The Recap so Far.....Piccys later!
Left early Monday morning to head East for my semi-annual sign shopping trip. Stopped in Wheeling W VA first to see if i could scarf anything up there (not likely as the guy i needed to speak to was out until mid-afternoon, but the answer was likely 'no' anyway. Stopped by PennDOT in Pittsburgh and had no luck there either. Headed east on the Turnpike but unfortunately, did NOT make it to the state sign shop in Harrisburg before they all were fleeing at 3PM. So, i headed to Delaware (after dropping almost $20 in tolls on the Pennsy Pike). Unfortunately, i was unable to find the last I-95 before it started getting a bit nervous (the sign is located in 'the hood'....not a happy area after dark to be) So i drove north on the Jersey Pike and the Garden State parkway dropping another $10 in tolls....and $5 more at the Tappan Zee bridge north of New York (when i paid the toll, i asked the guy what they would do if i didnt have the money....his response was "We have a giant rubber band that would shoot you back across! Nice to know that late at night, some state employees have a sense of humor!) Skipped I-85 and drove up ther Merrit parkway in Connecticut and arrived in Springfield Mass at close to 1230AM
Tuesday, hit the depot across the street, but all i found was a lonely Mass 19 (possibly earmarked for another signgeek). After ward, went to the STC State Sign shop and talked to the head shopmeister.....i gave him a couple of phtoshopped portotype shieldsthat he liked...but he told me that the Commissioners may not go along (I will post the photos in my next entry....both were modified off the classic CONN 15 state outline signs...one was a white Connecticut with blue backgound and blue 15...the other was a white background with blue Connecticut and a white 15. We agreed the blue background was cooler, but if readibility of number was the top issue, the white shield was likely the better choice. I think he may make up a couple of prototypes off my photos and see what happens when he presents them to the higer ups.
I hit my usual haunts elsewhere and came away with just 6 signs in one place (but 2 important gap-fillers!) but hit the jackpot the other site. I lost count now, but i picked up close to a dozen signs there including 3 I-95 shields, all in decent shape. Afterwards, i did some driving around and shot a few photos of signs...
Yesterday, i headed out to see what other luck in Massachusetts I might have. Found some of the legendary older Mass signs including possibly the LAST cateyed route shield ijn the wild). As to stops I made, stopped at a diustrict office where they guy i spoke with was helpful enough to give me the number of the head sign guy...plus tell me three places that signs usually go to when taken down. Went to one of those palces....picked up 3 signs including a Mass DPW US 20 square, so now massachusetts is officially complete in my catalog I hope to hit one or both of the other places tomorrow before i leave...
After that i drove all over eastern Connecticut and shot more sign piccys.....then ordered some grinders for my mom for Friday pickup (she cant travel anymore, so she needs a taste of home any chance i get) then met with my cousin and his family for dinner and conversation (my uincle and aunt were there too, visiting from Tennessee)
This morning, only two places....the local district office which was a washout...they were helpful enough....just that their old signs were already bundled up and the guy was told 'Do NOT unbundle them, no matter what!" and they called one other guy about a sign i spotted who was distinctly unhelpful....however i did call the other chap from the office i visited yesterday...and he said when i had a better idea to definte date i would be back, let him know and he would try to make sure the signs i seek would be ready for pickup...
Vermont was a great stop...came away with 11 signs (but only 7 for me....the other four are earmarked for agentsteel53 or one other guy from the AARoads forum Well, it is rainin g but i am headed back out to shoot some more photos before it gets too dark....
Conclusion to this report (plus more sign photos than Carter has little liver pills) coming this weekend!
Please look forward to it!
Tuesday, hit the depot across the street, but all i found was a lonely Mass 19 (possibly earmarked for another signgeek). After ward, went to the STC State Sign shop and talked to the head shopmeister.....i gave him a couple of phtoshopped portotype shieldsthat he liked...but he told me that the Commissioners may not go along (I will post the photos in my next entry....both were modified off the classic CONN 15 state outline signs...one was a white Connecticut with blue backgound and blue 15...the other was a white background with blue Connecticut and a white 15. We agreed the blue background was cooler, but if readibility of number was the top issue, the white shield was likely the better choice. I think he may make up a couple of prototypes off my photos and see what happens when he presents them to the higer ups.
I hit my usual haunts elsewhere and came away with just 6 signs in one place (but 2 important gap-fillers!) but hit the jackpot the other site. I lost count now, but i picked up close to a dozen signs there including 3 I-95 shields, all in decent shape. Afterwards, i did some driving around and shot a few photos of signs...
Yesterday, i headed out to see what other luck in Massachusetts I might have. Found some of the legendary older Mass signs including possibly the LAST cateyed route shield ijn the wild). As to stops I made, stopped at a diustrict office where they guy i spoke with was helpful enough to give me the number of the head sign guy...plus tell me three places that signs usually go to when taken down. Went to one of those palces....picked up 3 signs including a Mass DPW US 20 square, so now massachusetts is officially complete in my catalog I hope to hit one or both of the other places tomorrow before i leave...
After that i drove all over eastern Connecticut and shot more sign piccys.....then ordered some grinders for my mom for Friday pickup (she cant travel anymore, so she needs a taste of home any chance i get) then met with my cousin and his family for dinner and conversation (my uincle and aunt were there too, visiting from Tennessee)
This morning, only two places....the local district office which was a washout...they were helpful enough....just that their old signs were already bundled up and the guy was told 'Do NOT unbundle them, no matter what!" and they called one other guy about a sign i spotted who was distinctly unhelpful....however i did call the other chap from the office i visited yesterday...and he said when i had a better idea to definte date i would be back, let him know and he would try to make sure the signs i seek would be ready for pickup...
Vermont was a great stop...came away with 11 signs (but only 7 for me....the other four are earmarked for agentsteel53 or one other guy from the AARoads forum Well, it is rainin g but i am headed back out to shoot some more photos before it gets too dark....
Conclusion to this report (plus more sign photos than Carter has little liver pills) coming this weekend!
Please look forward to it!