This is the street sign style used in Manhattan and the Bronx beginning in the mid-1910s, and surviving in some cases until the early 1960s. They were navy blue and white, with the cross street placed above the main identifier street in what came to be called the ‘hump.’ That serif lettering was exquisite — someone really ought to digitize the letters and numbers and sell them as a font.
From the collection of Lawrence Rogak.
9/11/12
I really love the lettering !! really nice…..
Dorothea Place, a tiny street in the Bronx, had a sign in that style in the early 1980s.
I know where that is but didn’t get there till 1999. Any pictures?
There was also one on Allen Place in the 1990s that has since gone
How neat to have the matching pair…that’s not easy to do!
I also love the look of these old signs. My happy contribution is this Washington Sq. N. sign. The mounting hardware is actually from Easton, PA, but it is the same as those used on some NYC corners.
Back in the late 1960s early 1970s United House Wrecking had hundreds
of these signs, all laid out in rows on the bottom edge outside, and they were for sale for $5 each , your choice. I bought 2 still have one.
Rochester , N.Y. used a similar sign, and size and I have a pair from this city along with the cast iron holders and bit that mounted it to the lamp pole. GREAT STUFF.
Had a 42nd and Bdwy sign in its frame courstesy of the Dept. of Public Works,City of NY,and tossed it into the east river
the lettering is similar, but not exact, to the Copperplate family of fonts that are easily available…great stuff!