For your consideration is this Railway Express Agency porcelain enamel depot sign circa 1930s. From 1918 until 1975, the Railway Express Agency (REA), formerly known as the American Railway Express Agency and subsequently renamed the American Railway Express Inc., provided nationwide package delivery services throughout the United States. Similar to how modern UPS and DHL companies use roads and air travel, REA arranged transport and delivery via the already-existing railroad infrastructure. During World War I, it was established by forcibly combining pre-existing services into a nationwide quasi-monopoly to guarantee the quick and secure delivery of packages, cash, and merchandise. In March 1929, the assets and operations of American Railway Express Inc. were transferred to Railway Express Agency (REA). REA was owned by 86 railroads in proportion to the express traffic on their lines; no one railroad or group of railroads controlled the agency. In response to customer demand, REA added a Chicago, Illinois-based refrigerator car line. In 1927, REA began an Air Express Division. REA ceased operations in 1975, when its business model ceased to be viable. The sign shows a diamond shape and a red background with white lettering reading, "Railway Express Agency". There are two mounting holes, one on the left and one on the right. The sign shows good condition overall with some slight wear present, but no obvious signs of damage. The sign measures 11 1/8" L x 11 1/8" W and weighs 1 pound and 2 ounces.

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