Fazekas Revisited: Renovations and Rare Sightings

Posted on by Sunnyside History

By Amy O’Hair
All things Fazekas can be found linked on this page.

Anton Fazekas, sculptor, metal-worker, and San Francisco entrepreneur, created unique lighted house number units that can be found on a great many Bay Area houses. Read the background on this midcentury sculptor and entrepreneur here. Since the follow-up post, I’ve happened upon these are other examples around San Francisco. If you have an image to share, write me.

This fairly well preserved unit on Alemany sports the very rare black-on-gold number tiles, which looked brilliant in the morning sun, despite missing its hood.
Another example of the very rare black-on-gold number tiles. The surrounding unit has either been painted to match, or was done in the factory, I do not know. Capp Street.
A lovely renovation on Vernon Street, with ceramic tiles inserted into the unit, along with matching tile spacers.
Although not in top condition, this colorway is striking. Original number tiles may have been the rarely seen black-on-white, with the numbers later repainted red. Cayuga Avenue.
Detailed paint work. Although the hood is missing, this owner on Harrison Street has made the best of it, covering and painting the hope to match.
A cheery bit of paint work on Revere Avenue.
A Slimline Fazekas that has been kept in excellent condition. Tocoloma Ave.
A Slimline Fazekas that has been kept in excellent condition. Tocoloma Ave.
A Deco model in fine condition. A piece of glass has been inserted in front of the number tiles, though how there is sufficient room I don’t know. Alemany Blvd.
A Deco model in good condition. Theresa Street.
Mix-and-Match! This one-half tile is not painted, for reasons I cannot fathom. A Deco unit in very good condition, although the white-on-black number tiles have weathered badly. Quality control seems to have been an issue at various points over the years. Potrero Avenue.
A one-half tile in a well-cared-for unlighted Fazekas unit on Manchester Street.
This Fazekas unit sports glass number-tiles, but they aren’t likely to be original. Even the side spacers are glass. Orizaba Street.
This unlighted ‘Deco’ unit is a bit of a mystery. It was installed sometime after 2008, and yet looks like an original. Could it be a clever latter-day imitation? Portola Drive.
Rare and original black-on-white number tiles, in great condition. The vast majority of Fazekas units have white-on-black tiles. Cayuga Avenue
This type of hood usually only appears on the multiple-address units, so it may have been cobbled together from parts. Dublin Street.
A very unusual Fazekas specimen, with Deco-style triangles, an odd star figure at the top, cut-out stencil-style digits, and presumably back-lighting (so no hood). Silliman Street,
A very unusual Fazekas specimen, with Deco-style triangles, an odd star figure at the top, cut-out stencil-style digits, and presumably back-lighting (so no hood). Silliman Street,
This unit on Treat has had a new bulb installed, but a large one, so the hood is slightly displaced. Properly sized bulbs are still available for Fazekas units. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07N1DKVKT/
This unit on Treat has had a new bulb installed, but a large one, so the hood is slightly displaced. Bulbs are still available for Fazekas units. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07N1DKVKT/

Mix it up! A four-digit Classic unit paired with a five-digit Deco unit, and including a rather undersized, but perfectly communicative ‘A’. Guerrero Street.
Another mixed marriage, of Classic and Deco, though this time with a full-sized A. 20th Avenue.
This double unit includes the rare word 'TO' with a period to separate it from the twenty-one. Guerrero Street.
This double unit includes the rare word ‘TO’ (and not a more conventional dash) — with a period to separate it from the twenty-one. Guerrero Street.
The light in this nice Slimline unit looks like an original style incandescent, with its warm glow. 14th Avenue.
The light in this nice Slimline unit looks like an original style incandescent, with its warm glow. 14th Avenue.
Keeping the light on. Warmth and tone suggest an incandescent bulb. Molimo Drive.
Keeping the light on. Warmth and tone suggest an incandescent bulb. Molimo Drive.
A good-looking double unit on Folsom Street. Can you spot the tiny installer mistake?
This mysterious boxy unit clearly contains Fazekas’s number tiles, but the frame is unfamiliar to me, perhaps a custom-made item? 26th Street.
Very unusual hybrid on Felton Avenue, where the old Fazekas hood has been retained, perhaps to light the new set of house numbers on the steel plate.
The Classic Fazekas unit here is being preserved while the house undergoes a complete renovation. Stillings Avenue.
The hexagonal bosses and hood on this Classic unit on Tingley Street have been accented with contrasting paint.
The hexagonal bosses and hood on this Classic unit on Tingley Street have been effectively accented with contrasting paint.
Another Classic unit subjected to a non-centered installation. The light appears to be an original incandescent, and it is in great condition. Marietta Drive.
Perhaps lacking the proper half-width spacers tiles on hand seems to have commonly led to installers resorting to left justification. Vulcan Stairway. Photo courtesy @VulcanStairway.
This double Classic unit has a nice twist, using alternate left- and right-justification to set off the two house numbers. Vulcan Stairway. Photo courtesy @VulcanStairway.

A careful repainting job on this Slimline unit on Precita Avenue, to match the house trim.
A careful repainting job on this Slimline unit on Precita Avenue, to match the house trim.

An example of the original and rare black-on-white number tiles, this time in an unlighted Slimline unit. Athens Street.
A Slimline style unit on Coventry Court, rehabbed with gold paint. This street was once all Fazekas units, installed by builder. Note full-sized spacer tile between digits.
Another example of number tiles and spacers that have aged terribly; the black enamel has failed completely, assuming it was black. And perhaps the worker had only half-spacers--note set of three on top. Hood and three bulbs missing. Castro St.
An example of number tiles and spacers that have aged terribly; the black enamel has failed completely, assuming it was black. And perhaps the worker had only half-spacers–note set of three on top. Hood and three bulbs missing. Castro St.
Intentional obscuring? Either that or a serious failure in the quality of these number tiles. 23rd St.

A rogue’s gallery of number tiles that were poorly made and have not aged well.

This unit, installed when the house was built in 1939, illustrates the uneven quality of the number-tiles in these years–some good, some poor. Cayuga Avenue.
Another unit installed when the house was built in 1939, showing the poor quality of some of the number-tiles. Cayuga Avenue.
Poor-quality number tiles that haven’t lasted. Quality-control seems to have been a problem. Alemany Blvd.
Triple Deco-style units, doubled up. The spacers have not aged as well as the numbers, another indicator of the uneven quality control. Vicksburg Street.
Bingo! Triple Deco-style units, doubled up. The spacers have not aged as well as the numbers, another indicator of the uneven quality control. Vicksburg Street.
One of the unlighted Deco models that had cut-out style number tiles. The story I'll invent to fit this oddity is that the original six was lost, the remaining original eight made into a spaced, and two hardware-store offerings placed in the gaps. Jersey Street.
One of the unlighted Deco models that had cut-out style number tiles. The story I’ll invent to fit this oddity is that the original six was lost, the remaining original eight made into a spaced, and two hardware-store offerings placed in the gaps. Jersey Street.
One of the multi-purpose unit made by Fazekas to match his house-number units. This one has a (narrow) mail slot and a buzzer/speaker system. Potrero Ave.
The companion unit on Potrero, but this one has had the buzzer/speaker portion removed.
The Rising Sun mail slot by Fazekas, with its features picked out in different colors of paint. Connecticut Street.
The Rising Sun mail slot by Fazekas, with its features picked out in different colors of paint. Connecticut Street.

All photos by Amy O’Hair (except where noted).

If you haven’t already, please read the original post about Anton Fazekas and his little invention: The little sculpture affixed to your house: Anton Fazekas and the making of a midcentury San Francisco sensation. The follow-up post Fazekas: Redux offers a wealth of additional photo examples.

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Published by Sunnyside History

3 thoughts on “Fazekas Revisited: Renovations and Rare Sightings”

  2. I am so happy to have discovered (finally) the Sunnyside History Project. The article on Anton Fazekas and his ubiquitous house numbers was truly a revelation. Thanks for all you do!

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