For Sale Federal Enterprises Model 17 Beacon and Federal Electric Type 78 Siren

[shues]

Here are a Federal Enterprises Model 17 Beacon in 6 volt and a Federal Electric Type 78 Siren in 6 volt, going for $125 each in Beach Park, IL:

http://chicago.craigslist.org/nch/pts/5772913970.html

Chicago craigslist for sale ads expire after seven days. Tomorrow is that seventh day. As such, an archived copy of the craigslist ad is available here: http://web.archive.org/web/20160914150451/http://chicago.craigslist.org/nch/pts/5772913970.html

The seller is named Chase, and his telephone number is (262) 344-0988. Copies of the images from the ad are below:

 

[ERIC6913]

That looks like a small diameter glass dome on that model 17!

 

[Skulldigger]

Would love to have that siren!

 

[kerry4951]

Any idea how old that Mdl 17 light is, since its badged under the Federal Enterprises name?

 

[shues]

It's got to be from 1955 or before, from what I can tell:

Federal Enterprises changed to Federal Sign and Signal in 1955. They moved from Chicago to Blue Island in 1958, so this places you from mid 1955 to 1958. With your SN I would say 1956. The name and city made this one easy, but sstands is the expert on dates.

Actually, it was Federal Electric until 1948, when it became Federal Enterprises. Federal Enterprises became Federal Sign & Signal Corporation in 1956. In 1976 it became Federal Signal Corporation.

stansdds should be able to tell us the year of manufacture based on the serial number. He knows an incredible amount about the serial numbering system:

The first four characters in the serial number did indicate the model of Beacon Ray.

The first digit indicated voltage: 1=6V, 2=12V, 4=24V


The next letter was the series, it indicated a particular 10 year production run, but not based on the start of a calendar decade. It's confusing until the "R" series Beacon Rays.


The next two numbers actually indicate the specific model.


With the "R" series of Beacon Rays, Federal did print "17" in red ink on the badge, then used a stamp to add a letter and/or number to indicate a model other than a basic 17.

 

[kerry4951]

I found a March 1953 ad indicating that the Federal Enterprise Beacon Rays were changing now to plexiglass domes. So if this light has its original glass Im thinking it could be pre 1953

 

[dmathieu]

1948-1953

 

[dmathieu]

My avatar is a NOS small diameter glass dome.

 

[kerry4951]

1948-1953

Yep, and probably more like 1948-1952.