photos of old signs on the internet

[Hot Rod Hootenanny]

US 23 south of Delaware, Ohio, just east of it's intersection with Oh 315 (Stratford). Circa 1927.
Found on this webpage - http://www.columbusrailroads.com/cd&m%20worthington%20north.htm

[agentsteel53]

US 23 south of Delaware, Ohio, just east of it's intersection with Oh 315 (Stratford). Circa 1927.
Found on this webpage - http://www.columbusrailroads.com/cd&m%20worthington%20north.htm

cool photo!  1927 sounds about right. 

In the background is the 23/L gantry (1926 and later).

in the foreground is the circular CAUTION/CURVE (1922-1930s or so) on top of a lit gasoline AGA beacon.  that spot inside the CAUTION/CURVE is not a reflector, but an actual beacon which was illuminated from underneath.  That style of beacon was developed in 1922 or so by the AGA company, but alas I cannot find the photo of a friend of mine standing beside said beacon, with "1927" stamp on it.

[Brian556]

Very Interesting-
I have never seen a flashing baecon device like that before.
Odd that this is a combination advertizing/traffic control device.

[CanesFan27]

If you have time to kill - NCDOT has a photo listing of all their overhead signs:

http://www.ncdot.org/doh/preconstruct/traffic/congestion/sign/inven/

A number of the old button copy overheads that they have photos of for example Summit Drive at US 29 in Greensboro, I-77 at US 421, I-85 at US 158 in Henderson, US 19/23/74 just after I-40, etc. have since been replaced.

It also has overheads of when I-74 in Surry County was still NC 752.  Obviously not all the photos are best quality...but it's an interesting look.

[CanesFan27]

Came across this gem at the Key Largo Visitor Center:


IMG_6543 by Adam's Journey, on Flickr


IMG_6544 by Adam's Journey, on Flickr

[agentsteel53]

very awesome!

I wonder if it is the counterpart to this sign:



photo taken in 1960

[NE2]

It would have been posted at the other end of the Keys.

[agentsteel53]

It would have been posted at the other end of the Keys.

I was thinking that at one point it was posted at the end approaching from the mainland, and then, upon retirement, was moved into the Key Largo Visitors Center.

[NE2]

Yes, most likely. I would call a 'welcome to Key West the end of US 1' sign the counterpart of the one you posted.

[agentsteel53]

Yes, most likely. I would call a 'welcome to Key West the end of US 1' sign the counterpart of the one you posted.

I just plain wasn't paying attention.  I had thought the one I posted (1960 photo) was leaving the keys in general.  Whoops.

shows how much attention I pay to the verbiage outside the shield! 

[CanesFan27]

Not sure how old - but nonetheless


South C-905 by Adam's Journey, on Flickr

[agentsteel53]

the newest S-shield I know of is Oct '77.  Unless this one is newer (sometimes they say it on the back).  that is just after they switched, around Apr '77 from the keys style shield to that style.

[US71]

Excelsior Springs, MO

[formulanone]

I'm thinking mid-1980s, based on the cars (including that 1st-gen RX-7).

[NE2]

Looks like Dixie/Ocean/Colorado in Stuart. It no longer has any numbered routes.

[Tom]

How about an old photo of an old road sign when it was new (from Michigan Tech Library):

http://www.digarch.lib.mtu.edu/showbib.aspx?bib_id=706023# 

[agentsteel53]

that's great, thank you!  I had never seen a single-digit fully embossed Michigan state route marker before.

[adt1982]

I'm not sure if this sign is still there or not.  I know it was still there as late as 2006.  Edit: street view confirms it's still there!

This is in Mattoon, IL, just after 45 and 121 cross Illinois 16.

[US71]

I'm not sure if this sign is still there or not.  I know it was still there as late as 2006.  Edit: street view confirms it's still there!

This is in Mattoon, IL, just after 45 and 121 cross Illinois 16.

Wow! I barely recognize the place. Then again it was 9-10 years ago I last visited and 20 before that I last lived there

[formulanone]

Popped this on out of my scanner yesterday; taken in March 1997, just before the US ALT 27 signs were deprecated in Polk County. I wish I was into color film then...


Alternate US Route 27 by formulanone at Flickr

Also, larger photo available on request.

[Central Avenue]

If you hadn't mentioned that you took that in 1997, I would have assumed it was much older.

[formulanone]

Nah...the SUV ahead means I couldn't fudge the past much further back! But grainy black and white film can distort time, if there's no glaring anachronisms.

[Central Avenue]

Huh, I didn't even notice the SUV.

Probably because I was focusing on the sign itself.

[relaxok]

IMG_6543 by Adam's Journey, on Flickr


IMG_6544 by Adam's Journey, on Flickr

WOW i LOVE that color!!!  Did those shields used to also be on the road naked on cutout signs??

[NE2]

http://www.us-highways.com/flausa.htm
They were never on cutouts.