Unique, Odd, or Interesting Signs aka The good, the bad, and the ugly

[Brandon]

Fezzes are cool

As were bow ties.  Alas, like tennis shoes with a suit, they pass on.  Now we have a long coat.

[Mr. Matté]

Any time I see a pictorial Yield Ahead sign where the yield symbol is really huge, I think of the early-episodes of Family Guy where the character's mouths really show their teeth:

[vdeane]

Any time I see a pictorial Yield Ahead sign where the yield symbol is really huge, I think of the early-episodes of Family Guy where the character's mouths really show their teeth:

Once it's seen, it cannot be unseen!

[spooky]

This seems like the right thread for this:

[formulanone]

^ Pick-a-state, Anystate? But probably...Massachusetts?

[Brandon]

^ Pick-a-state, Anystate? But probably...Massachusetts?

I know it's not Illinois.  No route 27 of any type, state, US, or Interstate.

[SidS1045]

^ Pick-a-state, Anystate? But probably...Massachusetts?

Given what looks like a paddle sign across the road, I'd say you're right.

[spooky]

Yes, these type of signs are mounted both approaching and departing the intersection of Routes 27 and 109 in Medfield, MA.

[formulanone]

^ Pick-a-state, Anystate? But probably...Massachusetts?

Given what looks like a paddle sign across the road, I'd say you're right.

I always thought the paddle signs were duplicated on both sides? (Then again, I haven't spent any serious time in MA since 1991.)

[SidS1045]

I always thought the paddle signs were duplicated on both sides? (Then again, I haven't spent any serious time in MA since 1991.)

They can be, but usually aren't.

[1995hoo]

New signs outside Nationals Park on Friday. Never seen either before anywhere else. The second one strikes me as really odd. If the taxi driver stops to pick up someone hailing him, how exactly do they plan to tow his cab? A ticket, sure, but do they really intend to remove the cabbie from his vehicle (by force if needed) so as to tow the cab?

[talllguy]

X Post from the fonts forum.

What in the world is this? (Forgive me for being a bit of a font n00b, but this is something I have never seen)


Shields at Grovenor Metro Station Exit by Elliott P, on Flickr


Odd Shields by Elliott P, on Flickr

[talllguy]

New signs outside Nationals Park on Friday. Never seen either before anywhere else. The second one strikes me as really odd. If the taxi driver stops to pick up someone hailing him, how exactly do they plan to tow his cab? A ticket, sure, but do they really intend to remove the cabbie from his vehicle (by force if needed) so as to tow the cab?

Ugh, taxis... Taxi's interpret NO STOPPING as TAXI STAND. I prefer the second one though and the first is too wordy. A cabbie pictogram would be nice.

[jakeroot]

Great sign near Puyallup, Washington. The font haters will like this because it uses the loved-by-all Comic Sans and of course, to top everything off, Clearview on brown. Really lovely isn't it?

[Zeffy]

You know, I understand sign designing companies will allow custom signs, and I'm all for that, but can they start to reduce the number of custom fonts? This is just ugly.

As for the Clearview park sign, well, it surprisingly didn't turn out as bad as I could imagine it to be, but this shouldn't become a trend.

[agentsteel53]

^ Pick-a-state, Anystate? But probably...Massachusetts?

correct.

[formulanone]

X Post from the fonts forum.

What in the world is this? (Forgive me for being a bit of a font n00b, but this is something I have never seen)


Shields at Grovenor Metro Station Exit by Elliott P, on Flickr

The font looks like Franklin Gothic, but its been compressed on the shield, and stretched on the banners.

...could be wrong, though.

[roadman]

I always thought the paddle signs were duplicated on both sides? (Then again, I haven't spent any serious time in MA since 1991.)

They can be, but usually aren't.

The majority of Massachusetts "paddle" signs (except for those at the ends of freeway off-ramps) were normally double-sided for several decades.  The transition away from PBS (painted both sides) signs began in the mid-1990s (at the same time as MassHighway started including actual route shields on all signs instead of numbers) and was encouraged by MUTCD and local FHWA guidance to place most directional signs on the right side of the road.

[Scott5114]

X Post from the fonts forum.

What in the world is this? (Forgive me for being a bit of a font n00b, but this is something I have never seen)


Shields at Grovenor Metro Station Exit by Elliott P, on Flickr

The font looks like Franklin Gothic, but its been compressed on the shield, and stretched on the banners.

...could be wrong, though.

Stretched Franklin Gothic is exactly right for the banners, but the shields are Helvetica Black.

[1995hoo]

You know, I understand sign designing companies will allow custom signs, and I'm all for that, but can they start to reduce the number of custom fonts? This is just ugly.

As for the Clearview park sign, well, it surprisingly didn't turn out as bad as I could imagine it to be, but this shouldn't become a trend.

There are some brown signs using Clearview (either all-Clearview or partial) on the George Washington Memorial Parkway near Arlington Memorial Bridge. The Clearview is in all-caps, too. I've never been able to get a good picture due to traffic in the area, though.

It looks weird when it's on the same sign as the National Park Service's standard serif font!

[PHLBOS]

The transition away from PBS (painted both sides) signs began in the mid-1990s (at the same time as MassHighway started including actual route shields on all signs instead of numbers)

Actually, one of the first non-painted on both sides paddle LGS' date back to 1977 when Bell Circle (MA 1A/16/60) was reconstructed w/its cut-through (for MA 60 West/MA 1A South transition movements).  Those LGS panels were also one of if not the first metal LGS'.  Those particular LGS' have all since been replaced.  Scroll down for photos of the original metal Bell Circle BGS'

Wooden paddle LGS' were made up until the early-to-mid 90s.

Painted wooden LGS panels containing messages only on one side had the backs painted in a flat green finish rather than a reflective/glossy finish.

[talllguy]

I thought this was odd because VMS are usually mounted overhead. I don't think I've ever seen one mounted on a pole like this. Looks like a billboard. I-495 in Maryland.


VMS on a Pole by Elliott P, on Flickr

[PHLBOS]

I thought this was odd because VMS are usually mounted overhead. I don't think I've ever seen one mounted on a pole like this. Looks like a billboard. I-495 in Maryland.

PA's got a ton of those; some are even located in the median (example: I-476 along the Blue Route).

[jeffandnicole]

NJ installed a lot of theirs low to the ground.  I wished they would do what PA does, just so they're easier to see from the furthest lane away.

[roadman]

I thought this was odd because VMS are usually mounted overhead. I don't think I've ever seen one mounted on a pole like this. Looks like a billboard. I-495 in Maryland.


VMS on a Pole by Elliott P, on Flickr

That was a common mounting option for early "fiber optic/flip disc" VMS panels installed in many states in the 1990s.  One of the reasons for this was that the "FO/FD" design necessitated the use of walk-in cabinets for component maintenance and replacement.