Thread: Made a vintage haul tonight- Darley/Champion beacons plus some

So a FF friend of mine found out I was looking for some vintage lights. He sent me a text saying that they had some they would part with. I asked him for a pic. I thought I was looking at Federal 17s and maybe a pair of Federal Vitalites. I show up with cash in hand and find a pair of "Champion Siren" (Darley?)6 volt beacons, one with a slant-cut for a cab, and a pair of "FyreFyter" Pilot lights.

So, Idk what I have here. Can't test the big beacons as I don't have a six volt source. I got a clear glass dome in the deal too, not sure if it's for the Champions or not, the diameter appears bigger.




Any ideas?

those appear to be rebranded model 17 beaconrays and grote econolites

Nice score, that always makes your day.

All of those are rebadged Federals.
Model 17s and Vitalites,
The dome is for a newer model Beacon Ray.
Excellent!!

Originally Posted by Richard P

those appear to be rebranded model 17 beaconrays and grote econolites

I was wondering if they were rebadged Federal products. I'm fairly certain the "FyrFyter" is actually a Vitalite, as it states "Volts 12 Series A1" just like you see Federal Signal products of that period.

I forgot to include a picture of the glass dome-

Originally Posted by dmathieu

All of those are rebadged Federals.
Model 17s and Vitalites,
The dome is for a newer model Beacon Ray.
Excellent!!

That's EXACTLY what I'm thinking. This glass dome will not fit these 17s (just tried) it is simply too big. Makes me think it's for a four-bulb 175 hill-light....

Originally Posted by kadetklapp

That's EXACTLY what I'm thinking. This glass dome will not fit these 17s (just tried) it is simply too big. Makes me think it's for a four-bulb 175 hill-light....

If so, it should measure 7 3/8" across the inside and 8 5/16" across the outside of the lip.

Originally Posted by kadetklapp

Can't test the big beacons as I don't have a six volt source.

If you have a stout enough 12-volt power supply, you could probably get away with testing two 6-volt beacons wired in series.

Originally Posted by shues

If so, it should measure 7 3/8" across the inside and 8 5/16" across the outside of the lip.

Yessir it does. Wish I had the rest of the light! I've never handled a glass dome, this thing is like Pyrex!

Nice haul, Darley rebadged a bunch of stuff back in the day. I have a North American Signal strobe crossbar with Darley beacons (NA Signal) on it. You don't see the Beacon Rays much.

Originally Posted by shues

If you have a stout enough 12-volt power supply, you could probably get away with testing two 6-volt beacons wired in series.

I've got a 30a Astron for my desk rig, if I get brave enough I'll set it up and give it a try.

The trimmed skirt beacon is in pretty rough shape externally. The badge is illegible and the chrome is pretty scratched up. Both of these have plastic domes, which tells me they have been replaced as these probably would have originally been glass, no?

I wired up the Vitalites and they work great.

Originally Posted by kadetklapp

I've got a 30a Astron for my desk rig, if I get brave enough I'll set it up and give it a try.

The trimmed skirt beacon is in pretty rough shape externally. The badge is illegible and the chrome is pretty scratched up. Both of these have plastic domes, which tells me they have been replaced as these probably would have originally been glass, no?

I wired up the Vitalites and they work great.

No, you probably have original domes. I had a Federal Enterprises, NOS, New in original box, Beacon Ray, 1948 or so, Model 17, and it had an original plastic dome.

Originally Posted by dmathieu

No, you probably have original domes. I had a Federal Enterprises, NOS, New in original box, Beacon Ray, 1948 or so, Model 17, and it had an original plastic dome.

Well, seeing as how I don't have a light for it to go on, is the glass dome worth much? Might cover my expenses on this haul. No cracks or chunks missing.

Originally Posted by kadetklapp

Well, seeing as how I don't have a light for it to go on, is the glass dome worth much? Might cover my expenses on this haul. No cracks or chunks missing.

diggerdoug was looking for one.

Originally Posted by dmathieu

diggerdoug was looking for one.

Shot him a message, thanks.

I'm going to clean up and list the Vitalites hopefully tonight if anyone is interested.

The original Federal 17s came withe polycarbonate domes. Glass was an option. New skirts are available at $105. New domes are $40.
John Dorgan


QUOTE=kadetklapp;225658]I've got a 30a Astron for my desk rig, if I get brave enough I'll set it up and give it a try.

The trimmed skirt beacon is in pretty rough shape externally. The badge is illegible and the chrome is pretty scratched up. Both of these have plastic domes, which tells me they have been replaced as these probably would have originally been glass, no?

I wired up the Vitalites and they work great.[/QUOTE]

Does the Dominion rebadging add to or hurt the value on these, in your opinions? I'm having a hard time deciding their worth. Some on ebay go for $85 while others go for $200+. This being a six volt and a rebadge, does this hurt it or help it?

Originally Posted by kadetklapp

Does the Dominion rebadging add to or hurt the value on these, in your opinions? I'm having a hard time deciding their worth. Some on ebay go for $85 while others go for $200+. This being a six volt and a rebadge, does this hurt it or help it?

Good question, I would think that the rebadged versions would be rarer than the Standard FS Badge but I could be wrong. Like the Fyr Fyter of Dayton Oh. is no longer in business, I have quite a few of their extinguishers in my collection.

The rebadging will definitely add to the value, like the JW Speaker black label Fire Ball is worth a good deal more that a Federal Fire Ball. Definitelt more rare.
In my opinion, the 6 volt hurts the value. If it's just going to sit on a shelf, it doesn't matter, but most collectors like to power up once in a while. Most have a 12 Volt supply, while few have a 6 Volt supply.
On the other hand, if the buyer has a 6 Volt truck, that can make them worth more.
I saw a pair of 6 Volt Rota-Beams go for big bucks a while ago.

Originally Posted by dmathieu

The rebadging will definitely add to the value, like the JW Speaker black label Fire Ball is worth a good deal more that a Federal Fire Ball. Definitelt more rare.
In my opinion, the 6 volt hurts the value. If it's just going to sit on a shelf, it doesn't matter, but most collectors like to power up once in a while. Most have a 12 Volt supply, while few have a 6 Volt supply.
On the other hand, if the buyer has a 6 Volt truck, that can make them worth more.
I saw a pair of 6 Volt Rota-Beams go for big bucks a while ago.

I figured the voltage was hurting them more than anything. Oh well. I think Ryan is going to take the nicer of the two and the "needs TLC" one will sit in my display case until someone asks me for it. It's a neat old light. Probably has a lot of stories it could tell.

Originally Posted by kadetklapp

I figured the voltage was hurting them more than anything. Oh well. I think Ryan is going to take the nicer of the two and the "needs TLC" one will sit in my display case until someone asks me for it. It's a neat old light. Probably has a lot of stories it could tell.

Talk to John Dorgan, he may be able to use the other one for parts.

Originally Posted by dmathieu

Talk to John Dorgan, he may be able to use the other one for parts.

I think I'll hang onto it for a while. It can go into the collection for the time being.

I'd like to get rid of those vitalites though.

Nice Haul

Just had to share my "lightbulb" moment! Was at the store today and was looking at automotive battery chargers and I saw a Schumacher charger and in my head I noted how they hadn't changed any in 20 years, since I have one on the bench at home....and it has six-volt capability.

So I ran home and hooked up my poor old abused Darley/FS 17 and set the charger to six volts...and it worked! Barely. Not a very good source of power at only six amps, but it did fire up and both bulbs are good!

The nicer of the two was traded off to Ryan for my TwinSonic resto, so Ryan, if you wanna light that thing up, use your old Schumacher battery charger, if you haven't figured it out already...

actually the one you sent me had been changed out to a 12 volt motor and bulbs. so your beacon just became worth alot more at 6 volts per the latest ebay sales.

Originally Posted by ryan

actually the one you sent me had been changed out to a 12 volt motor and bulbs. so your beacon just became worth alot more at 6 volts per the latest ebay sales.

Hmm...that might explain the flickering....i need to try 12v i think...

Yep, mine's running well on 12v.