While On The Subject Of Signs...
by Wendall Hunter
Reprinted from "Crown Jewels of the Wire", July 1988, page 18
In looking at a 1915 catalogue of Electric Service Supplies Company, I found
what must be the ultimate in High Voltage DANGER signs. Enameled steel signs
were supplied in both plain and illuminated forms. The signs were made from a
base of No.16 cold rolled annealed English charcoal iron, the enamel being
burned into the ores making them practically indestructible. They were easily
kept clean and had a bright polished surface that was not affected by the
weather.
Standard stock signs were available with white letters on either a dark blue
or red background. The sign to the right was adopted by a great many industrial plants
and mines. The circle and DANGER letters were in red on a white background. The
cost of this 12" x 12" sign was $1.30 each.
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The sign to the left reads "DANGER, 2200 VOLTS ON
THESE WIRES." |
The sign to the right reads "DANGER, KEEP OUT.' Both are printed in six
different languages. The letters were white on a blue background. The cost of
this 12" x 12" sign was $1.30 each.
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The illuminated signs were designed for use in the mines, tunnels, subways
and industrial plants. They consisted of a steel frame formed at the top in a
shape of a hood, under which a weatherproof socket for one incandescent lamp was
placed. The hood was given a coat of aluminum paint on the inside which acted as
a reflector as well as a protection for the lamp. The standard 10" x
12" sign was attached to the frame with machine screws.
This sign reads "DANGER - DO NOT TOUCH THE WIRES" in English,
Italian, Lituanian, Polish and Slavok. The price was $2.00 each (without the
bulb). |
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The "Safety First" campaigns increased the demand for these signs.
The 6" x 14" DANGER sign was $1.75 each, while the 6" x 30"
SAFETY FIRST sign sold for $3.00 each.


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