"New Crossing Signals Go Into Use"

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In 1955, in the borough Manhattan in New York City, the first eight neon pedestrian signals from the Winko-Matic company made their debut. Installed by the city's then Department of Traffic, these heads (including new three-section traffic signals) were originally located at W. 34th St. and 7th Av.

These were the second of their kind to be used on New York City streets, since, two years earlier, a handful of previous pedestrian signals (manufactured by the Crouse-Hinds company), which were actually the first "DONT WALK" and "WALK" heads installed in New York City, were unsuccessful while in service, due to a design flaw.

Eventually, 300 other pedestrian signals from the Winko-Matic company would be ordered, and they would be installed at other signalized intersections in Manhattan. Additionally, others would be put into service at certain locations in most of the other boroughs.

Courtesy of the New York Times, the article below further discusses the neon pedestrian signals from the Winko-Matic company.

The photograph in the article shows two of the first eight heads that were installed at W. 34th St. and 7th Av. in Manhattan. Then New York City traffic commissioner T.T. Wiley turns on the mechanical controller in the photograph, which controls the signal indications, for the first time, while a group of people behind him watch.

Please note that this article is made up of three individual sections (in order).