328 replies to this topic

[Holden West]

I guess I can confess that little bit of "urban archaeology" is my doing. After the workmen had gone home for the day I'd attack a little bit every few days with a putty knife. I uncovered the M'F'R (manufacturer) and worked my way up. By the time I got to the "A" the paint was stuck good and I gave up, not knowing what the word is (there are 411 possibilities). My guess is "Carriage" as they were once built there.

Here is a history of the building.

[Marilyn]

I'll post that interesting link under my photo.

Your urban archaeology has been appreciated on Flickr. With one suggestion that the new owners should have left that exposed fragment and sealed it.

Here's a more artistic rendition:
http://www.flickr.co...378126/sizes/m/

[VicHockeyFan]

I guess I can confess that little bit of "urban archaeology" is my doing. After the workmen had gone home for the day I'd attack a little bit every few days with a putty knife. I uncovered the M'F'R (manufacturer) and worked my way up. By the time I got to the "A" the paint was stuck good and I gave up, not knowing what the word is (there are 411 possibilities). My guess is "Carriage" as they were once built there.

Here is a history of the building.

Looking closer, it appears that the letter above to A (of AGE) appears to have a flat bottom, at least flat on the portion right above the middle of the A. So that rules out letters like H, Q, R, O, P, A, F, K, X, N, and could maybe exclude a few more. Plug that into your thing ans see how many it cuts it down to.

[jklymak]

Hmmm, except if you look at the E, the left side is very wide, and then the drop shadow would put a shadow that far to the right w/o too much problem. So I don't think you can rule out R (etc), which would make "garage" a contender.

[Marilyn]

Looking closer, it appears that the letter above to A (of AGE) appears to have a flat bottom, at least flat on the portion right above the middle of the A. So that rules out letters like H, Q, R, O, P, A, F, K, X, N, and could maybe exclude a few more. Plug that into your thing ans see how many it cuts it down to.

I pulled this from the URL on the history of the building, 1991 image when the place was a bingo hall.


The 'A' in Wm Marble's name matches the 'A' in the sign fragment, and since Wm Marble made carriages...
C
A
R
R
I
A
G
E

M'F'R' (for Manufacturer)

[Marilyn]

Hmmm, except if you look at the E, the left side is very wide, and then the drop shadow would put a shadow that far to the right w/o too much problem. So I don't think you can rule out R (etc), which would make "garage" a contender.

It's CARRIAGE as the urban archaeologist guessed.
I rest my case based on the evidence provided.

[VicHockeyFan]

And remember the letters to the various local papers predicting accidents and traffic mayhem caused by the arena's sign?

I was just thinking of that today as I was being "blinded" by it. What a bunch of huey over nothing.

[jklymak]

I find it pretty grating. Can you imagine if these were all over town? Personally I'd dislike it.

[gumgum]

Well I wouldn't be surprised if we find them popping up all over the place. It's not like the city has much of a leg to stand on with regards to discouraging them since they set a new precedent with the arena.

[G-Man]

I like the arena sign.

[gumgum]

It's not a question of love or hate.

[aastra]

For its size, I don't think I've ever seen a sign that's so easy to ignore.

But I sure don't need to see any more of its kind.

[Kikadee]

Driving south on Blanshard, at Finlayson, I see that Redd's Roadhouse Pub has a sign half the size of the one at the arena, but equally as bright. They've got it programmed with a red background at the moment, which certainly draws the eye, but no traffic accidents yet.

I'd love to see these sorts of signs used in an artistic or creative way, to highlight and illuminate buildings and business names at night, a contemporary version of the old neon signs. That would look particularly lovely in the dark and wet of winter. The public big-screen TV aesthetic leaves something to be desired.

[Hailey]

^^

I totally agree! Large projections are amazing at night!

[spanky123]

Well I wouldn't be surprised if we find them popping up all over the place. It's not like the city has much of a leg to stand on with regards to discouraging them since they set a new precedent with the arena.

There were a couple of issues that were raised with the arena sign.

The first was size and brightness being a distraction. There were some days and light levels which were initially a problem, but I think that has been resolved now.

Th second issue was the idea of using signage as a 3rd party billboard rather than promoting the specific business owning the sign. At first the city challenged some of the content (especially since the city is supposed to get 25% of the content for free to promote local events and services) but either by design or lack of complaints nobody seems to care anymore. When there are no upcoming events the sign is pretty much exclusively used for 3rd party paid content.

It is the second point that I was more concerned about with respect to precedent. I have no issues with a nice attractive digital sign promoting a business. What I have a problem with are electronic billboards popping up all over town.

[VicHockeyFan]

Squamish Nation approves digital billboards by December

http://www.vancouver...7037/story.html

By Graeme Wood, Vancouver Sun
October 15, 2009

The Squamish Nation council approved the construction of six digital billboards on its land in Vancouver, the North Shore, and Squamish today in an effort to increase revenues for the band.

[Mike K.]

Comfort Inn at Blanshard and Finlayson has installed a video screen that faces southbound traffic along Blanshard.

[aastra]

A few more of those signs around town and Victoria will be just like England.

[victorian fan]

Piccadilly Circus

http://www.youtube.c...h?v=A-iRd8CXppw

[Holden West]

I wonder if this enamel sign could be the oldest street sign in Victoria?