Questions regarding street corner name signs of the 1950's

[shovelhead]

I need the dimensions of the 1956 [[?) series of street corner name signs. The type with black lettering on white with the black border. The name and size of the font used and the width of the black border would be a plus.

Originals are few and far between and the chance of getting the specific street I need, well I have a better chance of hitting the lottery. I have a signmaker that should be able to make one once I get the information requested.

Can anybody help? Thanks in advance.

[mtburb]

I know that up until around 2012, there was one that still lingered at the corner of Fullerton and Glendale [[yes, these parallel streets do intersect each other near Telegraph and I-96).

[shovelhead]

There's one on south side of Grand River, east of Telegraph by Grand Lawn Cemetery too. I'm a bit too old to climb up the post to take measurements though.....

[Király]

There's one on south side of Grand River, east of Telegraph by Grand Lawn Cemetery too. I'm a bit too old to climb up the post to take measurements though.....

This one?

What is up with that sign? It [[properly) says "Riverview ➵" the right way up, but upside down it says "Outer Drive E". There must be some story behind that one.

[shovelhead]

This one?

What is up with that sign? It [[properly) says "Riverview ➵" the right way up, but upside down it says "Outer Drive E". There must be some story behind that one.

That's the one. I saw a Terry street sign that under the reflective white you can clearly make out Pelkey under it. I assume that the city recycled the aluminum blanks and replaced the facing over the old material when they faded.

[313WX]

I vaguely recall spotting a few of these signs [[still up) for a few streets on Moross between Mack and Kelly...

[313WX]

I vaguely recall spotting a few of these signs [[still up) for a few streets on Moross between Mack and Kelly...

Below is a link to one of these black & white signs at Moross and Tyrone St.

https://www.google.com/maps/@42.4227...YFUK6LYo6g!2e0

These signs are also at Moross/Payton St. and Moross/Roxbury St.

[shovelhead]

Below is a link to one of these black & white signs at Moross and Tyrone St.

https://www.google.com/maps/@42.4227...YFUK6LYo6g!2e0

These signs are also at Moross/Payton St. and Moross/Roxbury St.

That appears to be a black background with white lettering. That brought back memories of one at Grand River and Pierson, south side of Grand River on the eastbound side. I noticed that sign as it stood out in late 1969 as I was traveling that part of Grand River quite frequently for a few months then. That was the only one like that I ever saw and always wondered why it was like that.

[mtburb]

Meanwhile, here's a virtual version I created some time back.

[stasu1213]

Meanwhile, here's a virtual version I created some time back.

What year did all of the street signs in the city were changed to white letters with green background?

[mtburb]

What year did all of the street signs in the city were changed to white letters with green background?

Probably early 1970's, though it took until the mid 1990's for those to be rolled out across most of the city.

[cla1945]

20" long
6" Wide
Letters are 4" high

[Honky Tonk]

Purple Hayes.......

[Wheels]

Purple Hayes.......

Excuse me while I kiss this guy.

[EASTSIDE CAT 67-83]

Purple Hayes.......

Hotel Tango....Purple Hays...how does one's mind work in such brilliant ways...You da man

[Honky Tonk]

Hotel Tango....Purple Hays...how does one's mind work in such brilliant ways...You da man

It hurts sometimes......

[220hendrie1910]

The Detroit street signs of that era were lettered in FHWA Series C, the usual street/highway sign font. It's not publicly available, but there are many good approximations, including Interstate by Hoefler & Frere-Jones. Interstate Regular Compressed or Bold Compressed would be the closest: http://www.fontbureau.com/fonts/Interstate/styles/

[mtburb]

The Detroit street signs of that era were lettered in FHWA Series C, the usual street/highway sign font. It's not publicly available, but there are many good approximations, including Interstate by Hoefler & Frere-Jones. Interstate Regular Compressed or Bold Compressed would be the closest: http://www.fontbureau.com/fonts/Interstate/styles/

Actually, there is a font set that's called "Roadgeek 2005" that includes a recreation of Series C and more.

http://www.fontspace.com/michael-d-adams/roadgeek-2005

[LarryC39]

I spent a lot of time making some recreations of these signs, overlaying many sketches on photographs.

The white ones were either made from several standard lengths of sign or "cut to length." Several places still sell square-cut 6" sign blades, but only in a few lengths such as 18", 28", and 30" [[a few other sizes too.)

Series C is USUALLY the best match, however not all signs of that era were done with that font. At least not the modern Federal Highway fonts [[The Roadgeek and similar are based off 2000 or so standards.) Most notably differences from Detroit signs are seein in letters like A, C, G, and S. The crossbar of the A is too high, and the ends of C/G/S should be beveled, not horizontal.

For the borders, I left 1/4" of white on all four sides. The upper and lower lines I made 1/4" thick. The vertical bars I made 5/8" wide. For the fillets in the four corners I used a 1/2" radius. For the font, I centered it on the sign and adjusted the size until it was physically 4" tall lettering. I believe they came out pretty close.

[shovelhead]

Thank you for all the responses. Hopefully this is enough information for the signmaker.

[Detroit Signal]

Just for reference, I have all three generations of the most recent signs. The white and black signs are significantly shorter than the newer green signs.

[mtburb]

Just for reference, I have all three generations of the most recent signs. The white and black signs are significantly shorter than the newer green signs.

The only thing the older green sign's missing is that block number on the upper right corner.

[313WX]

The only thing the older green sign's missing is that block number on the upper right corner.

There were three versions of the green signs.

The one you see without the block number [[that's older than the current green signs) was the 2nd version.

[220hendrie1910]

There were three versions of the green signs.

The one you see without the block number [[that's older than the current green signs) was the 2nd version.

You might say there have been four versions of the green signs: FHWA Series C, no border, no number; FHWA Series C, no border, with number; Clearview 1-W, white border, wide-spaced; Clearview 2-W, white border, narrow-spaced [[the current issue). http://www.terminaldesign.com/fonts/...mplete-family/

[Király]

You might say there have been four versions of the green signs: FHWA Series C, no border, no number; FHWA Series C, no border, with number; Clearview 1-W, white border, wide-spaced; Clearview 2-W, white border, narrow-spaced [[the current issue). http://www.terminaldesign.com/fonts/...mplete-family/

When were the green signs with the block number in use? There was one still up at Eastern and Chope in July 2009 when the Google car drove by.