Federal FIRE BALL Family History

[Raynie]

Thanks Dmathieu !

 

[Raynie]

Hey Dan!

You briefly touched on the FBII strobe but you forgot to mention the EARLY FBII strobe w/ the dome insert versus the later, actual fresnel dome:

The same dome that halogen FB2.

 

[894]

Thanks John!

Only 'cause I love ya, man!

 

[894]

The same dome that halogen FB2.

That is correct. They slid a fresnel insert under the standard FBII dome during the early years...

 

[Raynie]

The black plug at the center was never used for Fireball?

 

[dmathieu]

Raynie, if it is on the Fire Ball that you have, it was probably original.

 

[Raynie]

It is on a FBH-11. The only one I have with this plug.

 

[dmathieu]

It's the only black hard plastic that I remember seeing on a Fire Ball.

 

[Raynie]

The cable is the same length as the other, the welds are clean, I think it's an original.

 

[dmathieu]

Probably is.

 

[Raynie]

Federal Signal's 2nd Version Flash Ball was still a non rotating light like the Version 1, with some design changes.
It had the larger magnet, was available in halogen or incandescent bulb, and had a new reflector and socket design.
The reflector was still stationary. The bulb was flashed by a flasher for a directional warning.
These Flash Balls are even more rare than the Version 1 Flash Balls.

Dmathieu, are you sure that there are FB-FH with halogen bulb ?

 

[Raynie]

Your clear dome is non-F7 ?

 

[dmathieu]

The clear is F7, in keeping with the newer version FB series, and yes, the 2nd version Flash Ball was made in both incandescent and halogen versions.

 

[Raynie]

The clear is F7, in keeping with the newer version FB series, and yes, the 2nd version Flash Ball was made in both incandescent and halogen versions.

Thanks Dmathieu, if you have pics with FB-FH with halogen bulb, i'm interested.

 

[dmathieu]

Go to post #204

 

[coop359]

Ref. lighter plugs - Radio Shack use to sell the center black plug with 10 ft of lamp cord that I use to buy to replace bad lighter plugs on lights. It was cheap. Wish they still sold them

 

[Raynie]

Go to post #204

Nice, thanks

 

[ex416]

both of my FBH11s (a NIB and a near NOS) have the black plug on the right in Raynie's picture in post #365. i've seen the middle plug used as replacements.

 

[Raynie]

In your opinion, what are the dates of the marketing FLASHBALL (beginning and end) ?

 

[dmathieu]

The earliest date that I have is a sales bulletin #353E which includes the Flash Ball Model FBF, dated April, 1960.
For the newer version, I have no information, but could go into the early 1990s.

 

[Raynie]

Thanks Dmathieu

 

[Raynie]

Curious Label FBF E2

 

[dmathieu]

Yup, that's different!

 

[Abacus]

Red plugs from fed Signal give me the buying confidence the Fireball/Flashball is original and collectable. Otherwise I get nervous you are dealing with knock off!

 

[dmathieu]

The black plug at the center was never used for Fireball?

View attachment 154874

Yes, the center plug was used by Federal on later series B1 FB-1s, and newer versions FB11s.

 

[stansdds]

The Flashball was removed from production before the Fireball FB11/12 production ended. The Flashball was not in the 1989 Federal catalog.

 

[stansdds]

Curious Label FBF E2

View attachment 154949

There was also a Serial FBF F2.

 

[dmathieu]

Another different Fire Ball.....
FB-4
This is powered by a base mounted phono plug in the mounting surface.
I've seen one of these before, decided to grab this one

 

[dmathieu]

Found another!
NOS in original box!
JW Speaker FB-2 (permanent mount) S/N 1A12, 6 Volt
Black label rebadged.

 

[Raynie]

FB 4 ??

I'd never seen. Powered by a phono plug like this ?

 

[dmathieu]

That plug would be flush mounted on mounting surface.
Had to be special order, not a catalog item.

 

[shues]

FB 4 ??

I'd never seen. Powered by a phono plug like this ? View attachment 156314

I suspect it would take a mono plug, not a stereo plug. There's just power and ground.

 

[dmathieu]

I suspect it would take a mono plug, not a stereo plug. There's just power and ground.

Correct, mono it is.

 

[dmathieu]

This light has a very different shaped anti vibration plate to allow room for the phono plug socket,
AND.... the part number looks to be EB 4, not FB 4!!!!!!!
I've never seen this before!
Another nice piece for my Fire Ball sub-collection!

 

[dmathieu]

I set up this EB 4 Fire Ball using the phono plug through a metal plate, and it works great. Sorry, no video.

 

[dmathieu]

Just found a FB-2 Fire Ball with interesting electronics inside. The electronics are between the motor leads and pos. and neg input. Not sure what it does. Any ideas?
I will post more pics after receiving the light.

 

[dmathieu]

Found this picture of the other Fire Ball that I've seen with these added electronics.
Can ANYBODY shed light on what these might do to the light?
The added electronics must do something to the motor function, as they are located in line between the power inlet, and the wires supplying power to the motor.

 

[Lt.214]

I have seen this before and I believe it was to prevent electrical noise of the motor running back into the vehicles' electrical system, suppression or isolation to prevent noise in the old two way radios. Possibly an old military spec if I recall..

Chris

 

[dmathieu]

Here's the military spec that I've seen. Maybe they had another way of doing it. Thanks Chris.

 

[dmathieu]

GOT IT.....well, at least I think I do.
The RPM speed on this Fire Ball with added electronics is approximately 2X, or close to it, the RPM speed of a typical FB-1.