Super Signage

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NORGE BALLS

Norge Village Cleaners was a nationwide laundromat chain based in Chicago. In the early 1960s, the company developed these plastic, polka-dotted ball signs, now affectionately nicknamed "Norge Balls". The dots remind many people of Wonder Bread wrappers. These signs revolved and were lit from the inside. They were usually mounted on freestanding poles but many were also installed on the laundromat's roof. In addition, Norge Village Cleaners featured other plastic signage on their storefronts. These signs are even rarer than the balls now.

In 1967, there were 3,400 Norge Village locations. My guess is that all or the majority of them had these signs. Of the roughly 50 known to still exist, I don't believe any of them are still lit. As far as I know, the only one that still spins is in Iron Mountain, MI (see below).

Dean's Village Cleaners
Tucson, AZ
cleaners
Dalton, GA
Shop N Save
Harvey, IL
Vanity Box
Chicago, IL
former cleaners
Chicago, IL

The Dean's Village Cleaners Norge Ball includes their name. I don't know if these signs could be ordered with customized lettering or if this was altered later on.

This Dalton cleaners has their ball mounted on the roof.

The Shop N Save Norge Ball is also a bit battered.

The Vanity Box, a beauty salon, has adapted this sign.

This other Chicago former Norge laundry is now a boarded-up building.

Star Deli Food Store
St. Petersburg, FL
Maitland Coin Laundry
Maitland, FL
Norgetown
Miami, FL
4 Paws Oasis
Largo, FL
former coin laundry
Largo, FL

The Star Deli Food Store probably took over a former laundromat at this site. All of the Florida Norge Balls that I have seen are striped. There is another one in St. Petersburg as well.

The Maitland Coin Laundry is another striped example. The apparently original "Norgetown" lettering makes me wonder if this wasn't a spin-off company from Norge Village. That might also explain the unique striped ball design.

The Miami Norgetown's striped ball is on top of a pole in front of their store.

The 4 Paws Oasis pet shop was previously a laundromat. This sign is still installed on their roof. For more, see their website.

This former coin laundry, whether a Norgetown or a Norge Village, is gone now. This ball still stands over the adapted sign for Michael's Food Store.

Norgetown Laundromat & Dry Cleaners [removed]
Sanford, ME

The Norgetown Laundromat & Dry Cleaners closed in 2009 and moved down the street. These signs were donated to the American Sign Museum in Cincinnati, OH. I don't know if there were other striped versions of these Norge Balls in Maine or if this one was brought up from Florida.

Wondermat
Maplewood, MN
Norge Ball
Rolla, MO
Manchester
Karate Studio
Manchester, NH
Video Palace
Tucumcari, NM
Natural Pet Center
Fargo, ND

The Maplewood Wondermat sign and laundry are from 1961.

The Rolla Norge Ball sign stood on the lot of an abandoned gas station when this photo was taken in 2005. The business is now PJ's Auto Source and the Norge Ball has been repainted blue and white.

The Manchester Karate Studio has been here since 1984. Their ball is installed on the roof. [photo thanks DinerFan]

The Video Palace updated the ring around their ball with their own name.

The Natural Pet Center ball is on a freestanding pole in their parking lot.

Fashion Care Corp.
Colonie, NY
Norge Village [gone]
DeKalb, IL
Norge Cleaners
and Laundry
San Gabriel, CA
Norge Village
Cleaners
Long Beach, CA

The Fashion Care Corp. has a vintage non-Norge sign in addition to their ball.

The Norge Village laundromat was replaced with Inboden's Meat Market but the Norge Ball remained for several years. It was one of the best preserved balls I have seen, however, it disappeared in 2007.

This San Gabriel Norge ball is mounted on the roof of this location, still going by the name of Norge Cleaners and Laundry.

The Long Beach Norge Village Cleaners has this fading Norge Ball installed on the the roof.

Ranburn Laundry & Cleaners
Gary, IN

Ranburn Laundry & Cleaners is a former Norge Village Laundry. This location has the nicest collection of Norge signage that I have seen.

Jackson's Cleaners
Gary, IN
Venus Envy
Ottawa, ON
KD Sales
Kalamazoo, MI
St. Ignace Laundromat
St. Ignace, MI
Washboard Coin Laundry
Iron Mountain, MI

Jackson's Cleaners features a battered Norge Ball on their roof.

Venus Envy has adapted this Norge Ball. This is the only one that I know of in Canada. It does appear from this photo that it was previously used at a laundromat. However, I don't know if Norge had locations in Canada or if this sign was brought here from the States.

KD Sales updated their Norge Ball for their party supplies business. The laundromat left behind a Norge clock which has since been removed. For more, see their website.

The St. Ignace Laundromat is no longer a Norge Village but retains the sign.

The Washboard Coin Laundry features a striped example that I have not seen outside of FL. It makes me wonder if it wasn't brought up from there. This ball is still lit and spins!

Hart's Dry Cleaning & Laundry
Roy, UT
4-C Cleaners
Salt Lake City, UT
4-C Cleaners
Ogden, UT

The Norge Ball at Hart's Dry Cleaning & Laundry is in great shape. For more, see this website.

4-C Cleaners must have been a Utah chain that took over some Norge Village locations and adapted their ball signs. I have not been to all of their laundromats but, as far as I know, these are the only two that have the Norge balls.

Beverly Hair Studio
Los Angeles, CA
Krazy $1 Store
Redondo Beach, CA
R&S Cleaners
Portland, OR

The Norge Ball at the Beverly Hair Studio is mounted atop a multiple business pole sign.

The broken Norge Ball in Redondo Beach is located at the Krazy $1 Store.

The R&S Cleaners Norge Ball also has some damage and fading.

Norge Cleaners & Full Service Laundry
Ukiah, CA
Norge Laundry Village
Rockdale, IL
Uptown Cleaners & Laundry
Richland, WA

The Norge Cleaners & Full Service Laundry still retains the name and signs but is no longer a self-serve place. I have not seen a Norge Ball with a blue band before.

The Rockdale Norge Laundry Village sign is an unusual shape. I have not seen one like this anywhere else.

The Uptown Cleaners & Laundry continues to use this repainted Norge Ball.

former Norge Laundry & Cleaning Village
Louisville, KY
former Norge Laundry & Cleaning Village
San Mateo, CA

This Louisville Norge Laundry Village Norge Ball still remains and reads "B. Klean Coin Laundry" although the building has been occupied by Dangerous Minds Tattoo & Barber Shop since around 2010.

In 2008 when this photo was taken, this San Mateo Norge Laundry Village building was under construction. The most recent former tenant was Dave's Hubcaps. It now houses Jack's Prime restaurant. The ball is still there but has been painted red and the restaurant's name has been added to it. This Norge Village building is identical to one in Albany, CA. For more, see this website.

Norge Laundry & Cleaning Village
Oakland, CA
Norge Laundry & Cleaning Village
Hagerstown, MD
Spinners Laundromat
Washington, DC

These Oakland and Hagerstown locations have the flat plastic signs. They probably both had Norge Balls at one time. The Oakland location is still a Norge Laundry & Cleaning Village. I believe the Hagerstown location is now vacant.

Spinners Laundromat features a Norge panel sign and a broken Norge Ball.

Georgia Dollar
Decatur, GA
Mary's Coin Laundry
Marietta, GA
Norge Laundromat
Little Falls, NJ

The Decatur Norge Ball is hidden behind the Georgia Dollar store sign. The building is now vacant and I'm concerned what might happen to it at this point. For more, see this website.

The Norge Ball at Mary's Coin Laundry still revolves but the city sign ordinances will not allow it. For more, see this website.

The Little Falls Norge Laundromat probably had a complementary ball sign at one time.

Wilson Wash-A-Teria
Easton, PA
Mt. Washington Cleaners
Cincinnati, OH
Glen Raven Norge Village Laundry
Burlington, NC
Norge Ball
Greensboro, NC

The rooftop Wilson Wash-A-Teria Norge Ball sign is in great shape. The laundromat below is still in operation.

The Mt. Washington Cleaners Norge Ball is installed on a freestanding pole next to the laundromat.

The Norge Ball at the Glen Raven Norge Village Laundry is missing its midsection. The laundromat is still open. [second photo thanks Robby Delius]

This Greensboro Norge Ball has been painted white. The business below is no longer a laundromat. The flat sign is probably a painted over Norge plastic sign.

More Norge Balls:
Arcadia, CA
Lomita, CA [gone]
Los Angeles, CA
Santa Ana, CA
Coeur d’Alene, ID [gone?]
Hobart, IN
Ashland, KY [gone?]
Highland Park, MI [mostly gone]
North Platte, NE
Falconer, NY [gone]
Portland, OR
North East, PA
Brigham City, UT
Clearfield, UT
Waynesboro, VA
Menomonie, WI: 1, 2
Plymouth, WI
advertisements: 1, 2

If you know of any not on this list, please let me know!

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