It’s amazing how much New Old Stock continues to come out of old stores, basements, attics, closets, junk drawers. Remember the big New York Times story about Retro Renovation last fall? “New old stock is golden,” and “…surfing the blog is like visiting a time-warp Home Depot.” Yup: That’s my goal! Today in the RR depot: Script house numbers — but check first that these are approved in your town; some towns ban them… some pastel sinks… and homey needlepoint. Once you’re into the seller’s listing, there’s generally even more. DOUBLE ALERT: Dig the one at the very end — that seller has oodles of stock, all kinds of numbers!
Also, thanks to seller iwaslookin4that, for giving me permission to feature the listing photo.
Just a warning – some towns ban spelled-out house numbers and only allow actual numbers. Mine does. Boo!
I did not know this — thanks!
Oh, shoot. I bet La Crosse does. It would be just my luck.
I just checked with the La Crosse fire department. No problems with script numbers, as long as they are at least three inches tall and visible from the street. These are and they will be.
Great that you checked!
Thank you! been looking for these
We have those script numbers and they’re actually the thing that drew us towards our house the very first time that we pulled up to it to go to a yard sale. : )
Funny how it’s the little things, isn’t it!
wait…so..if my house is 4044..it will be ”forty forty four”? or do I need a dash or something? “forty forty-four”? I think it is best with one or two digit numbers? I have ALWAYS loved these and I was asking hardware store clerk about them and he had no idea what in the world I was asking for…
According to the Associated Press style book, when you are writing a story any number 10 and above is not written out. So heck if I know!
My grandmother had eight hundred twenty one written out on her house, in old English style lettering like a newspaper headline. I was in awe of it when I was little.
I am writing “Twenty Forty Seven” Of course those are not the actual numbers. No way am I giving out my real house number on the internet on an open forum.
I have the toilet to match that sink if anyone is looking for one. its a Universal Rundle date stamped 1953. It came out of my neighbors house. I grabbed it, but I really need a green one.
Be careful, though, colors do differ manufacturer-to-manufacturer. This is one of the things that makes putting together bathrooms so difficult. If you’re at all picky (I am) you wanna get same manufacturer, similar model year.
What a great find! I just snatched up a “Sixteen” and cannot wait to display it on our 1959 brick ranch! Thanks Pam!!
Ok, like Bronwen said — check with your municipality to ensure it’s legal to use these. I am assuming it’s some kind of Fire Department / Police issue….
Comment EDITED by Pam. BK31 talks about the Life Safety Code and its references to how house numbers can/should be posted. BK also says: its always best to check with your local building officials. PLEASE DO. Don’t take safety advice off the internet; consult with pro’s.
Does anyone have tips (or photos) on how the spellout numbers can be arranged on your siding? That is where I am stuck with my visualization…can’t figure out how I would arrange them.
(Considering I checked with my building officials first.)
I spied that ‘towel gown’ some time back and thought, “How FAB!” Especially since it was made to be that, and not something someone home-made (that would be cool too). Glad an RR’r snagged it!
Oops, wrong page. Feel free to delete Pam!
not to worry, we regulars know what you are talking about: http://retrorenovation.com/2012/01/05/vintage-towels-galore-on-etsy-see-my-treasury/
I love these – alas they are out of 2 I would need. I have a very long 4 digit number and it may be not 911 certified to have these out front in some locals, I know where I grew up when they gave everyone new 911 approved addresses, you had to display the number a certain way near the road. But that was rural, in town they didn’t change I don’t think.
Anyway – I think it’d be great along your fence near a patio, in a porch, etc. if you aren’t using it out front.
I am gettng Eighteen to post on my garage. I will have 18 next to the front door though. The garage around the corner on another street, very confusing for people. Now I need the street name in script to match.
On my old drive to work I passed a house that still has the ‘word’ numbers for their address. So, guessing in my local that it’s ok. Even if it’s not in my area (not too far away from where this other house is) I have the luxury of having a side entry (wet room? but almost like an enclosed porch) that I could display these on, leaving the regular numbers out front. I’d need 444 anyway, but I do look now and then for such a thing.
My last house had “Thirteen Twenty One” script on the porch overhang. I added numbers by the porch light because at night if the porch light was on, you couldn’t see the porch overhang address.
I will check into this. We also have our house number painted in black and white on the curb. Some people think the paint is is a requirement, but it’s not where we live. I would love the script if it is allowed.
Sadly, not allowed.
What a coincidence! I was searching your blog yesterday for possible stockists of these. I found the same eBay seller. I’ll have to trawl the other comments for more suppliers, coz this eBay store doesn’t have my number.
there are actually two sellers – the one at the front of the carousel, then a different one at the end.
Back in the day, people would come up with weird configurations, such as stacking the words on top of each other:
One
Thousand
Sixty
Three
Or they’d combine words and numbers:
Eight 0 Five
Or neighboring houses would have two different configurations:
Two Hundred Fourteen
and
Two Sixteen
This insconsistency made word addresses sort of a pain to figure out sometimes. Word addresses seemed more like a way for homeowners to be clever, rather than a way to actually help anyone find your house.
About a year ago I went to pick up an old kitchen cabinet which I got off ebay to restore as it was a deceaesed estate and they were bulldozing the place I picked up a fair few things.
Amongst the outside decorations was a number six exactly the same as the one advertised it had been exposed to the sun and rain since the early sixties and it has not faded or become brittle unfortunately it was not my number but I still have it. These were once common in Australia as well
Yay! I got my twelve twelve! I’ve been wanting spelled out numbers for a long time, but getting them custom made is outrageously expensive. I plan to leave the digits I currently have in place on the front porch for EMS purposes, and put the script numbers over the carport.
That is a great idea…putting the numbers over the garage or carport. Genius, I say!
YAY! I finally am getting rid of the bright “brass” house numbers the former owner …ahem…cleverly…placed around the doorbell, so the zero had the doorbell inside of it. Isn’t that just to die for? Uh, no.
I have hated it ever since I bought the house, but was looking for some house numbers that were more 1960′s looking. I got ‘em.
Thanks, Pam. Now, if I could just get rid of that awful vinyl siding.