Luminous paint on pre-Worboys signs?

[FosseWay]

I've received the following query via the President's email address. Can anyone shed any light? (sorry)

I had recently come across a rumour regarding the lighting of pre-Worboys traffic signing with the use of glowing luminous paint and was wondering if someone could confirm this? If this doesn't turn out to be the case, or indeed a rare occasion, what was used to highlight the signs in areas of little or no artificial light? I look forward to hearing from you.

[nowster]

I don't think that was used, but I'm not certain. What was used extensively was button copy with reflective studs marking out the lettering on the sign.

[PhilC]

There were some larger sized pre-Worboys signs which were reflective. I took this photo of at the Lakeside Motor Museum in the Lake District. Some of the smaller signs have the inlaid reflectors but the Bend sign is definitely reflective. I can remember a Road Narrows sign locally.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/164729170 ... ed-public/

[Bryn666]

It is possible such materials were used during the blackout in the second world war.

By 1957 signs were using Scotchlite or variants and button copy was phased out.

Likewise signs were electrically lit more back then.

[Chris5156]

Certainly retroreflective material was used, once that became available, though in the 1950s it was expensive enough that covering the whole sign face in it was not economical. Glass beads and "button copy" were also used. I've never heard of luminous paint, unless that's a way of describing retroreflective coatings.

[Bryn666]

Certainly retroreflective material was used, once that became available, though in the 1950s it was expensive enough that covering the whole sign face in it was not economical. Glass beads and "button copy" were also used. I've never heard of luminous paint, unless that's a way of describing retroreflective coatings.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luminous_paint

Mostly nasty stuff!

[Berk]

Ah yes, the Trimphone dial...