Hey everyone!
Is there anyone in here besides me who has a big enough love for traffic signals that they collect them? I started this topic because there are many sign collectors, and since traffic signals go together with signs like spaghetti and meatball ( :sombrero:), I decided to start this.
I have a small collection but I am always willing to expand. I have a few minor signals in my collection which include an 8" Econolite, an 8" Eagle Alusig, a 16" I.C.C. (Indicator Controls Corp) ped signal, a signle section 12" Safetran signal (may be willing to sell later on), and a single section 12" T.C.T. (Traffic Control Technologies) signal with a fiber-optic 2-color arrow unit in it. Here are photos of my 2 8" signals:
http://picasaweb.google.com/Iansignal/8InchAlusig# (http://picasaweb.google.com/Iansignal/8InchAlusig#)
http://picasaweb.google.com/Iansignal/My8InchEconoliteAndONEWAYSign# (http://picasaweb.google.com/Iansignal/My8InchEconoliteAndONEWAYSign#)
Is there anyone in here who wants to possibly start a collection in the future? You can try the risky eBay, but they usually price them way to high than they are meant to be. There is a guy I know, who has a website that sells signals from any brands, styles, colors, etc. His website is here: http://www.trafficlights.com/twingrn.htm (http://www.trafficlights.com/twingrn.htm)
Each section is $25 each for both 12" and 8", so a full 3 section one would run about $75. I know him personally and he is very nice and usually ships fast. I have only bought a fiber-optic arrow unit from him, but I know he is very reliable.
So, anyone collect them? Just wondering...
Ian
not here....
years ago when i was a kid (back in teh 1960s when limits were not thought of), i would ask Santa each Christmas for a traffic light (Poor Santa prolly thought even then 'here is a weird one!')....wasnt until 1991 that i finally got a traffic light....a badly matched four-banger (none of the boxes matched) that i traded to a fellow i knew who refurbished older traffic lights (cleaned them out, rewired them, then put in blinker circuits and an on-off switch)...i had THAT light for about a year, then sold it to a fellow who wanted a light for his party room...and never really had the desire for one since.....
...although if one certain model of light suddenly showed up and jumped in my arms and said "Take me home, Daddy', i might reconsider!
If so i could just go to the same scrap yard i get my signs from and they have alot of em'
BigMatt
I had a toy traffic light as a kid. It was a little battery operated push button job with a 4-way signal on a post. There were 4 settings: Red (or green depending on which side you were looking at), Yellow (all 4 sides), Green (or red), Off. I don't think it lasted too long: it quit working or got broken, I think. Hindsight being 20/20, I wish I'd taken better care of it :(
I'd really like to have one for my apartment, but I have no idea where I would get one.
Quote from: Scott5114 on November 30, 2009, 07:03:00 PM
I'd really like to have one for my apartment, but I have no idea where I would get one.
As I said, the webmaster of this site has loads of signals he sells. Most are from the New York/Connecticut area, but I am sure he can help you out on the style. If you need help on signal brands (for one you may like), you can ask me.
http://www.trafficlights.com/twingrn.htm
You can also try eBay, but as we all know, it can be risky.
-I
Quote from: Scott5114 on November 30, 2009, 07:03:00 PM
I'd really like to have one for my apartment, but I have no idea where I would get one.
Shreveport is about to change out some signals at I-20 & Monkhouse Rd 12 inch Red, 8 inch y/g 12 inch left arrow.
The city of Mobile sells retired traffic lights at their electrical department. I purchased one in 2003 and another in 2005 for $50 a piece. They showed signs of age but were in overall decent shape. I had my brother in law and Casey Cooper rip out the old wiring and replace them with new ones. I have a signal switch I bought on Ebay that links them, but it does not cycle the way I want it to.
Quote from: AARoads on December 05, 2009, 11:24:00 AM
The city of Mobile sells retired traffic lights at their electrical department. I purchased one in 2003 and another in 2005 for $50 a piece. They showed signs of age but were in overall decent shape. I had my brother in law and Casey Cooper rip out the old wiring and replace them with new ones. I have a signal switch I bought on Ebay that links them, but it does not cycle the way I want it to.
I'm gonna see how much signals cost at the scrap yard that I go to...
BigMatt
Quote from: US71 on November 30, 2009, 01:13:33 PM
I had a toy traffic light as a kid. It was a little battery operated push button job with a 4-way signal on a post. There were 4 settings: Red (or green depending on which side you were looking at), Yellow (all 4 sides), Green (or red), Off. I don't think it lasted too long: it quit working or got broken, I think. Hindsight being 20/20, I wish I'd taken better care of it :(
Was it made by BuddyL? Also had an attached Pedestrian light under the stoplight? I had a couple of them when i was a kid as well...,but my recollection was it wasnt very durable.....
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=250522227524
Quote from: ctsignguy on December 06, 2009, 09:11:40 AM
Quote from: US71 on November 30, 2009, 01:13:33 PM
I had a toy traffic light as a kid. It was a little battery operated push button job with a 4-way signal on a post. There were 4 settings: Red (or green depending on which side you were looking at), Yellow (all 4 sides), Green (or red), Off. I don't think it lasted too long: it quit working or got broken, I think. Hindsight being 20/20, I wish I'd taken better care of it :(
Was it made by BuddyL? Also had an attached Pedestrian light under the stoplight? I had a couple of them when i was a kid as well...,but my recollection was it wasnt very durable.....
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=250522227524
Holy Smokes! Yes, I think that's it! :-o :nod:
If any wants these i can get them for you , my towns get rid of them when they upgrade the intersection some time next year
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Ffarm3.static.flickr.com%2F2602%2F3905800730_d24133b949.jpg&hash=a9ba7eab9a6e88959d546d4a4964125c0b42402f)
~Corey
[Removed unnecessary coloring. -S.]
Quote from: Nexis4Jersey on December 17, 2009, 10:51:25 AM
If any wants these i can get them for you , my towns get rid of them when they upgrade the intersection some time next year
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Ffarm3.static.flickr.com%2F2602%2F3905800730_d24133b949.jpg&hash=a9ba7eab9a6e88959d546d4a4964125c0b42402f)
~Corey
[Removed unnecessary coloring. -S.]
Nice! Those are old! How much would one cost?
Quote from: Nexis4Jersey on December 17, 2009, 10:51:25 AM
If any wants these i can get them for you , my towns get rid of them when they upgrade the intersection some time next year
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Ffarm3.static.flickr.com%2F2602%2F3905800730_d24133b949.jpg&hash=a9ba7eab9a6e88959d546d4a4964125c0b42402f)
~Corey
[Removed unnecessary coloring. -S.]
Given that you are apparently in Bergen County, I would likely be interested to stop by and pick them up. By the way, what county routes do you live near? (I have to get up there and finish driving the remaining few.)
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Town Name : Washington Township. The Garden State Parkway (exit 168) separates my town , Medium Wealth on the east side with Rich & Super Rich on the western side.
Its falling apart , so the replacement is coming soon, we b the yellow signal form another town :-D
its the Intersection of Washington Ave & Pascack Road
County Roads 502 & 63
I think there form the 70s , thats what my mom says.....
~Corey
Well I'm staking my claim... if you can get your hands on it I would be happy to pay, buy lunch, whatever.
If anyone out there that is a collector of Traffic Signals I have a very old one from the 40's Its a W S Darley D-130 series beacon with a Reynolds Flash controller , Stamped Chicago , its a 4 way light and it works, it is two feet by two feet square and I am asking $750.00 can send pictures if interested , I have only seen one other one and it was on e-bay for $1400.00 e-mail if interested . lonepine1@centurytel.net
Ah, previous poster bumped an oldie. I wonder who ended up getting the GE Streamline signals quoted below
Quote from: Nexis4Jersey on December 17, 2009, 10:51:25 AM
If any wants these i can get them for you , my towns get rid of them when they upgrade the intersection some time next year
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Ffarm3.static.flickr.com%2F2602%2F3905800730_d24133b949.jpg&hash=a9ba7eab9a6e88959d546d4a4964125c0b42402f)
~Corey
[Removed unnecessary coloring. -S.]
I have an old one I bought around ten years ago, from the city I grew up in. After making a trip for my parents to the municipal garage to drop of some yard waste, I caught a glimpse of the signal "bone yard". The next day I sent an email to the DPW director inquiring about them. Turned out that they usually sold the knock-downs at the city rummage sale. Ended up getting one (was able to Frankenstein one good one from parts of others) for about $15, and a controller board from www.trafficlights.com (http://www.trafficlights.com). Cleaned it up, and with a little help from my dad, have it wired with a standard plug and a couple of external switches (sequence/flash mode & red/yellow - for flash mode).
I also picked up a new red lens and a couple arrow masks from a local traffic control supply store, which ended up costing more than the whole signal did! :wow: Except for a supplier change and the fact it's not LED, it's representative of a current standard Wisconsin traffic light. The photo is about ten years old, when it was mounted to a scrap piece of PVC in my parents' basement. The two switches and power cord are mounted in the bottom bracket. Presently, it's "mounted" in its horizontal orientation, above the kitchen cabinets in my apartment. It definitely is a talking piece.
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fhotimg23.fotki.com%2Fa%2F50_50%2F188_82%2FIMG_1135_for-web.jpg&hash=e3eae120d862f54da1f1a6b56a46a65c3c1c74f1)
^ You can go to www.trafficlightwizard.com and get used LED inserts for $25 each. They can usually do a matched set.
Here's my partially-repainted '60s TSI w/ old Dialight LED inserts, a matching set purchased from the aforementioned website:
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Ffbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net%2Fhphotos-ak-ash4%2F417773_10151348436930697_633750696_22888782_1723779548_n.jpg&hash=63cba5fb51e5727eb83e6558d1080819f2fd024c)
I am going to restore the lenses. Nice that they're plastic, I can sand and polish them like you would with degraded modern headlamps.
The paint color I'm using is Krylon "Bahaus Gold" - it's the closest color to Transport Yellow I can find easily available.
There's also http://www.twingreenonline.com run by a nice guy by the name of Phil Glick in upstate NY.
Reasonable prices and good selection.
Quote from: Crazy Volvo Guy on March 19, 2012, 04:00:43 PM
^ You can go to www.trafficlightwizard.com and get used LED inserts for $25 each. They can usually do a matched set.
I've already looked into an LED conversion, but the sequencer freaks out with that low of a power draw (and I'm not that electrically-inclined to modify it). Plus LED's are a bit too bright for my liking indoors. :-o
Quote from: nyratk1 on March 20, 2012, 01:07:49 AM
There's also http://www.twingreenonline.com run by a nice guy by the name of Phil Glick in upstate NY.
Reasonable prices and good selection.
I mentioned this in my original post, but it seems that the URL I posted is now dead. :-/
Can you set a signal up to go green-yellow-red and back to green? Or do they just flash on and off?
Quote from: bugo on March 21, 2012, 02:47:45 AM
Can you set a signal up to go green-yellow-red and back to green? Or do they just flash on and off?
The controller board allows mine to cycle green>yellow>red>green
or flash (either red or yellow). The cycle length is also adjustable via a control knob. It mainly controls the green and red time, but as those are lengthened or shortened, the yellow is changed proportionally. You can get these controllers via the website I mentioned previously or they also have pre-configured signals as well--different features depending on how much you want to spend (some even with remote controls).
Quote from: DaBigE on March 20, 2012, 09:51:43 PMI've already looked into an LED conversion, but the sequencer freaks out with that low of a power draw (and I'm not that electrically-inclined to modify it). Plus LED's are a bit too bright for my liking indoors. :-o
Yeah, they are bright. No denying that.
However - the fact that I can run the light with all 3 on at once without heating the room is kinda nice.
I'd actually like to try to get my hands on a matching set of the newer style Dialights. Preferably the first run, where all the lenses were colored according to their light output color.
Happened to see this topic so I'd chime in and keep this thread going.
Yeah, Dialights are very cool. My area uses them a lot.
Currently I have zero traffic signals, but I hope to take care of that soon. I do have three pedestrian signals, an Optisoft insert in a Econolite E8 housing, An ICC modular neon, and a polycarb Eagle dual 9" from St. Paul
I've tried contacting Phil, but he is either really busy right now or doesn't seem to want to sell anything to me (we did have trouble completing an eBay transaction, but in the end it worked out). He gave a vague response to an email and Facebook post asking if he had specific things, and hasn't responded to subsequant messages for a couple of days. My local surplus store (they sell stuff pulled down by St Paul, mostly Eagle poly stuff for reasonable prices, the clerk told me there source retired and for a while the city was crushing the stuff, but now they have a new contact. I also picked up an old electro-mechanical controller- the actual switching is done by solenoids and contactors, but the timing is generated by vacuum tube electronics. The connector is unobtanium, but I found male molex pins stuck in work.
My eventual goal is to get a real 3+ phase traffic cabinet for the garage, and use the Electro-Matic for a couple of 8"s in the basement, all I have room for there. I don't share the fetish for 4-ways a lot of collectors seem to have, but I would like a few older ones as well as a 3M M-131. I just missed getting a Marbelite ped from eBay, but I presume something like that appears from time to time. My ultimate fantasy would be an exposed tube neon ped, though I realize that'll never happen.
How difficult is it to set up a light with a controller board?
Quote from: Scott5114 on October 25, 2012, 03:26:32 AM
How difficult is it to set up a light with a controller board?
Not very. If you have a basic understanding of how electricity works and can follow a schematic, it can be done quite easily.
Well, I got my first light, an 8" AluSig with the 3M SA-130 adapters installed. It was retrofited with "screw-in" LEDs, and the city apparently pulled it because the yellow failed and the red was dim, and screw-in LEDs apparently aren't available new anymore. It looks crummy with incandescent bulbs because the red coating on the optics has failed, so I'm waiting for the modules to appear on eBay.
Wiring a controller board- THey do have full mains voltage and it helps if you have a basic concept of how an electrical circuit and wire color coding works, but it probably isn't strictly necessary if you follow the directions to the letter. The single board controllers I've seen require about a half dozen connections, you just strip the wire and screw it into the terminal. There's two or three connections for the mains cord (depending on if it uses a grounded cord or not), and four connections for the lights. The hot wires color coded or with a tracer on the wire from the lamps each go to a terminal, and the neutral wires (the plain whites) go to another.
For a typical LED or incandescent light any of the single board sequencers I've seen should work, but if you want something oddball like neon or low voltage halogen you need one that uses relays as an output. A lot of them use triacs without the extra components that enable triacs to be used for unusual loads.
My Electro-Matic controller
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fsphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net%2Fhphotos-prn1%2F552328_10151202577114875_2030632210_n.jpg&hash=c34f68e228eab56ec6e80c2f67a2576b223ae83d)
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fsphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net%2Fhphotos-ash4%2F299327_10151202577149875_2089480504_n.jpg&hash=044ed5b3655060dcd6b9e1bd5d634e272eed592f)
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fsphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net%2Fhphotos-ash4%2F308071_10151202577184875_247929353_n.jpg&hash=7fc4cbaa492cc99faf671ab2430f72fe8047b3c2)
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fsphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net%2Fhphotos-prn1%2F75182_10151202577284875_944178863_n.jpg&hash=912f842ba081aea58e6f4861cac7618382c78477)
State of the art in the 1950s. One of the tubes has a date scratched on it: 10/18/64. The actual switching is done the old-fashioned way, with a rotating drum opening and closing contacts, but the timing is generated by electronics. The knobs on the front are variable resistors that control how fast a capacitor gets charged. When it reaches the magic voltage the flash tube, working like a zener diode, conducts and empties the capacitor, triggering the solenoid to move the drum. Each phase can be actuated or not.
Moved a couple months ago, so my light is mounted a bit differently than it was in my old place. Also included is a close-up of the timing board that runs it (resides in the housing behind the yellow signal lens). One minor modification was made from the "stock" controller, the tiny switches were removed, (where the group of wires are on the lower left portion of the controller), and converted to larger external switches, which control cycle vs. flash and flash yellow vs. flash red.
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimages107.fotki.com%2Fv71%2Fphotos%2F0%2F847780%2F10720305%2Fphoto-vi.jpg&hash=8b3f06af349d709759cecfdda7676b552e02ac32) (https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimages55.fotki.com%2Fv608%2Fphotos%2F0%2F847780%2F10720305%2Fphoto-vi.jpg&hash=5331e9b33c10f3b24af0254b806f760fc89c5c67)
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimages14.fotki.com%2Fv373%2Fphotos%2F0%2F847780%2F10720305%2Fphoto1-vi.jpg&hash=3e87a4c98d825aa76da78ecb996586a4c06c2055)
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimages14.fotki.com%2Fv218%2Fphotos%2F0%2F847780%2F10720305%2Fphoto1-vi.jpg&hash=4b2fa212f57e45dc459986538b2b4fa172a79440)
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My flock of Eagles: Eaglelux Long Fin, Eagle Flatback, Eagle Alusig with 3M PV adapters, Eagle Durasig, Mark IV
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fsphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net%2Fhphotos-snc6%2F231040_10151261267989875_116347199_n.jpg&hash=83a3f102799851fe29843d7e4ae6d4f2d74406a4)
GE Groove Back, ICC, Optisoft Insert in an Econolite housing.
My test setup in my basement workroom.
Closeup of the Econolite neon pedestrian signal in action.
I have a stoplight on a pole in my bedroom. I mostly use it as a nightlight.
Just a little one i picked up at a train show of all places.....
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi166.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fu102%2Fctsignguy%2Fstoplight_zpseab3f68a.jpg&hash=cdf7adf059cae0edd64e683fdda9c61727fcd756)
The ones I don't have in my permanent setup
Wow I have not been on this site in a while but here is a photo of my basement intersection.
It is essentially 2 intersections, four ways in front, and back wall/side walls as the second.
This is as close to real world as you can get minus the actual traffic! Video detection for the traffic signal timing, pedestrian buttons for the walk signals, multiple timing patterns, flash mode promptly at 9:30pm
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi67.tinypic.com%2F21mtdub.jpg&hash=4e90af5eaa66f460b1d45e86b903ca37b8e074f3)
...and in the cabinet is the brain of the operation which was a project in itself to rebuild. I received an Intelight X2 controller with color touch screen that is the brain of the operation. I have my cabinet connected to my home network so i can access controller status and programming anywhere in my home
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi63.tinypic.com%2F2vj1lqo.jpg&hash=dd1a05c9ab1e3d84c8368c2385b3c4fdab4cf18c)
I have had traffic lights around 20 years, and built up this collection over the last 16 or 17 years. A long process, met alot of people, made friends and contacts with manufacturers and contractors, other collectors and even some municipalities.
Videos and demos of my collection are on youtube and I am happy to answer any questions people may have
-Nick
Looks great, Nick!
Um.
Wow.
You have achieved roadgeek level "grand high master," and all must bow at your name.
Thanks Ian! Nice to see a familiar username around here!
Kphoger - I'll wear that title with pride! I have been into traffic signals and traffic engineering in general more so than general road geekery but I appreciate that as well. I know this forum is more tailored towards that, but I'll pop in from time to time
I gotta agree.
Wow!
Very impressive!
I have 2 lights and a walk/don't walk sign that I can control via equipment I normally use with my Christmas light display, but nothing compared to what you got!!