California (CSAA) San Mateo, Woodside, Redwood City, Half Moon Bay directional sign

Description

Early roads in the United States did not come with state-maintained signage. Instead, directional signage was often supplied by private auto clubs. The California State Automobile Association (CSAA) was one such organization. At their peak, CSAA signage could be found all the way from Northern California to central Kansas. CSAA’s early signage could be easily identified by its distinctive rhombus shape and blue-on-yellow color scheme. As time went on, CSAA adopted styling more in line with signage seen elsewhere in the country. Nevertheless, they continued to be the sole supplier of signage in Northern California until the state took over in the 1940s.

This sign is a precise replica of a sign that stood in the western hills of what is now Silicon Valley in the 1920s. It points to San Mateo, Woodside, and Redwood City in one direction, and Half Moon Bay, across the coastal range, in the other. It is made in the style that CSAA started using around 1919, with the sharp-cornered diamond blank used before safety concerns mandated a change to rounded corners. At the bottom of the sign is the similarly diamond-shaped California State Auto Association logo. The whereabouts of the original of this sign are known: a private collector owns it and is not interested in selling it. Nonetheless, you can still enjoy this classic sign, anywhere you might like to display it, with our faithful replica.

Our San Mateo, Woodside, Redwood City, Half Moon Bay directional sign is flat printed on heavy 14-gauge steel. Its high-gloss finish closely matches the appearance of the original porcelain, and also makes it durable enough to be installed outdoors. Convenient mounting holes are included to make installation easy. Take your pick from the following sizes:

• 11-inch sides (about 18 in. across from point to point and 14 in. high)
• 18½-inch sides (about 29 in. across from point to point and 23 in. high)

Know of another classic CSAA sign you’d like a replica of? Or perhaps one from the Automobile Club of Southern California, which served a similar role on the roads of the southern half of the state? Or just about any other road sign in the world, from California or elsewhere? If you don’t see it on our site, just place a custom order! It’s easy—just contact us to get started!