Old and unusual signs of Vermont

[froggie]

Had an unexpected port visit this morning, so took advantage of that (and the much better upload connectivity vice download...everyone trying to Skype back home) to upload a few Vermont photos:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ajfroggie/sets/72157634705104258/

This set will be my repository of old and unusual road signage in Vermont.  I'll add onto it as time/opportunity allows, especially once I'm back from deployment and (later) retired.

For a taste, here's a photo from the set showing Vermont's old blocky font they used on regulatory signs:

[froggie]

Noted while I was up north for Christmas that this sign no longer exists:



It apparently fell victim to a sign replacement that was done in conjunction with a repaving project.

[mass_citizen]

that's too bad especially since the pavement didn't look too bad from that photo.

[froggie]

Also mentioned this in the Vermont thread, but check out this vintage video that VTrans posted on YouTube of the opening of I-91 between White River Junction and Windsor.  Check out the guide signage at 2:16-2:19, 3:10, and 3:16.

[agentsteel53]

simultaneous "best of" and "worst of" road signs.  fine, the embossing press was down for the day; you had to go with Arialveticverstesk, didn't you!

[agentsteel53]

I don't think this thread is complete without this shield:



(Alps photo)

[agentsteel53]

is this gantry still around?  I notice you took some photos of guide signs in the area; did you check this one particular side street?

[SSOWorld]

What the hell? Looks like upside-down US-Route shields covered by the current version...

[agentsteel53]

What the hell? Looks like upside-down US-Route shields covered by the current version...

yep, reused 18x18 shields.

[hbelkins]

Don't know if Matt Steffora's old site (JVincent's Roadhouse) is available on the Wayback Machine or not, but he had a bunch of photos of old signs from the region online at one time. I know I downloaded the site when he told me he was going to take it down, but I'm pretty sure that various equipment upgrades have caused me to lose the photos.

[froggie]

is this gantry still around?  I notice you took some photos of guide signs in the area; did you check this one particular side street?

I believe so.  It's right next to one of our favorite Montpelier restaurants so we go down there on occasion, but I'm usually not paying attention to what old signs are still around.  I'll try to remember to check next time.

As a side note, that stretch of VT 12 is a Class 1 Town Highway.  Which, in short, means that the city is responsible for maintenance and signage instead of VTrans.

[PHLBOS]

simultaneous "best of" and "worst of" road signs.  fine, the embossing press was down for the day; you had to go with Arialveticverstesk, didn't you!

Forgive the obvious point, but I'm assuming that you're aware that the Arialveticverstesk sign was posted (probably decades) after the above-embossed signage and long since such fabrication practice (embossing for signs) was discontinued.

[agentsteel53]

Forgive the obvious point, but I'm assuming that you're aware that the Arialveticverstesk sign was posted (probably decades) after the above-embossed signage and long since such fabrication practice (embossing for signs) was discontinued.

I don't believe this to be necessarily the case.  generally, a lot of the "old" embossed signs are in sufficiently good condition that they have not been in the wild for all that long.  some were NOS and gathered dust from the 50s onwards, but others were made the day before, just using old materials and technology, because it works.

case in point: I have seen embossed signs for $500 fine for littering, which I believe was raised from $250 in 2002. 

[PenguinXL2]

Those signs are just............wow.

[Alps]

is this gantry still around?  I notice you took some photos of guide signs in the area; did you check this one particular side street?

"Side street", "Business US 2/VT 12 past the state capitol," whatever.

[froggie]

Found this gem in Danby this morning:

[froggie]

Discovered last month on a trip with Doug that the embossed Speed Limit sign mentioned upthread no longer exists.

[agentsteel53]

"Side street", "Business US 2/VT 12 past the state capitol," whatever.

I misremembered.  I had remembered that three of the four branches of the intersection were state highway, and the fourth was a side street.

[froggie]

is this gantry still around?  I notice you took some photos of guide signs in the area; did you check this one particular side street?

Was in Montpelier on Friday and noticed that this signpost still exists.  They are the only overhead signs remaining for the US 2/VT 12 intersection.