Here  is a vintage original official, retired ~ MAINE State Route 179 ~ Highway, road, traffic metal sign. The sign is in  never - used condition, but has blistered original pairt and some rust from having got wet in storage, sometime in the last 70 years or so. -  see detailed pictures. Sign measures approx. 12"x15".

Maine numbered its State Highways about 1925. The signs for then were wooden, and measured 12 by 15 inches. About 10 years later, they were badly weathered, and were replaced by heavy steel embossed ones like this one. Most of these were made in the State Prison in Thomaston, and some may have been made later by private contractors.

These HEAVY steel embossed Route signs were made from about 1935 to the start of World War 2. Soon after the war, thousands of them were taken down in the winter, repainted, and put back up. Beginning in 1953, they were replaced by flat signs of the same size, but with reflectorized surfaces, and silk screened numbers and borders.

This sign came from an estate lot of leftover, never issued signs formerly owned by a small town Road Commissioner.

State Route 179 (SR 179)   is a numbered state highway in Maine, located in Hancock County.

SR 179 begins at a skewed intersection with U.S. Route 1A (US 1A) about 1.6 miles (2.6 km) northwest of downtown Ellsworth, but still within the city limits. Within the small commercialized settlement of Ellsworth Falls, SR 179 immediately crosses a disused railroad and a new rail trail past the US 1A intersection. It heads northwest past a church and then sharply bends to the north. At this point, houses and woods line both sides of the road. At Mariaville Road (formerly SR 180 which also used to continue south on a concurrency with SR 179 to US 1A until 2013), the road bends to the northeast and begins to follow the eastern shoreline of Graham Lake. It briefly enters the unorganized territory of Central Hancock before entering the town of Waltham. Houses are sparse along this stretch of the highway as most of the surrounding area is forest. It reaches the northern terminus of SR 200 near the center of the town.[2]

North of SR 200, SR 179 heads north and slowly climbs into the Waltham Ridge while some houses and small farms line the road. Near the summit of the hill, the road curves to the northeast and begins to descend from the ridge. Approaching the East Branch Union River, it descends quicker until reaching the river upon which the road enters the town of Mariaville. The road name becomes Tourtelotte Ridge Road upon entering Mariaville; it then begins to ascend hill of the same name passing through forest along the way. It reaches a small clearing at the top of the ridge and curves to the northeast to begin descending the hill. SR 179 clips the northwest corner of Osborn; while in the town, it passes several houses and small farm houses. It also passes to the west of Moose Hill's summit though the road does climb part of the way up the mountain. SR 179 then enters Aurora passing over rolling hills, traveling west of Giles Pond, and heading through a mix of cleared and wooded areas. The road ends at Airline RoadSR 9 in Aurora.[2]

   This sign is unused and straight, but is  rusted from storage.

   It would clean up fairly well and look nice if you want to repaint it.

   No bends, dents, or bullet holes. 

The earlier issues has the crossed corner borders. Later ones had square corners on the borders , like this one, so the  black borders do not touch the edge of the sign. Some of these sign were made by the Maine State Prison, ans some were made by private contractors. I am not sure who made this particular sign 

This is definitely a pre World War 2 road sign from Maine. No other state has embossed steel state route signs of this size and format .

Great old sign, a good addition to your collection, super cool display!

Please see pictures for condition and details.