Agencies (other than MSP) That Have Used the Unity RV-26/46 Unibeacon

[dmathieu]

http://www.safetylightsandsignals.com/p-1167-what-is-the-difference-between-sae-class-1-sae-class-2-and-sae-class-3-warning-lights.aspx

http://sigmasafety.ca/2013/07/24/sae-demystified/

Here are a couple of explanations off the web.

 

[jph2]

I know they're very traditional, but I think those oversized beacons on modern patrol vehicles look stupid. As LED technology is allowing lightbars to be slimmer (ie legacy), I honestly don't belueve that the fuel economy & speed is affected that much anymore (in comparison to vehicles that have older bars, such as MX7K, edge, etc). I'd honestly rather have a Slicktop but (if my state law required a beacon of some sort for 360) I'm sure something along the lines of an L31 beacon would do the job just fine in place of one of those giant beacons


I also personally think the front fender lights look silly; you could put something crazy bright like a pair of M9s facing each side (not that it'd be practical) and plenty of people still wouldn't stop for the vehicle, so I find those signs and the MSP signs just as useless

MSP's hood light, or fin as it's affectionately called, is not intended to be functional in the modern era, even if they are wired and operable. It is a nod to tradition not unlike retaining the big ass beacon, although fuel economy is clearly a stated official reason for the beacon by MSP. Nonetheless, MSP has embraced modern technology, as witnessed by the supplemental lighting added since the 90s, including mirror beams, rear deck, grill, and recently license plate lights, all now LED.

The MSP retrofit is crazy bright and the flash pattern is distinctly MSP. I still think it's a lame pattern, though, and agree with others I'd rather see a simulated rotator, especially if you could make it emulate the Spitfire. The old school Spitfires really caught your eye from a long way off at night!

 

[Wailer]

RCMP Retro Vehicles have the unity beacon:

I remember the RCMP cars in the old black paint scheme.  They had a red Beacon Ray 17 on the roof and a Federal SA24 speaker on the passenger's side fender.  The stop light was also on the fender but it was larger and had a black housing instead of chrome.

 

[Dingo]

In reference to the hood mounted POLICE STOP light-did they make one that says "NO THANKS" that the other car could mount on the drivers side?

 

[unityrv26]

Chatham County, Georgia - marine patrol. Running a new led model (same as MSP) in blue.

 

[unityrv26]

Laurelville, Ohio doing the same, also in blue.

 

[CrownVic97]

I want to see a red and a blue of those LED Unitys on a cross bar!

 

[LRGJr72]

Blanchester OH Police. Even their door emblem resembles the logo and shoulder patch used by the majority of Michigan police agencies. At first I thought these were units from the Chelsea, Michigan Police.

 

[Wailer]

I can remember when the RCMP patrol cars were black with the white front doors. They actually had Beacon Ray 17s on the roof and the stop light was a little bigger and flatter (with a black back, not chrome).

 

[jph2]

Blanchester OH Police. Even their door emblem resembles the logo and shoulder patch used by the majority of Michigan police agencies. At first I thought these were units from the Chelsea, Michigan Police.

View attachment 164202

View attachment 164203

Plus they're still rotators! Very cool! They do look very similar to the Chelsea MI PD style.

 

[dmathieu]

These are the PAR 36 version. Most of the Michigan Unitys that I've seen have PAR 46.

 

[OSP959(R)]

Geneva (Ashtabula County) uses the flying wheel logo, but they predate OSHP.

So does Shaker Heights Police Department.

About 3 years ago I stopped at the Ohio State Highway Patrol Academy and was talking to a Sergeant there. We got on the subject of collecting, and he told me he had one of those old Unity beacons and had it restored. It was his pride and joy.