I picked up a small bus stop sign made by Minatoy, N.Y. and I am curious to know the history of Minatoy, a company I have never heard of. There were several other signs available at the same time from Minatoy, but I only bought this one.
I believe this is simplified version of a style of bus stop I saw in New York City during family vacations in the late 50s. These signs date from the days when private bus operators were responsible under the terms of their franchise for supplying and maintaining bus stop signs. The prototype signs had Bus Stop in a circle which was below an arrow head pointing up and above an arrow fan. By 1963 all but one small private operator was gone in Manhattan.
Plasticville issued a New York style bus stop sign some of its street sign sets starting in 1952, but those were made of plastic.
Its a great find I really treasure. The photos show the model sign, front and back and a historic sign that was auctioned a couple of years ago.
