Type font for numbering on old post office boxes

February 26, 2013 8:33 AM

I'm looking for a type font that was used for the numbering on early-to-mid twentieth century post office boxes. The font is brass or gold in color, with slight shadowing or some other contrivance that gives it some dimensionality or relief or shadowing. It's sort of the same font that you see from the 1950's on lawyer's office windows or doors in cities, although that's a fleeting impression I have.

It may have a bit of serif, but not much. It's a 'thick' font, although not like Bauhaus, where the lines are all the same thickness. Sorry to be so hazy in recalling it, but I haven't seen it in 30 years.

I've tried type finder services, but they want me to answer questions about the letters in the font, and I don't really have an impression of those, just the numbers. Thanks, font detectives!

posted by eaglehound to Media & Arts (6 answers total)

Do you have access to a photo of something similar? Might you be thinking of letter that are actually hand-painted, and not a font at all?
posted by migurski at 8:36 AM on February 26, 2013

Like this?
posted by Rock Steady at 8:40 AM on February 26, 2013

Response by poster: I'm embarrassed to say I didn't look for old photos! It looks exactly like this. It is a decal, and the dimensionality was given by a red highlight, not shadowing. Just as Rock Steady points out.

Thanks for pointing out what should have been obvious, migurski!
posted by eaglehound at 8:49 AM on February 26, 2013

Hey that is exactly what my post office box looks like. Weirdly you've included my PO box number, but that's not mine because the numbers are scraped off in a different way. I can ask at the post office what they use (or used) for the numbers if it's helpful.
posted by jessamyn at 9:49 AM on February 26, 2013

Response by poster: jessamyn, it was probably a government decal contract that was last renewed in 1967, but please do ask, as all help is appreciated.
posted by eaglehound at 10:01 AM on February 26, 2013

Postmaster says he'll look into it. Was totally stymied by the question but thought it was interesting.
posted by jessamyn at 11:16 AM on February 27, 2013 [1 favorite]