Hi Lynne.

I believe that what you have is a fantasy piece and I’ll tell you why. I’m going to put the rust and wear to the side for now because I know that you know how good people have gotten at replicating ‘age’. I’ve found many of these Fender signs (with different subjects ie; oil, etc.) online and all are well worn (aged) in the exact same spots. For me, the following points are the tells (all based on the fact that IF this sign were an original it would have been made in the late 50’s or early 60’s at the latest).

1) “Live The Rock And Roll Life On The Road.” Rock & Roll was just starting to come into it’s own during the 50’s. They were too busy promoting their artists to be promoting “The Life” and let alone be giving “professional guided tours”. BTW ‘Professional Guided Tours’ of what, exactly? Fender was a very young company in the guitar making business, not the guided tour business.

2) The ‘Tremolo’ (AKA the Fender Vibrato/Vibration arm, better known as the Whammy Bar) came out on the Stratocastor in ‘54 but wasn’t really even seen or popular until Buddy Holly played the Ed Sullivan show in ‘57 yet there it is on the sign (see the black bar/line pointing to the right on the bottom portion of the guitar). Again, this would’ve had to have been hot off the presses (but there’s that pesky ‘Old School’ reference).

3) “Authentic ‘Old School’ Tour Bus”. Back then newer and modern was considered better. I don’t even think ‘Old School’ was a term used in the same context as we use it today. Even more obvious than that is, if this sign were an original it would have been made in the late 50’s or early 60’s so why would they be referring to the tour bus as ‘Old School’ when it was probably no more than 10 years old at the time?

It is still a very cool sign and the last one that sold from this series over on the dark side sold for $30. This sign is much cooler and I am betting more desirable to collectors (maybe fetching a higher price?)

Good Luck!!!