Ugly US shields

[PAHighways]

These look like the ones I mentioned back in September.

[agentsteel53]

These are everywhere.

that standard goes back to the late 40s.  I've always liked it.

[Ian]

Yeah I've always liked those "southern style" shields found in Louisiana and Alabama, just like I enjoy those misshapen US shields NH used on their LGSs up until the 90s.

[agentsteel53]

I've seen the southern style in Tennessee and Virginia as well, and - of all places - Wisconsin.

[thenetwork]

For a while in the late 90's/early 00's, Ohio had a slew of real fugly US-224 signs along it's route from Lodi to Findlay.  And I think US 250 got the ugly stick treatment as well in that same part of the state.  Never got a pic of them, though.

[Alex]

Several of these posted along U.S. 301 in southern Maryland.



Lots of this garbage posted in northern Florida.

[US71]

Near Lake Village, AR

[Scott5114]

What's ugly there? The US 278? That's AHTD's standard attempt to make a 3-digit 1961 spec shield...

[US71]

What's ugly there? The US 278? That's AHTD's standard attempt to make a 3-digit 1961 spec shield...

The 65 shield is mis-shapen

[cjk374]

What's ugly there? The US 278? That's AHTD's standard attempt to make a 3-digit 1961 spec shield...

The 65 shield is mis-shapen

That's what most of Louisiana's look like.  I don't like them at all.   

[agentsteel53]

that 65 is standard 1970 spec.  ugly, yes, but they do show up nearly everywhere so there isn't much use cataloging them all.

[US71]

that 65 is standard 1970 spec.  ugly, yes, but they do show up nearly everywhere so there isn't much use cataloging them all.

I thought it looked off even by 70's spec?  But I don't like 70's spec, anyway

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This one isn't so much "ugly" as no 2 signs are quite alike:

[cjk374]

^^^But at least the shields look better than '70 spec.   

[US71]

^^^But at least the shields look better than '70 spec.   

I'll drink to that

[okroads]

Lamar, CO:

[agentsteel53]

that 385 on the right does look a bit goofy, but is standard '70 spec.  the 385 on the left and the 287 are classic '61 spec!  Glad to see those are still there.  I saw that gantry in 2006.

[Quillz]

So, the '61 spec did allow for wide shields? I thought those weren't introduced until the '70 revisions.

[agentsteel53]

So, the '61 spec did allow for wide shields? I thought those weren't introduced until the '70 revisions.

only on the green-sign shields.  independent-mount black square shields came only in one width.

[Quillz]

What were the dimensions of the '61 wide shield?

[agentsteel53]

I think 35x24.  shoot me an email and I'll send a vector your way tonight.

[mobilene]

On eastbound US 36 east of Bainbridge, Indiana.  2007 photo.

[Brandon]

On eastbound US 36 east of Bainbridge, Indiana.  2007 photo.

MY EYES!  HOW THEY BURN!  

That's worse than some of the mishappen ones above.

[Quillz]

That's pretty horrid. An ugly '70 shield using Helvetica, I think.

I know Clearview isn't popular around here but at least it doesn't look nearly as bad.

[mobilene]

And they didn't even kern it properly.  The 3 and the 6 only seem vaguely related.

[Quillz]

I'm not sure if that is the default kerning of the typeface, but it does look a bit wide. I found that when working with U.S. Route shields, I tend to have a kerning of -37.5, as it makes the numbers look a little tighter and just gives it a more balance appearance.