Anderson-era motorway sign on Facebook Marketplace

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A42_Sparks
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Anderson-era motorway sign on Facebook Marketplace

Post by A42_Sparks »

Someone on Belfast Facebook marketplace is selling an original Anderson-era motorway sign from the M1 Belfast-Lisburn motorway (see attachment). From the ad it appears it was on a street somewhere near Broadway roundabout:

Believed to be one of the original Belfast motorway signs from the 1960's (due to its typeface/font) disposed during road upgrade. Height 85cm, Width 152cm

I just thought it was a fantastic item to be up for sale. I love the old-style arrow. I wonder why the '1' of M1 is so small, perhaps half of it flaked off. The sign looks in pretty good nick for its age, I can provide a direct link to the ad if anyone wants.
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Bryn666
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Re: Anderson-era motorway sign on Facebook Marketplace

Post by Bryn666 »

A42_Sparks wrote: Tue Jun 15, 2021 22:35 Someone on Belfast Facebook marketplace is selling an original Anderson-era motorway sign from the M1 Belfast-Lisburn motorway (see attachment). From the ad it appears it was on a street somewhere near Broadway roundabout:

Believed to be one of the original Belfast motorway signs from the 1960's (due to its typeface/font) disposed during road upgrade. Height 85cm, Width 152cm

I just thought it was a fantastic item to be up for sale. I love the old-style arrow. I wonder why the '1' of M1 is so small, perhaps half of it flaked off. The sign looks in pretty good nick for its age, I can provide a direct link to the ad if anyone wants.
It looks more like a local council sign - it isn't a bona fide Anderson sign but it IS definitely from the early 1960s looking at it. Great find regardless.
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A42_Sparks
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Re: Anderson-era motorway sign on Facebook Marketplace

Post by A42_Sparks »

Bryn666 wrote: Thu Jun 17, 2021 16:58 It looks more like a local council sign - it isn't a bona fide Anderson sign but it IS definitely from the early 1960s looking at it. Great find regardless.
Thanks Bryn, it does look a little 'home-made' now you mention it - not sure if it's just my eyes but the 'M' of 'Motorway' looks like it's in a slightly heavier version of Transport.

I used to collect old signs and 20 years ago I would've been away to buy this but I just don't have the space or the desire anymore. Be a shame if it's scrapped.
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Re: Anderson-era motorway sign on Facebook Marketplace

Post by AndyB »

The two Ms have been swapped. The M of Motorway is Motorway, and the M of M1 is Transport.
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Re: Anderson-era motorway sign on Facebook Marketplace

Post by A42_Sparks »

AndyB wrote: Sun Jun 20, 2021 09:11 The two Ms have been swapped. The M of Motorway is Motorway, and the M of M1 is Transport.
You're right, I can't believe I didn't notice that! The M of 'Motorway' would match the size of the 1 of 'M1' better.

Are these letters removable? I assumed they were hand-painted.
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Re: Anderson-era motorway sign on Facebook Marketplace

Post by AndyB »

My personal guess is that they are individual letters cut out and applied to the background rather than a sheet with the letters set in place to apply one row at a time. Comparing even 90s signs to 2010s signs is a revelation when you see how precisely the letters are now cut.
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Re: Anderson-era motorway sign on Facebook Marketplace

Post by Richard_Fairhurst »

Maybe worth having a running thread for old signs spotted on eBay and similar? Here's some beautiful (restored) pre-Worboys signs that have just gone up on Gumtree:

https://www.gumtree.com/p/hobbies-colle ... 1408299746

https://www.gumtree.com/p/hobbies-colle ... 1402536308
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Re: Anderson-era motorway sign on Facebook Marketplace

Post by AndyB »

A42_Sparks wrote: Mon Jun 21, 2021 18:17 Are these letters removable? I assumed they were hand-painted.
I should have added - yes, they are removable, or the top of the 1 would still have been on the sign :)
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