Finally, I got a Beacon Ray!!

May 21, 2010
1,203
Wilkes-Barre, Pa
I have been collecting/restoring for about 4 years now, and up til now only have gotten one Beacon Ray Model 17 thats still in pieces (was a freebie that needed work).


I finally took the plunge and got a fairly good deal on this Beacon Ray 173, small diameter dome. I did not care too much on the dome condition, though it was decent, I had a NOS one to put on it anyway.


I got it in the mail yesterday and opened it up after work this morning. In about 25 minits and a light polishing and new dome I had near mint 173. There no dings, dents, corrosion on the skirt and the inside is immaculate as new. The new dome makes it. It spins quiet and without any hesitation. Simply perfect, needless to say I am very happy with this find.


Lastly, can anyone decipher, if there is a way, what might be the mfg date of this light?


Beacon Ray 173 009.jpg

Beacon Ray 173 002.jpg

Beacon Ray 173 003.jpg

Beacon Ray 173 005.jpg

Beacon Ray 173 007.jpg
 

stansdds

Member
May 25, 2010
3,533
U.S.A., Virginia
I'm betting he won't stop with just one. When I started collecting, I thought having one model 17 would be enough. Now it's two 17's, a 17A, 173, 174, 175, 176, and a 15.
 

toon80

Member
May 24, 2010
2,487
Laval, Canada
stansdds said:
I'm betting he won't stop with just one. When I started collecting, I thought having one model 17 would be enough. Now it's two 17's, a 17A, 173, 174, 175, 176, and a 15.

And when you get ALL of the 17's, you then want to have every possible rare domes and color configurations that was ever made. Then, you search for NOS glass domes, and that NYPD High Skirt Beacon Ray...... :D
 

stansdds

Member
May 25, 2010
3,533
U.S.A., Virginia
toon80 said:
And when you get ALL of the 17's, you then want to have every possible rare domes and color configurations that was ever made. Then, you search for NOS glass domes, and that NYPD High Skirt Beacon Ray...... :D

Right after I win the lottery! :crazy:
 
May 21, 2010
1,203
Wilkes-Barre, Pa
toon80 said:
And when you get ALL of the 17's, you then want to have every possible rare domes and color configurations that was ever made. Then, you search for NOS glass domes, and that NYPD High Skirt Beacon Ray...... :D

I pretty much did that with the Twinsonics. The only think I hope to find some day is a factroy MCSO Twin and an all green Twin.
 

Skip Goulet

Member
Feb 23, 2011
4,241
Midland, TX
motorolamaniac said:
I have been collecting/restoring for about 4 years now, and up til now only have gotten one Beacon Ray Model 17 thats still in pieces (was a freebie that needed work).

I finally took the plunge and got a fairly good deal on this Beacon Ray 173, small diameter dome. I did not care too much on the dome condition, though it was decent, I had a NOS one to put on it anyway.


I got it in the mail yesterday and opened it up after work this morning. In about 25 minits and a light polishing and new dome I had near mint 173. There no dings, dents, corrosion on the skirt and the inside is immaculate as new. The new dome makes it. It spins quiet and without any hesitation. Simply perfect, needless to say I am very happy with this find.


Lastly, can anyone decipher, if there is a way, what might be the mfg date of this light?


View attachment 13941View attachment 13942View attachment 13943View attachment 13944View attachment 13945

Dan: I would hazard a guess that this 173 was built c.1963, note the "3" in the early part of the serial number. I'm not sure about the beacons, but Federal coded the mfg. date of their motor sirens in the serial number. I would guess they did the same on the lights. BTW, I have a decent two-lamp original 17 with the red plastic dome that you might like. It has the contoured base like it might have been used on a hearse-ambulance combo, etc.
 

stansdds

Member
May 25, 2010
3,533
U.S.A., Virginia
Skip Goulet said:
Dan: I would hazard a guess that this 173 was built c.1963, note the "3" in the early part of the serial number. I'm not sure about the beacons, but Federal coded the mfg. date of their motor sirens in the serial number. I would guess they did the same on the lights. BTW, I have a decent two-lamp original 17 with the red plastic dome that you might like. It has the contoured base like it might have been used on a hearse-ambulance combo, etc.

Nope. " 37" was the standard serial number for the 173 ("49" for the 173D, "59" for the 173A). The first digit indicated voltage, 1 = 6VDC, 2 = 12VDC. The P series were produced in the 1960's up to 1968 (N series in the 1950's, R series 1968-1976), so 2P37H7 would likely be 1967 production, the last year for the small diameter dome on the 17 and 173.
 

dmathieu

Lifetime VIP Donor
May 20, 2010
8,766
S.W. New Hampshire, USA
stansdds said:
Nope. " 37" was the standard serial number for the 173 ("49" for the 173D, "59" for the 173A). The first digit indicated voltage, 1 = 6VDC, 2 = 12VDC. The P series were produced in the 1960's up to 1968 (N series in the 1950's, R series 1968-1976), so 2P37H7 would likely be 1967 production, the last year for the small diameter dome on the 17 and 173.

I didn't know that!


Thanks.


Dan


What about 1C16C1 Federal Enterprises? 6 Volt, 1948-55?
 

stansdds

Member
May 25, 2010
3,533
U.S.A., Virginia
dmathieu said:
I didn't know that!
Thanks.


Dan


What about 1C16C1 Federal Enterprises? 6 Volt, 1948-55?

Likely 1951 and should be marked "Federal Enterprises", that is, if my research is correct. I'm basing this on years of collecting information, especially when it is known that a particular beacon was original to the vehicle to which it was mounted. The 1948-1955 model 17's are the most perplexing with A, C, M, or N appearing as the second character in the serial number. The 173, 174, 175, and 176 serial numbers became easy to crack since they were products of the 1950's and the 175/176 were products of the 1960's.
 

stansdds

Member
May 25, 2010
3,533
U.S.A., Virginia
A 173 manufactured in 1973 would carry a serial number of 2R78x73x, x= a letter. Federal used this simplified system from 1968 to 1976.
 

Rich M.

Member
Apr 13, 2011
104
USA Maryland
motorolamaniac said:
I have been collecting/restoring for about 4 years now, and up til now only have gotten one Beacon Ray Model 17 thats still in pieces (was a freebie that needed work).

I finally took the plunge and got a fairly good deal on this Beacon Ray 173, small diameter dome. I did not care too much on the dome condition, though it was decent, I had a NOS one to put on it anyway.


I got it in the mail yesterday and opened it up after work this morning. In about 25 minits and a light polishing and new dome I had near mint 173. There no dings, dents, corrosion on the skirt and the inside is immaculate as new. The new dome makes it. It spins quiet and without any hesitation. Simply perfect, needless to say I am very happy with this find.


Lastly, can anyone decipher, if there is a way, what might be the mfg date of this light?


View attachment 13941View attachment 13942View attachment 13943View attachment 13944View attachment 13945

I see you just cannot stop. Another great find. I need your luck (or skill) in finding these deals.


Rich
 

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