Old street signs


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Re: Old street signs
Posted by: ChicagoHal (---.dsl.chcgil.sbcglobal.net)
Date: April 21, 2011 04:45PM

Couple more street signs on eBay.

There is one for Machesney road that claims to be a Chicago street sign, but I could find no such road in Chicago using Google. Plus the mounting is underneath the sign which the city did not do even with the old yellow and black ones and the shape is not correct.
http://cgi.ebay.com/VINTAGE-PORCELAIN-MACHESNEY-RD-CHICAGO-STREET-SIGN-/250723788508?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3a604d66dc
As BERWYN FRANK note below, it is in a different city and this seller was told some time ago.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 06/22/2015 07:40PM by ChicagoHal.

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Re: Old street signs
Posted by: Berwyn Frank (---.lightspeed.cicril.sbcglobal.net)
Date: April 21, 2011 05:03PM

"There is one for Machesney road that claims to be a Chicago street sign, but I could find no such road in Chicago using Google. Plus the mounting is underneath the sign which the city did not do even with the old yellow and black ones and the shape is not correct.
[cgi.ebay.com]"

I e-mailed this seller a couple of months ago and told him that the sign he is selling is in Winnebego, IL near Rockford. He never answered me and leaves it as Chicago hoping some dummy will buy it.

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Re: Old street signs
Posted by: ChicagoHal (---.dsl.chcgil.sbcglobal.net)
Date: April 21, 2011 07:29PM

NICE! I've corrected people on eBay and most seem to add the correction, jerks like that guy do not.

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Re: Old street signs
Posted by: ChicagoHal (---.dsl.chcgil.sbcglobal.net)
Date: May 16, 2011 11:26AM

For the original poster, there is a choice of Aberdeen, Albany, Archer, Belle Plaine, Broadway, Cortez, Carmen, Francisco, or Garfield signs on ebay at http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=280676827213&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT in the green and white.

There's also a choice of HARVARD, PRINCETON, RHODES, OAKDALE, PARKSIDE, PARNELL, PETERSON, PULASKI, RACINE, or RITCHIE signs at http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=280678155169&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT in the green and white.

A choice of HENDERSON, LAFLIN, MAGNOLIA, MARQUETTE, MENOMONEE, MONITOR, KEDZIE, KEYSTONE, KILDARE, KINGSBURY, OR KOSTNER at http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=280678174635&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT in green and white.

A Euclid at http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=280672257516&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT in green and white.

59th at http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=280672262468&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT in green and white.

64th at http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=280672268329&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT in green and white.

83rd at http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=280672268821&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT in green and white.

17th at http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=280672274023&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT in green and white.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 06/22/2015 07:42PM by ChicagoHal.

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Re: Old street signs
Posted by: ChicagoHal (---.dsl.chcgil.sbcglobal.net)
Date: May 16, 2011 06:49PM

Also, choice of NORMANDY, SANGAMON, SEELEY, SPAULDING, SUPERIOR, WABASH, WESTERN, WHIPPLE, WILSON, WOLCOTT, WOODLAWN, or WRIGHTWOOD on Ebay at http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=280678504156&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT in green and white.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/17/2011 02:26AM by ChicagoHal.

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Re: Old street signs
Posted by: Berwyn Frank (---.lightspeed.cicril.sbcglobal.net)
Date: May 22, 2011 06:18PM

Neat picture from 1960. I want one of those Keep Chicago Clean signs!





Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/22/2011 06:19PM by Berwyn Frank.

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Re: Old street signs
Posted by: Berwyn Frank (---.lightspeed.cicril.sbcglobal.net)
Date: May 22, 2011 06:29PM

Here is a neat photo ca. 1930 with a good view of the street signs from then at the corner of Ontario & St. Clair.



I saved this picture of a neat Chicago "Honor Roll Block" sign that sold a couple of years ago on e-bay for big money.



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Re: Old street signs
Posted by: Berwyn Frank (---.lightspeed.cicril.sbcglobal.net)
Date: May 22, 2011 06:33PM

Here is another neat photo I posted a while back in a different thread of troops & police gathered at the 1919 Chicago race riots with a good view of the street signs at 63rd & Racine.



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Re: Old street signs
Posted by: Berwyn Frank (---.lightspeed.cicril.sbcglobal.net)
Date: May 22, 2011 06:40PM

I wanted to post some of the important info that I spent some time gathering from the other thread I mention above in this thread for further refrence.

In the 1908-1910 era "street signs" were basically painted letters stenciled onto the poles that were usually on the corners in neighborhoods.

During WWII most of the street signs were taken down for metal drives in support of the war effort. They started to come back in 1950. In the late 1970s early 1980s, the yellow signs were replaced with the modern green signs. The city of Chicago sold the old yellow signs to residents which is why so many survive.


I finally got some exact numbers and dates regarded this much discussed Forgotten Chicago topic.

In September 1936 President Roosevelt approved grants by the Federal Public Works Administration in which $96,000 would be going to Chicago to hang some 64,000 yellow and black 5" X 26" metal street signs. It would take 17 weeks to manufacture the signs and they would begin to be hung upon receiving the first batch. These are the signs that I believe were eventually removed to help with metal drives during WWII.

Starting in 1950 the City of Chicago contracted for new street signs, and by early 1951 they had received 25,000 new signs of 67,500 which were to be made for the city. The first order went to the Bettinger Enamel Corp. of Waltham, Mass at a unit price of $1.67 each. The second order was given to Federal Enterprises Inc. of Chicago for 27,500 signs, and had an increased price of $1.93 per sign. A third order also went to Federal Enterprises Inc and had further increased to $2.31 per sign which was attributed to rising steel costs. The city began installation of the new signs at city limits on the northwest and south sides working their way towards the Loop. The city used a new method of securing the signs to poles by shooting specially treated bolts into poles instead of using straps which rusted and failed in past years. The new signs and bolts were said to have been able to withstand a 3,000 pound pull. By July 1954 the city had spent $111,939 to put up 58,302 new signs. Mayor Kennelly called the job "the largest project of its kind undertaken by any municipality." The city was said to have replaced 1,200 signs a year because of theft, vandalism, and traffic accidents.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/02/2012 07:16PM by Berwyn Frank.

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Re: Old street signs
Posted by: ChicagoHal (---.dsl.chcgil.sbcglobal.net)
Date: May 24, 2011 12:21AM

I also like the Keep Chicago clean sign. The Ontario and St. Clair signs look very thick, I am wondering if that is just the photograph but that looks like some substantial steel bars they used.

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Re: Old street signs
Posted by: Berwyn Frank (---.lightspeed.cicril.sbcglobal.net)
Date: May 24, 2011 12:55AM

I agree Hal. Those street signs look like they may be hollow with a cap of some sort on the end? Also look at the 1960 photo. (click to enlarge) You can see two of the old signs on the bottom, W. Huron St. & W. Walnut St., but you can see two of the newer ones, S. Loomis Blvd., that are darker and have the newer mounting bracket on them. That's weird because I thought the green signs came out in the late 1970s. The yellow ones weren't even 10 years old by 1960.

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Re: Old street signs
Posted by: ChicagoHal (---.dsl.chcgil.sbcglobal.net)
Date: May 28, 2011 09:09PM

Loomis blvd may have been a street under the control of the Chicago Park District. From what I read, they had brown signs with white letters and eventually all the streets were transferred to the city. The park district ones tended to be called blvds and a couple of other designations, but not street or road.
I met a cop who has one of the old thick ones. He said its pretty beat up and it is hollow inside. Someone else told him that they thought a piece of wood was often in the center of them to help keep their shape. He bought a number of the other yellow ones a number of years ago and wasn't interested in that one, but the guy through it in the deal. Now he's glad he has it. I am going to see if I can make arrangements to take a look at it at some point because I would love the chance just to see it.

Ebay had a E Walton yellow one up

Ebay also has what is claimed to be a city of Chicago one that had no direction on it and is white with black letters for Carpenter st. It has the old style mounting bracket, but I'm guessing its from a suburb maybe. I asked a 75 year old and they don't recall any white ones. The cop I spoke to didn't think it was actually city of Chicago either. Any thoughts? See it at http://cgi.ebay.com/Vintage-Chicago-Street-Sign-Carpenter-Street-/330568017153?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4cf763a501



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/22/2015 07:44PM by ChicagoHal.

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Re: Old street signs
Posted by: tomcat630 (---.hsd1.il.comcast.net)
Date: May 30, 2011 02:03AM

Before the all green signs, Chicago's designated Boulavards had dark color signs. I always remember them as purple with off-white letters, but then I haven't seen one in decades. The blvds didn't allow trucks, still don't. This is why Irving Park switched to Road from Blvd.

In Los Angeles, a boulevard means a wide, major, through street. So, non-natives wonder why ours are so different.

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Re: Old street signs
Posted by: Berwyn Frank (---.lightspeed.cicril.sbcglobal.net)
Date: May 31, 2011 04:00PM

Hal & Tom, I didn't see your responses until now. great info! Hal get a pic of that old street sign from the cop!

Here is another 1960 Chicago street sign dept. photo.



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Re: Old street signs
Posted by: Berwyn Frank (---.lightspeed.cicril.sbcglobal.net)
Date: May 31, 2011 04:08PM

Sold sign update.

W. Pratt Av.- $130.00

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&_trksid=p4340.l2557&rt=nc&nma=true&item=220784738001&si=m6d%252F9kZNVdH65KTUc4KmzMyaDFU%253D&viewitem=&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWAX%3AIT

S. Elizabeth St.- $172.50

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&_trksid=p4340.l2557&rt=nc&nma=true&item=160588911946&si=m6d%252F9kZNVdH65KTUc4KmzMyaDFU%253D&viewitem=&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWAX%3AIT

W. 56th St.- $142.50

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&_trksid=p4340.l2557&rt=nc&nma=true&item=160588915541&si=m6d%252F9kZNVdH65KTUc4KmzMyaDFU%253D&viewitem=&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWAX%3AIT

S. California Av.- $83.79

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&_trksid=p4340.l2557&rt=nc&nma=true&item=330565155068&si=m6d%252F9kZNVdH65KTUc4KmzMyaDFU%253D&viewitem=&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWAX%3AIT

W. 85th St.- $114.50

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&_trksid=p4340.l2557&rt=nc&nma=true&item=330565156510&si=m6d%252F9kZNVdH65KTUc4KmzMyaDFU%253D&viewitem=&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWAX%3AIT

N. Fairfield Av.- $125.00

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&_trksid=p4340.l2557&rt=nc&nma=true&item=320700010236&si=m6d%252F9kZNVdH65KTUc4KmzMyaDFU%253D&viewitem=&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWAX%3AIT

N. Pine Av.- $99.99

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&_trksid=p4340.l2557&rt=nc&nma=true&item=160591273800&si=m6d%252F9kZNVdH65KTUc4KmzMyaDFU%253D&viewitem=&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWAX%3AIT

E. Walton St.- $204.05

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&_trksid=p4340.l2557&rt=nc&nma=true&item=330568016621&si=m6d%252F9kZNVdH65KTUc4KmzMyaDFU%253D&viewitem=&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWAX%3AIT

Carpenter St. (White Sign, no N. or S. designation?)- $71.89

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&_trksid=p4340.l2557&rt=nc&nma=true&item=330568017153&si=m6d%252F9kZNVdH65KTUc4KmzMyaDFU%253D&viewitem=&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWAX%3AIT

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Re: Old street signs
Posted by: Berwyn Frank (---.lightspeed.cicril.sbcglobal.net)
Date: June 06, 2011 01:34AM

A couple more 1960 images from the City of Chicago sign shop on S. Lawndale Ave.





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Re: Old street signs
Posted by: Berwyn Frank (---.lightspeed.cicril.sbcglobal.net)
Date: June 06, 2011 01:39AM

A few more recently sold signs.

S. Front Av.- $125.00

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&_trksid=p4340.l2557&rt=nc&nma=true&item=200614291710&si=tCu1nenfSzB446D5sjQvPEsMT1M%253D&viewitem=&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWAX%3AIT

N. Marshfield Av.- $90.00

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&_trksid=p4340.l2557&rt=nc&nma=true&item=150612331802&si=tCu1nenfSzB446D5sjQvPEsMT1M%253D&viewitem=&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWAX%3AIT

S. Drexel Av.- $100.00

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&_trksid=p4340.l2557&rt=nc&nma=true&item=200614298726&si=tCu1nenfSzB446D5sjQvPEsMT1M%253D&viewitem=&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWAX%3AIT

Sussex Av. (White sign, no N. or S. designation?)- $85.95

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&_trksid=p4340.l2557&rt=nc&nma=true&item=330570657278&si=tCu1nenfSzB446D5sjQvPEsMT1M%253D&viewitem=&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWAX%3AIT

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Re: Old street signs
Posted by: ChicagoHal (---.dsl.chcgil.sbcglobal.net)
Date: August 05, 2011 12:13AM

An old yellow Springfield Avenue Chicago street sign is up for auction on Ebay.

Also, a yellow 63rd place Chicago street sign is also up



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/22/2015 07:44PM by ChicagoHal.

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Re: Old street signs
Posted by: Mornac (---.dsl.chcgil.sbcglobal.net)
Date: August 08, 2011 12:50AM

Anyone remember these signs that the CTA used to hang on the front of L trains?

On one side they read “Baseball Today – Comiskey Park” and on the other side they read “Baseball Today – Wrigley Field”. They could be turned around depending on who happened to be playing on a given day.

This topic reminded me that one of my brothers had “acquired” one of these things in the early 70’s. It was around our garage for years and I never thought much about it after my parents sold the house. While I was reading this thread today, I decided to throw in a call to one of my brothers to see if he knew what happened to it. Lo and behold, he told me that he thinks it’s still in his basement somewhere. I put the screws to him to go find it but it looks like I’m going to have to let him do it on his own time. (Some people just aren’t as interested in this sort of thing). I promise photos when it finally emerges.

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Re: Old street signs
Posted by: ChicagoHal (---.dsl.chcgil.sbcglobal.net)
Date: August 15, 2011 01:11PM

WOW! A yellow N. Clark was on Ebay.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/22/2015 07:45PM by ChicagoHal.

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