Button copy questions

[Mergingtraffic]

Here's a question I never thought about before until I started taking sign pics a few years back.

Did some states manufacture their buttons and letters differently than others?

For example: I notice NY's buttons stand out more during the day and you can even see the shadows on them if the sun is right. Here's an example:


or
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However, with NJ, their buttons are harder to notice during the day, like they are pushed into the lettering. 

Did some states embed them in the letters more? Or did some states just put them on top of lettering? 

[MarkF]

I remember in the 80s that CalTrans glued button reflectors to their old lit signs, I think they were cutting back on burnt bulb replacement at the time.  Otherwise, the button copy was embedded.

[machias]

Here's a question I never thought about before until I started taking sign pics a few years back.

Did some states manufacture their buttons and letters differently than others?

For example: I notice NY's buttons stand out more during the day and you can even see the shadows on them if the sun is right. Here's an example:


or
[/url]

However, with NJ, their buttons are harder to notice during the day, like they are pushed into the lettering. 

Did some states embed them in the letters more? Or did some states just put them on top of lettering? 

I don't think it was a state thing as much as it was probably a manufacturer thing.  Different manufacturing processes.

[Rothman]

Here's a question I never thought about before until I started taking sign pics a few years back.

Did some states manufacture their buttons and letters differently than others?

For example: I notice NY's buttons stand out more during the day and you can even see the shadows on them if the sun is right. Here's an example:


or
[/url]

However, with NJ, their buttons are harder to notice during the day, like they are pushed into the lettering. 

Did some states embed them in the letters more? Or did some states just put them on top of lettering? 

I don't think it was a state thing as much as it was probably a manufacturer thing.  Different manufacturing processes.

Not so sure about that.  NYSDOT certainly had a sign shop of its own.

[machias]

Not so sure about that.  NYSDOT certainly had a sign shop of its own.

Very true, but I know that the local, privately owned sign shop produced button copy signs at one time and they did not make their own letters, they came from another company. And I'm pretty sure the Thruway Authority farmed button copy out to a company (maybe 3M?) because they were shown in brochures back in the 60s.

[Mergingtraffic]

I forgot to add in a NJ example:


and

[vtk]

The button copy I've seen in Ohio appears to have the reflector buttons embedded in holes in non-reflective letter-shaped frames. This becomes evident when a button copy sign is mangled by impact with a wayward vehicle.

[Rothman]

Not so sure about that.  NYSDOT certainly had a sign shop of its own.

Very true, but I know that the local, privately owned sign shop produced button copy signs at one time and they did not make their own letters, they came from another company. And I'm pretty sure the Thruway Authority farmed button copy out to a company (maybe 3M?) because they were shown in brochures back in the 60s.

Good point.

[kendancy66]

California has least two types. The older ones that look like rivets,  and the  newer flat round reflector type