17 vs 14

Skulldigger

Member
Aug 23, 2015
1,739
Georgia / USA
No doubt the Federal Model 17 was the most used beacon, likely ever. But the difficulty of changing the bulbs was a little frustrating, leading to the development of the model 14 design. But I was thinking about it tonight and I don't think I have ever seen a picture of a vehicle with a model 14 on it. Why did the 14 not over popularize the model 17 with it's ease of replacing the bulbs? The Visibar with Twin 11's was super popular. So this made me think:: why is the model 14 so predominant in the market if they were not used that often.

Too mulch time to think.......
 

tsquale

Lifetime VIP Donor
Oct 12, 2010
10,511
Minnesota, USA
That is a good point... I can't think of a time where I have seen a photo with a 14 actually in service in history. Someone has to have photos!
 

coop359

Member
Apr 16, 2012
495
USA Tennessee
We used a lot of them in amber. Public works. Tractors and dump trucks on the swivel bracket. Was the 14 before or after the visibar? Tons of Model 100s were used in singles. I would love to know how many of those were sold. A lot on the back of fire engines/trucks
 

Skulldigger

Member
Aug 23, 2015
1,739
Georgia / USA
Aesthetics I presume.

You may be right. Looking at my 14 next to my 17's, it just doesn't have the same look. I think they made mistake with the short base. It looks to low profile, although it puts out the same effective light. But still, there are tons of 14's out there to buy, so somebody was using them.
 

cmb56

Member
May 22, 2010
746
Norrköping, Sweden
Chicago Police Department used the model 14 sometime in the late 60s.
They used the model 17 and Tripp-Lite RF-6 also.
I think the model 14 was between these two or maybe after the RF-6.

Michael
 
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cmb56

Member
May 22, 2010
746
Norrköping, Sweden
Some CPD information that might be of interest.

The CPD was using red model 17s until 1960 but because of a heavy misuse of the red lights in the metropolitan Chicago area the CPD changed to blue model 17s.

People in the metropolitan area did not care of red lights regardless if it was a police car, ambulance or a fire vehicle.

CPD also started to use the Federal Pulsator siren, P280, so their cars sounded different to other emergency vehicles.

They also started to use their blue/white checkered caps to distinct themself as police officers rather than security guards.

Michael
 
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KY State Police used the 17 mid 50s into the 60s, then for a short period, some cars were equipped with 14s as they came into service. KSP was notoriously frugal (read: they could squeeze the buffalo off a nickel) and reused a lot of equipment (unless it was damaged beyond repair). In the 70s, a rich uncle died and they went from grey cars to white with dark blue hoods and trunk lids and all equipped with TwinSonics (and back to a PITA bulb change). That didn't last long and in the 80s, they went back to all white, then grey cars. Oh yeah, that's when they went with the Darth Vader Whelen strobe, too.

Like Chicago, KSP wanted to distinguish their cars from other emergency vehicles, so they switched to blue lights in the 60s. When other PDs and sheriffs started switching to blue, they tried to prevent them but the state legislature said no to KSP--all police will use blue lights, and blue only. It wasn't until the 90s that police could use red/blue lights.

What's interesting about the 17 and 14 is that they have the same distance between bulbs which is designed to give the flash a "flicker" effect--as the bulb passes the eye and rotates out of sight, the other bulb comes into view allowing the eye to adjust from the previous flash for a better flash effect. At least that's what the Federal rep told me in the late 60s.
IMG_0486.JPG
 
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Jamie Trow

Member
Feb 2, 2018
33
New York
Hi, can you tell me which model this is on top of these rigs?
 

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kerry4951

Member
Mar 10, 2014
825
Central Pa
Its a Military Spec (MS) light made by Federal Signal. Its legitimate. As far as I can tell its the same as the 17 series base, with the F2 dome. They were made in 12 and 24 volts for military and the general public. The badge is correct, unique in shape for this model light. The last number that is stamped behind the serial # indicated the color of dome. This light has a #2 which stood for red dome. The badge on your engine trucks light looks more like this shape then the usual other FS light badge, atleast thats how it looks to me. These also had 50 watt bulbs.
 

Skulldigger

Member
Aug 23, 2015
1,739
Georgia / USA
Here is my military Model 17 for those who have not seen it. It has an original 17 badge and dome, 14 style bulb holders and it has the Sprague Hypass for preventing radio noise. The fit in the 17 dome is tight with the 14 bulb holders but it does fit. The build is interesting as it is like a mixture of the 17, 14 and 184 combined.

DSC_0447 (Small).jpg
 
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dmathieu

Lifetime VIP Donor
May 20, 2010
8,766
S.W. New Hampshire, USA
What's the serial number on that tag? I've never seen those bulb holders under the older, smaller style 17 housing. I thought the newer, larger style was used for that.
 

dmathieu

Lifetime VIP Donor
May 20, 2010
8,766
S.W. New Hampshire, USA
1957 was too old for those bulb holders, I believe. Tag looks like it has been reworked. 6 V tag, 12 V guts. Plus what I said in post #25. I'm thinking you may have a Franken light. Just my opinion. Somebody else will chime in.
 

Skulldigger

Member
Aug 23, 2015
1,739
Georgia / USA
I restored the tag, well, best I could. We had a good discussion on this light when I first got it back in 2016. I thought it was a Frankenstein too but all those in the know said it wasn't. Probably used a pre-existing base or the base was replaced, but the insides is all another creature all together.

Here is the original thread although missing the pics. If you want to see any additional pics let me know I still have them under those image names.

https://elightbars.org/forums/threads/good-finds-of-the-day.74494/#post-586954
 
My guess is someone replaced the guts of an early 17 with a milspec version. It's been a while, but I believe the dimensions of a BeaconRay mounting plate never changed, only the skirt and dome size changed (enlarged) to accommodate a 4-bulb housing. Still worthy for a collection.
 

Skulldigger

Member
Aug 23, 2015
1,739
Georgia / USA
We have seen the 17 skirt with a 14 dome above, but what about a 14 skirt with a 17 dome? Actually doesn't look to bad. I think it helps the 14 or in this case the model 11's.

 
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badge22

Member
Aug 14, 2010
934
MI, United States
Stoner Ambulance Mfg. used 14 domes on model 17 beacons. The model 14's were also easier to install.
 
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coop359

Member
Apr 16, 2012
495
USA Tennessee
ComEd in Illinois was a big Federal user for many years. The ran the 17 amber domes on their 14s for years. It is a poor mans beaconray.
 

nlaser11

Member
May 23, 2010
155
Ridgway IL, 62979
I come across alot of old beacon rays with 14 domes. I guess that was a popular practice around my neck of the woods. I've never come across a 14 or 11 with beacon ray domes though.
 

shues

Lifetime VIP Donor
May 21, 2010
10,276
NW Indiana
Here are a few, from the 1983 film, Lone Wolf McQuade:

64957_dff7b736b18f05fec3ff984a9ca86ab9.jpg


64958_884c639f0c7bcd9956abeabca6f55ae1.jpg


64959_55ffb5a4c89d213042266f82291e1533.jpg


Screen captures originally posted by @mkazaryan here: https://elightbars.org/forums/threads/rounded-visa-bar.59839/
 

stansdds

Member
May 25, 2010
3,533
U.S.A., Virginia
I've noticed in the past couple of decades Hollywood has substituted Model 14's with Beacon Ray domes for actual Model 17 Beacon Rays.
 

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