affect the value of the sign, buy elsewhere!  Again aftermarket parts can certainly enhance a sign that has problems but when compared to an all original sign the all original sign is in greater demand and worth more money. 

 Hamm's Club Policy

   The Hamm’s Club adopted a policy regarding Hamm’s Signs and regarding other Hamm’s items.  The purpose of this policy is to protect Club members.  Certain practices had been occurring that brought the matter to a head.  Realistically many collector club boards have refused to address these issues for one primary reason and that is that many of their board members are dealers who engage in practices that do not include full disclosure and/or engage in activities that have not been in the best interests of the consumers.  Generally we are told by some of these organizations that they don’t feel it’s their role to address fakes and fraud.  The Hamm’s Club Board disagrees.  

   Buying and selling is a two way street.  Buyers must be careful, ask questions and educate themselves.  The Hamm’s Club offers a network to help buyers and collectors.  Sellers must disclose the facts and be truthful.  Good sellers will get and keep good customers by being truthful.  Sellers need to follow these simple rules or they won’t be members of the Hamm’s Club or sell at our shows.

   We need to protect consumers.  The first time sign buyer who gets burned is a collector we lose.  As one Hamm’s Club Board member said, “it’s easy to fake somebody out” and a “fast buck is motive for some” and “we need to stand up and say this is not what we’re about”! 

   Fraudulent practice cannot be allowed to happen without some effort to curb them through education.  If an organization allows bad practices to occur in its ranks there is a perception among many that the bad practice casts a negative light on the organization.  For all the above reasons the Hamm’s Club board of Directors at its February 17, 2006 Board Meeting approved the following policy on this subject.  

Hamm's Club Policy for Fair Buyer & Seller Practices 

   The policy adopted by the Hamm’s Club Board of Directors on February 17, 2006 reads as follows: 

The Hamm’s Club recognizes that most members and seller participants wish to maintain a high level of integrity and fairness in all dealings.   This recognition is to protect members and the collectibility of Hamm’s and breweriana items.

In the selling of Hamm’s and other breweriana items member sellers shall disclose any aftermarket replacement parts and repairs that an item may have that are known to the seller. It is the buyer’s responsibility, if they are so concerned, to inquire as to the items condition and replacement parts.  Seller’s practices involving modification to existing items to make them appear more unique and/or rare or practices that are fraudulent in nature to deceive shall not be allowed.

In the effort to serve Hamm’s Club members, the Hamm’s Club will actively educate its members and interested persons as to replacement parts, repairs, sign enhancement issues and disclosure.

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Hamm’s Replacement Parts List

By: Mike Frye

Scenarama:

1) Motion Scene Belt.  The “Series III” Belt is the latest to be offered.  It has excellent color, and any flaws or issues separating it from the original scene belt have effectively been eliminated.  This is offered in both LG and SM Scenarama belt size.

2) Roof Sections (1 short and 1 long section on SM Scenarama, 3 short and 1 long on LG Scenarama).  The initial sections were excellent copies of the originals, but the color was poor.  I recently (’06 GnT Show) saw the latest version, and the color issue seems to have been resolved.  These reproduction sections resemble in every way the originals, but are made of a more pliable material, making them not as brittle and prone to breakage as the originals.

3) SM Scenarama logo plates (large “Hamm’s” and small “Land of Sky….”).  The “Hamm’s” plate comes in both “beer” and “On Tap” versions.  The lettering and Lion emblem are made of adhesive vinyl, and are placed on a white semi-translucent white Plexiglas. 

4) Blue-green “stained glass” panel.  This panel, located behind the black logo grid, has been re-created numerous times, and has several appearances.  When viewed closely some are printed on both sides, as was the original.  Some versions have a white backing, and on some the pattern is printed in reverse. 

5) Lined Plexiglas panel (located behind the motion belt).  This opaque, black lined panel is situated behind the motion scene, and in conjunction with the scene itself, creates the water motion effect. 

6) Motor.  The original Hankscraft motor is a precise 1.45 RPM CCW motion.   There are a number of “eggshell” shaped motors, which will fit the Scenarama; however any RPM variance, higher or lower than 1.45 RPM will change the motion effect of the sign.

7) LG Scenarama only:  Left side “Hamm’s” logo panel and right side clock panel.  To the best of my knowledge the right side “beer glasses” panel seen on some LG Scenarama’s has not been reproduced.

8) Also of note:  The Scenarama, along with most other motion signs, was meant to be lighted with “Daylight” fluorescent tubes.  This type of fluorescent, which emits a whiter light, brought out and enhanced to the best effect the colors in the scene, stained glass, and logo panels.  Many times the original tubes would be replaced with whatever like size tube could be found, irregardless of the type light it emitted, such as “warm”, “kitchen”, “soft”, etc.  These tube colors dull the Scenarama display, and should be replaced with “Daylight” fluorescent tubes.

Small Starry Skies

1)  “Hamm’s Beer” logo sign (adhesive vinyl lettering)

2)  Paper brick

Large Starry Skies

1)  “Hamm’s Beer” logo sign (adhesive vinyl lettering)

Sunrise/Sunset  (“Twilight Cash Register Sign”)

1)  “Hamm’s Beer” logo sign (adhesive vinyl lettering)

2)  Lake scene print/photograph

3)  Inner colored motion belt

4)  Right side fence post

5)  Motor:  I have seen original motors in both 3 and 6 RPM CCW.  The faster motor      speeds the lighting changes compared to the lower RPM motor.

6)  Also of note:  This sign came in two lighted versions.  The first version was internally lighted with two incandescent bulbs in standard type sockets, while the second used fluorescent tubes (daylight).  The later version also at various times utilized four or five rollers for the motion mechanism.  The color belt on the five roller version was longer, which made for a more methodical change in the color variances. 

1965 Anniversary Rippler

1)  Both left and right side scene pictures

2)  Motor

1956 “TV” Rippler

1)  Lake scene picture

2)  Lined, internally mounted motion belt

Scenarama (small version) Non-Motion Sign

1)  Clock panel

2)  “Hamm’s Beer” panel

3)  Roof panels (see Scenarama, panels are interchangeable)

Blinking Mugs/Flying Goblets Motion Neon Sign

1)  “Hamm’s” neon tubing (there are two glass tube sections, “H-A-M” and “M-S”)

2)  All four mugs/glasses panels (which are behind the Plexiglas covers)

3)  Motor

“Flying Goblets”-“Flying Stubbies” Lighted Signs/Trellised Revolving Clock-Lake Scene Sign

1)  White picket fence 

Calendar Bear Display

1)  Calendar month tabs (6 total, each having two consecutive months printed, one on each side)

2)  Date cubes (original are plastic, repo’s are wood)

Juggler Bear Display

1)  Cardboard sign (mounts to metal pole) 

White “Chalet” Style Signs (several types).

1)  Gold colored finial rooster 

Skater Bear, Tuber Bear Vacuform Motion Displays

1)  Respective cardboard “six-pack”.  The quality of these is not very good, as they were each apparently copied from well-worn originals. 

Billboard Bear Vacuform Motion Display

1)  Upper “Hamm’s” Sign (flat plastic verses the original 3-D sign)

2)  Bear.  I have seen only one example of this-it was a decent reproduction made from a type of dense foam.  To my knowledge these are not currently being produced for sale, and they (if in fact more than one was produced-I was once told there were more made) were probably done in years past.  It is still worth checking before buying this type of display.

3)Post-rod, which the bear mounts on.  This lower rod interacts with an interior mounted post which enables the bear to rotate as it moves from left to right, and then back again

Hamm’s Brass Lake Scene w/lattice-ivy (left side) Table Top Sign

1)  Blue w/white letter back-lighted sign

Hamm’s “Snowdrift” Vacuform Motion Display Light

1)  Front clear acetate strip “From the Land of Sky Blue Waters” or “Refreshing as the Land of Sky Blue Waters”

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Parts Available

  In an effort to help educate Hamm's Club members and collectors, we want people to know what is being made out there.  Below is a list of non exclusive items being made.  If you know of something not on this list send us an email at hammsclub@hammsclub.com to let us know.  We are not selling these items.  Please DO NOT contact us for these parts.   We are simply making this info available to collectors.

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