Hishway Signs

The plywood signs used by the Colorado Highway Department fall into three classifications : guide signs, temporary signs and special signs. The guide signs, which range in size from U' x 36' to 4U, x 96", are made of /+r, thick Exterior type Douglas fir plywood. Temporary or seasonal signs are made of bolh ft', and fu,, thick Exterior plywood, depending on use. The special signs, ranging from 36" x 36" to 48" x 9€', are of 3At' thick Exterior fir plywood.

After sealing the panels with putty and sanding to a smooth surface, one coat of primer white and two coats of white lead and oil paint are applied to all guide sign panels. Temporary or seasonal signs are finished with one coat of white primer paint, one coat of white lead and oil paint and one coat of traffic yellow.

This Colorcdo picture-sign is typiccl ol the use oI exierior plywood lor highwcy trqllic bulletins in thot stqte. Headlight betrms ct night light up the reflective cocting.

Ask a well-traveled motorist and likely he'll tell you the plywood highway directional signs used in Colorado are as attractive and effective as they come.

The big, easy-to-read signs have been used by that state for over 12 years. "Motorist reaction has been very favorable," explains state traffic engineer A. R. Pepper, "And our experience indicates that plywood has a great many inherent advantages for sign construction."

Colorado and the many other states that have switched to plywood as a sign material have found the prime advantage of the versatile panels to be large size which permits the cutting of signs of almost any desired size from a single panel. Add to this plywood's durability and the ease with which plywood signs can be fabricated and the answer spells economy.

Rust is no pro,blem with plywood signs and the strength of the panel material virtually precludes punctures or,chips. Finally, the smooth surface is easy to paint.

Gosslin-Hcrrding News

Paul Gaboury has been appointed sales manager of Gosslin-Harding Lumber Co., San Leandro.

Orville Bresee, salesman, and his family spent about 10 days in the Eureka area, hunting, golfing and fishing, along with the company's Eureka buyer, Milton Britt.

llenry Harding and Mrs. Harding visited the State Fair at Sacramento, following a visit to the home office.

Phil Gosslin has a great opportunity to improve his golf, n'ith N{rs. Gosslin and son Bill spending several rveeks in Colorado.

Reflective coatings of all signs conform to national standards prescribed in the Manual on lJniform Traffic Control Devices. Ordinarily, all warnings signs have full-surface reflectorization, and many guide signs have symbol reflectorization.

Reflective coating of the large 48" x 72" picture-signs, which indicates the message by arrows or other symbols as well as wording, is as follows : black camouflage reflective coating is used to indicate the route diagrams; white camouflage reflective coating is used to outline the shelf or square-shaped route markers. Under artificial light cast by the headlights of approaching cars, both the black and white reflective coating appear as a luminous silver, while the white-painted background of the sign appears as a dark gray. In daylight, the bla,ck reflective coating of the route diagram appears in its true color and affords a sharp contrast with the white background.

The wording and diagram of these picture-signs varies with the use and placement of each of the signs. The sign wording is sometimes covered with reflective coating. In the case of signs which read "Route Divided," for example, the lettering is covered with a brilliant red reflective coating. Placement of these signs may vary from 350 to 1000 feet, depending entirely upon local conditions in the vicinity of the junction.

Will Honor Greeley

Col. William B. Greeley of Seattle, Washington, chairman of the Board of American Forest Products Industries and manager of the West Coast Lumbermen's Association, lvill receive an award for outstanding service to American conservation at the annual meeting of The American Forestry Association to be held at Eagle River, Wisconsin, October 8,9, 10 and 11. The meeting, to be held jointly with the Canadian Forestry Association, will celebrate the Z5th anniversary of The American Forestry Association and the 50th anniversary of the Canadian group.