Early G.E. traffic signal for New York City

[M3019C LPS20]

For you signal buffs, here's a nice close-up of a brand new General Electric traffic signal. Manufactured for the city of New York.







As you could see, it is upside down, since this traffic signal is intended to be suspended. So, the finial is on the bottom instead of the top.

These photographs were taken prior to when it was installed at the corner of Ocean Av. and Caton Av. in Brooklyn, N.Y. in the late 1920s. At the time, the first automatically-controlled traffic signals appeared in the borough, which was then a significant advancement by New York City's Police Department. The elimination of traffic control towers (what controlled many busy intersections for most of the 1920s) soon followed. All rights belong to NYC.gov/records.

[Pete from Boston]

When did yellow lights emerge?

[M3019C LPS20]

When did yellow lights emerge?

Actually, in the 1920s, the amber indication in New York City was in use. At the time, traffic control towers were primarily used at busy intersections, so some had red and green indications, while others had red, amber, and green indications.

It was short-lived, though, and, before the beginning of the 1930s, the city's Police Department "abandoned" it for mainly two reasons.

1) The folks claimed red and green indications were as effective as red, amber, and green indications.

2) It was cheaper to install two-section vehicular heads than three-section units.

Another reason to take into consideration is that a lot of motorists at the time were not necessarily familiar with the amber indication, so most thought it was safe to speed up when the signal indication was lit, and, of course, that was the total opposite.

Red and green indications were the norm in New York City for two decades. Then, in 1952, the indication was revived and became permanent there. Newly-installed intersections were required to have three-section traffic signals in use.

[Pete from Boston]

Another reason to take into consideration is that a lot of motorists at the time were not necessarily familiar with the amber indication, so most thought it was safe to speed up when the signal indication was lit, and, of course, that was the total opposite.

It's a common misconception:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6NEFYCaKakE

In any case, thanks for the informative explanation.

[Big John]

Learned to mean the opposite here:

Start at 4:15