Name plates & badges
Desk plates, door signs, ID badges and key caps in metal or engraving plastic. Clean type, sharp edges, consistent batches every time.
San Jose & Campbell · Since the 1980s
Precision engraving, done right the first time.
Signs, plaques, name plates, panels, dials, scales, labels and badges. We've cut clean, legible work on nearly every material for Silicon Valley businesses for over 30 years.
verified Computerized & pantograph
storefront Two local shops
handyman Most materials handled
Latest off the bench
Brushed brass name plate · computerized engrave
30+ yrs
Serving the community
2 shops
San Jose & Campbell
5 sectors
Commercial to retail
Most
Materials engraved
Engravings
Six pieces, six different ways to engrave.
A tour of the actual work that comes off our bench, drawn at real proportions so you can see the type, layout and finish before you ever ask for a quote.
Brass · Computerized
Executive name plate
Anodized aluminum · Laser
Control panel labels
Brushed aluminum · Pantograph
Machine ID tag
Cast bronze · Computerized
Dedication plaque
Brass dial · Pantograph
Pressure gauge face
Acrylic panel · Laser
Suite door sign
Don't see your material or shape? We engrave on most things you can hold in your hand.
Ask about your piece arrow_forward
What we make
Engraving for the way your business actually runs.
From a single name plate to a full run of industrial dials and scales, we handle the precise, legible work other shops turn away.
Panels, dials & scales
Control panels, instrument dials, measurement scales and labels for industrial and lab equipment. Tolerances that read true under tight constraints.
Plaques & signs
Recognition plaques, dedication pieces and storefront-grade signage. The kind of work that ends up on a wall for the next twenty years.
30+
Years engraving for Silicon Valley businesses, side by side with the same neighborhoods we started in.
2
Conveniently located shops, in San Jose on Race Street and in Campbell on S. Bascom Ave.
Both
Precision computerized and traditional pantograph engraving under one roof, for almost any material.
Recent work
Browse the gallery arrow_forward
A few pieces off the bench.
format_quote
"We've sent every plaque and panel job to Tanner's for years. The work is clean, it's fast, and it's right. That's rare."
Facilities buyer · San Jose tech firm
Read more reviews arrow_forwardQuestions before you order?
Turnaround, materials, file formats and how to place an order, all covered.
Read the FAQ arrow_forward
Services · What we engrave
Every category we engrave for, end to end.
From a single name plate to a full production run of industrial panels — every job goes through the same five-step bench process and the same pair of hands.
3–5
Std. days
24h
Rush avail.
2
Pickup spots
verified
Quoted in plain English · no surprises at pickup
Commercial·Brass · Acrylic
Lobby plates & building signs
Building directories, lobby plaques, suite numbers and wayfinding for commercial offices and mixed-use buildings.
- checkTenant directories & reception walls
- checkBuilding numbers & address plates
- checkMounting kits included
Industrial·Anodized Al · Laminate
Panels, labels & placards
Control panels, safety placards, equipment labels and machine tags for lab, manufacturing and industrial environments.
- checkPush-button & switch legends
- checkUL-style layouts on request
- checkOSHA-style safety placards
Office·Brass · Plastic · Acrylic
Name plates & door signs
Desk plates, cubicle markers, slide-style door signs and conference room signs in matched typography across a whole office.
- checkSingle units & office-wide sets
- checkHolders, frames & slide signs
- checkRefills when titles change
Awards·Brass on walnut · Bronze
Plaques & recognition
Recognition pieces, anniversaries, dedications and retirement gifts that look as good in twenty years as they do on day one.
- checkSingle piece or annual programs
- checkWalnut, cherry & oak backings
- checkAdd-on year-by-year plates
Retail·Brass · Plastic · Magnetic
Badges & product tags
Employee name badges, gift tags, product engraving, key caps and small parts in batches sized for staff turnover or single events.
- checkPin, magnetic or clip backs
- checkConsistent type across a whole staff
- checkQuick reorders for new hires
Instruments·Brass · Aluminum
Dials, scales & rulers
Gauge faces, measurement scales, position rings and instrument labels — pantograph-fine where the ticks need to read true.
- checkLinear & rotary scales
- checkCustom calibration runs
- checkSingle-piece or production batches
The process
Your specs to your hand, in five steps.
The same bench workflow every job runs through — whether it's one desk plate or a thousand-piece production run.
-
edit_note 1
Submit specs
Send dimensions, quantity and any artwork. Phone, email or in-person at either shop.
-
layers 2
Material consult
We recommend the right material, method and finish for the use case — in plain English.
-
preview 3
Proof & approve
A digital proof for type, layout and spacing. Changes are free until you sign off.
-
precision_manufacturing 4
Engrave
Computerized or pantograph — we pick the right method and run every piece to spec.
-
verified 5
Inspect & deliver
Each piece is hand-checked. Pickup in San Jose or Campbell, or local courier delivery.
Methods
Two ways to cut clean type.
Both methods live under one roof, so we can pick the one that fits the job — not the one that fits the machine that's free.
memory
Very fine
Method 01
Computerized engraving
CNC-driven engravers cut repeatable, type-perfect detail across a full production run. The right call for logos, fine text, batched plates and anything that needs to look identical the hundredth time.
Best for
- arrow_rightRepeatable runs
- arrow_rightFine type & logos
- arrow_rightPhoto & halftone
Materials
- arrow_rightBrass & aluminum
- arrow_rightEngraving plastic
- arrow_rightAcrylic & laminate
draw
Fine, hand-led
Method 02
Pantograph engraving
Traditional pantograph engraving for dials, scales and specialty pieces where a steady human hand still wins. We use it where the geometry and the feel matter more than batch identical-ness.
Best for
- arrow_rightDials & scales
- arrow_rightTraditional plates
- arrow_rightOne-off specialty
Materials
- arrow_rightBrass & bronze
- arrow_rightMetal & acrylic
- arrow_rightLaminates
Not sure which method fits your job? Send the specs and we'll recommend the right approach — honestly, even if it means turning the work down.
Materials we engrave
Most things you can hold in your hand.
Brass
Bronze
Aluminum
Anodized aluminum
Stainless steel
Acrylic
Engraving plastic
Laminate
Walnut
Cherry
Oak
Phenolic
Delrin
Anodized titanium
+ ask us
2
Engraving methods, in-house
6
Business categories served
14+
Stocked material types
3–5
Average turnaround days
Have questions about turnaround, file formats or quantity breaks before requesting a quote?
Read the FAQ arrow_forward
About the shop
A neighborhood engraving shop with serious equipment.
For over 30 years, Tanner's Engravings has served businesses across San Jose and Campbell. We started with a pantograph and a steady hand, and we've grown into a shop that runs both traditional pantograph and precision computerized engraving side by side.
That mix is the whole point. Computerized work gives us repeatable, fine detail across a full run. Pantograph work gives us the control specialty jobs demand. Together they let us engrave signs, panels, dials, scales, labels, name plates, key caps and badges on most materials, for almost any kind of business.
We're a real local shop with two locations and people you can reach by name. That's why our customers keep coming back.
Start a project with us arrow_forward
San Jose · Race St.
The bench, mid-run
30+
Years in business
2
Shop locations
2
Engraving methods
Most
Materials engraved
precision_manufacturing
Computerized precision
Fine, repeatable detail across full production runs, with consistent type and spacing every piece.
draw
Pantograph craft
Traditional engraving for dials, scales and specialty pieces where hands-on control wins.
layers
Most materials
Brass, aluminum, acrylic, laminates and engraving plastics. If you're unsure, ask and we'll tell you straight.
Gallery
Work from our bench.
A look at the kind of engraving we turn out across commercial, industrial, office and retail jobs. Filter by category below.
30+
Years of finished work
5
Categories on display
2
Engraving methods used
Reviews
Why customers keep coming back.
Three decades of repeat work tells the story. Here's what working with Tanner's sounds like.
We've sent every plaque and panel job to Tanner's for years. The work is clean, fast, and right. That's rare.
San Jose tech firm
Our dials and scales have to be exact. They get them right every time, and they actually pick up the phone.
Industrial supplier, Campbell
Needed a set of office name plates fast. Tom walked me through the options and they looked sharp. Easy from start to finish.
Local professional office
30+
Years of repeat business
2
Locations customers trust
Named
People to talk to, not a queue
Locations
Two convenient shops to serve you.
Call the location nearest you, or send the quote form below if you'd rather not pick up the phone.
location_on San Jose
135 Race Street
San Jose, CA 95126
- schedule Mon-Fri, 7am-11:30am & 1pm-4pm
- person Contact Tom
location_on Campbell
2915 S. Bascom Ave.
Campbell, CA 95008
- schedule Mon-Thurs, 9am-12pm & 1pm-5pm
- person Contact Cathy
Prefer not to call? Send your job details and we'll get back to you with a quote.
Use the quote form arrow_forward
FAQ
Good questions, straight answers.
What materials can you engrave? expand_more
We engrave on most materials, including brass, aluminum, acrylic, laminates and engraving plastics. If you have something unusual, just ask and we'll tell you whether we can do it.
Do you use computerized or pantograph engraving? expand_more
Both. Computerized engraving handles fine, repeatable detail across larger runs, while pantograph engraving gives us hands-on control for dials, scales and specialty work. We'll pick the right method for your job.
How do I place an order or get a quote? expand_more
Call the shop nearest you or fill out the quote form on this page. Describe what you need (or send your specs and any artwork), and we'll come back with materials, pricing and a timeline.
Can you do large runs and one-off pieces? expand_more
Yes. We handle single name plates and badges right alongside larger production runs of panels, labels and signs. Either way, you get consistent, legible work.
Which businesses do you typically work with? expand_more
Commercial, industrial, office and retail businesses across San Jose and Campbell. Signs, panels, dials, scales, labels, name plates, key caps and badges are all in our wheelhouse.
Contact
Request a quote.
Tell us what you need engraved. Include the material, size and quantity if you know them, and we'll come back with pricing and a timeline.
call
San Jose · (408) 297-0606
135 Race Street · Mon-Fri 7-11:30am & 1-4pm · Contact Tom
call
Campbell · (408) 371-8845
2915 S. Bascom Ave. · Mon-Thurs 9-12pm & 1-5pm · Contact Cathy
30+ yrs
In business
2 shops
San Jose & Campbell
5 sectors
Served
Most
Materials