Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!wuarchive!udel!princeton!siemens!jaguar!balcer From: balcer@jaguar.siemens.com (Marc J Balcer) Newsgroups: comp.fonts Subject: Re: What Font is Used on Highway Signs? Message-ID: Date: 1 Apr 91 16:51:13 GMT References: <12539.27f0ac96@amherst.bitnet> Sender: news@siemens.siemens.com Lines: 29 ksbolduan@amherst.bitnet writes: >As I was driving from Florida to Massachusetts along the Interstate, I began >wondering what font all those green highway signs are in. It's a sans serif,in >a bold style, but, though we're used to it, it's not particularly appealing. The >lower case letters seem rather clunky, especially the "g". Anyone know if this >font has a name? And, if it's possible to get it? I believe that this font is now a Federal standard that dates back to the beginnings of the Interstate Highway System, although its first use was most likely on the New Jersey Turnpike in the early 50's. Some of the old signs are still around, particularly south of Exit 7. You'll notice that they are white-on-black, not white-on-green. Also they use that funny curving arrow to mark exits. Take note of the backlit signs at the end of the Turnpike near the Holland Tunnel (Exit 14C) and southbound at Exit 6 (PA Turnpike). They are true 50's artifacts. The font itself is rather unique in that many of the end caps of lower case letters are angled. Also note that the font contains capitals, lowercase, and small capitals (used for keywords like NORTH and EXIT). I'm sure that a call to a state highway department would yield :-) the correct answer. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Marc J. Balcer [mbalcer@siemens.siemens.com] Siemens Corporate Research, 755 College Road East, Princeton, NJ 08540 (609) 734-6531 FAX (609) 734-6565