Vince D. (AKA Fully Actuated) turned me on to this most excellent publication a short while ago. This is, by far, the absolute best 'book' on this topic that I have ever come across. In fact, this should be required reading before being allowed to post here.
It's a comprehensive history of traffic control devices (signals, signs and other indicators) that spans from 230 b.c. (no, that's not a typo) to 1970 (the year it was published). While Hemingway and Faulkner's legacies are not in the least bit threatened, the book is eminently readable - no small feat considering it was authored by engineers.
Broken up into nine chapters, it's logically laid out and has many intriguing (and hitherto unseen by me) pictures to support the text.
The fascinating subject matter paired with the occasional anecdote and the great pictures makes for a very interesting read and should win it a permanent home in your, soon to be growing, traffic library.
My only gripe is a small one. The format in which it's presented. Either this book is printed (copied, mimeographed?) from the original typewritten master, or they've used a type writer font to emphasize the content (most likely the former), so it's a bit hard on the eyes to read through in one sitting.
GET IT:
$20 for non ITE members, $7 shipping.
No online ordering so you'll have to download the form, fill it out and send a check or money order.
Item HB-001. Can be ordered here: http://www.ite.org/bookstore/index.asp
) This version does not have the usual pre-title informational page, only a short one listing the copyright as 1971 by the ITE and printed by Ponders, Inc. of Thomasville, Ga. Nothing else seems to have changed, the plates are still printed the same and the photos are the same.
Elsewhere in that chapter they did a similar deal but in that case it looked like the master layout page got shifted so only half the text was printed. Guess they don't like hamburgers?
)
I live fifteen minutes away from the Hackensack White Manna!!
