This is my first day on this site/forum and my first attempt at a post! I recently purchased these Route 66 signs from eBay:

Ebay Auction 66

Other Ebay Purchase

I've been trying to research their background, time period, etc. Google totally failed me on this one (I honestly don't really know where to look), but I'm hoping someone here might be able to help.

I can post more pictures when they arrive.

Any ideas on what exactly I have on my hands?

Thanks!

Welcome to Oldgas..

You might check with this 'site: http://www.historic66.com/

Usually states mark road signs on the back of them or on a bottom front corner. I have a road sign from Missouri and its got the date and everything on a bottom corner on the front of the sign. You might also want to see when reflective Sheeting was used on road signs to give yourself a range of dates. If I had to guess its a 90s sign

There are some original Rt. 66 signs shown on this page of my website: http://petrolianacollectibles.com/steve_gold.htm

Take a look at the entire website, over 10,000 images, if you like old petro items.

www.petrocollect.com

Jack Sim

Welcome to oldgas.

For info on your signs, check out Jakes site. http://shields.aaroads.com/

Thanks! I'm going to be up late looking through all this stuff tonight!

Welcome to Oldgas.com!

bbq, I will give you a little info on your sign, and please remember there are as many opinions as there are signs on Rt. 66. I am old enough to remember driving Rt.66 when I was in the Army in the mid 1950s, it was a direct route from Lincoln, Ill. to Fort Leonard Wood Mo. and have actually driven the entire length before the interstates took over. I have owned several Rt.66 signs and recently sold one just like the one in the picture.They are the most plentilful of any.From 1926 till 1956 most of the states that Rt.66 ran through identified 66 with a shield shaped sign with the state name on it, and with 8 states to go through there were a lot of variations. Now about your sign, When the US interstate system began in 1956, one of the first highways in Illinois to begin to dissapear was Rt.66. Of course the shield shaped signs also dissapeared into someones shed.The sign in your picture came into use in Illinois and probably the other 7 states in the early 1960s. That is when reflective coating gained usage. Illinois License plates started using reflective coating in 1966,a lot of other states did so earlier.Before it was all over your sign was probably used the entire length of 66. The sign is genuine, it is still very collectable, and the eBay price of +- $350.00 is about the going price here in Illinois.Norm

Everybody - Thanks for the welcome. I'm new to this type of collecting and I appreciate the help!

Norm - Thank you for the information. It's more than I've been able to find anywhere else thus far!

Oddly enough, my interest in Route 66 is a direct result of a military move from Scott AFB (outside Saint Louis on the Illinois side) to the Presidio of Monterey. I've been in the Air Force for 10 years and I use every PCS as an opportunity to road trip. This one was particularly fortuitous given that following 66 took me almost exactly where I needed to go. It was, without a doubt, one of the best drives of my life!

Thanks again
Bryan