For those who never saw the Burma shave signs, here is a quick lesson in US automotive history of the 1930s and '40's. Before the Interstates, when everyone drove the old 2 lane roads, Burma Shave signs would be posted all over the countryside in farmers' fields. They were small red signs about 4'wide x 1'high, with white letters. Five signs, about 100 feet apart, each containing 1 line of a 4 line couplet and the obligatory 5th sign advertising Burma Shave, a popular shaving cream.

Here are some of the actual signs which old geezers like me now recall.

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TRAINS DON'T WANDER

ALL OVER THE MAP

'CAUSE NOBODY SITS

ON THE ENGINEER'S LAP

Burma Shave


SHE KISSED THE HAIRBRUSH

BY MISTAKE

SHE THOUGHT IT WAS

HER HUSBAND JAKE

Use Burma Shave


DON'T LOSE YOUR HEAD

TO GAIN A MINUTE

YOU NEED YOUR HEAD,

YOUR BRAINS ARE IN IT

Burma Shave


DROVE TOO LONG

DRIVER SNOOZING

WHAT HAPPENED NEXT

IS NOT AMUSING

Burma Shave


BROTHER SPEEDER

LET'S REHEARSE

ALL TOGETHER

GOOD MORNING NURSE

Burma Shave


SPEED WAS HIGH

WEATHER WAS NOT

TIRES WERE THIN

X MARKS THE SPOT

Burma Shave


THE MIDNIGHT RIDE

OF PAUL FOR BEER

LED TO A WARMER

HEMISPHERE

Burma Shave


AROUND THE CURVE

LICKETY-SPLIT

ITS A BEAUTIFUL CAR

WASN'T IT?

Burma Shave


NO MATTER THE PRICE

NO MATTER HOW NEW

THE BEST SAFETY DEVICE

IN THE CAR IS YOU

Burma Shave


A GUY WHO DRIVES

A CAR WIDE OPEN

ISN'T THINKIN'

HE'S JUST HOPIN'

Burma Shave


AT INTERSECTIONS

LOOK EACH WAY

A HARP SOUNDS NICE

BUT ITS HARD TO PLAY

Burma Shave


BOTH HANDS ON THE WHEEL

EYES ON THE ROAD

THAT'S THE SKILLFUL

DRIVER'S CODE

Burma Shave


THE ONE WHO DRIVES

WHEN HE'S BEEN DRINKING

DEPENDS ON THE CAR

TO DO HIS THINKING

Burma Shave


CAR IN DITCH

DRIVER IN TREE

THE MOON WAS FULL

AND SO WAS HE.

Burma Shave


PASSING SCHOOL ZONE

TAKE IT SLOW

LET OUR LITTLE

SHAVERS GROW

Burma Shave


DEADLY THOUGHTS

ABOUT LIGHTS THAT SHINE

IF HE WON'T DIM HIS

I WON'T DIM MINE

Burma Shave


DON'T STICK YOUR ARM

OUT THE WINDOW TOO FAR

IT MIGHT GO HOME

IN ANOTHER CAR

Burma Shave

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Do these bring back a memory?

If not, a kid you've gotta be

If they do, then just like me,

You're as old as that tall redwood tree.


Have a great day! Stay young at heart!