Galls Traffic Buster/Code 3 SD

[Mattdecker]

Got this beauty for free today. Needs some TLC but is in relatively good shape.

Gotta find more information on them. The search function didn't want to recognize my keywords for them. For free, I'm not complaining.

 

[shues]

I have one of these. I believe it has a pair of independent SD-style independent rotators under each lens with diamond mirrors between each pair.

 

[Mattdecker]

I have one of these. I believe it has a pair of independent SD-style independent rotators under each lens with diamond mirrors between each pair.

Mine has 1 parabolic reflector on each side with a flat mirror and V mirror on each side as well.

No speaker in the center either. Not sure what model would've been in it.

I've been told this model with the shorter speaker section was harder to find than the others.

 

[shues]

I was mistaken! Mine has flat mirrors between each pair of rotators, not diamond mirrors. The speaker section on mine is 11 inches and contains a Federal Signal TS100.

 

[Stampeed Valkyrie]

That looks to be a short bar, with the smaller speaker section.
I had one of these NOS it was labeled Force 4. @gtpts27 is the current owner now as far as I am aware.

From my personal experience the independent rotator SD bars are pretty uncommon. At least in comparison to the sealed beam variants.

 

[Mattdecker]

That looks to be a short bar, with the smaller speaker section.
I had one of these NOS it was labeled Force 4. @gtpts27 is the current owner now as far as I am aware.

From my personal experience the independent rotator SD bars are pretty uncommon. At least in comparison to the sealed beam variants.

That's along the lines of what I've been told. It's extremely dirty from being stored in a shed or barn but it works. Lol.

Need to grease the gears and make them a little more quiet too.

I'm assuming Simple Green is fine to clean the frame and innards with?

 

[Stampeed Valkyrie]

Yes Simple Green is my default goto when cleaning these bars.

The frames are aluminum, so some aluminum cleaner/polish is a good follow up if needed.
neverdull on the speaker grille.

 

[Mattdecker]

Yes Simple Green is my default goto when cleaning these bars.

The frames are aluminum, so some aluminum cleaner/polish is a good follow up if needed.
neverdull on the speaker grille.

Ok thanks.

Do you know if the clips from an MX bulb will work on this bar? The one that holds the H1 bulb and grounds it? I'm missing one.

Also, what would be the best to replace the rubber foam pieces along the frame to make it weather tight?

 

[Stampeed Valkyrie]

Unfortunately all the rotators I have of this style are bayonet style and not H1. I would ask around probably someone has some.

As for foam, Code 3 did not use anything special, just standard foam strips if I remember correctly. Should be able to get these at most auto stores or home improvement stores as weather stripping.

 

[Mattdecker]

Unfortunately all the rotators I have of this style are bayonet style and not H1. I would ask around probably someone has some.

As for foam, Code 3 did not use anything special, just standard foam strips if I remember correctly. Should be able to get these at most auto stores or home improvement stores as weather stripping.

I will possibly remove them and leave them off since it'll be a display bar only. Probably add them back at a later date.

 

[PaulW]

Nice SD bar you scored. Of all the code 3 bars I own, this is the only SD thing I have an original brochure for them I picked up at a truck equipment place 30 odd years ago I do have one SD sealed bean beacon though.

 

[Mattdecker]

Nice SD bar you scored. Of all the code 3 bars I own, this is the only SD thing I have an original brochure for them I picked up at a truck equipment place 30 odd years ago I do have one SD sealed bean beacon though.

Thanks. I've toyed with the idea of keeping it like it is or adding another set of rotators.

I'll probably keep it like it is though.

I wet sanded one of the domes today and got it looking good. I'll do the other one and clean the frame later.

 

[PaulW]

I look forward to pics of it all done. Code 3 stuff is "somewhat" harder to come by up in RI except for Fire Dept. XL's and some tow truck ones since majority of equipment used around here through the years were Federal Signal and Whelen products

 

[Mattdecker]

I look forward to pics of it all done. Code 3 stuff is "somewhat" harder to come by up in RI except for Fire Dept. XL's and some tow truck ones since majority of equipment used around here through the years were Federal Signal and Whelen products

Here is a picture of it with one dome finished.

 

[stansdds]

The Gall's Traffic Buster (this particular version) was a re-branded PSE Force 4 SD, but where PSE used rotator assemblies at both the outboard and inboard positions and a diamond mirror or fixed/oscillating light between the two rotator assemblies, Gall's were cheaper with only outboard rotators, a flat mirror in the middle area and a V-mirror in the inboard position. This mirror arrangement made the bar effective from the front, but the flat mirror blocked most of the light directed at the rear facing portion of the V-mirror.

 

[Mattdecker]

The Gall's Traffic Buster (this particular version) was a re-branded PSE Force 4 SD, but where PSE used rotator assemblies at both the outboard and inboard positions and a diamond mirror or fixed/oscillating light between the two rotator assemblies, Gall's were cheaper with only outboard rotators, a flat mirror in the middle area and a V-mirror in the inboard position. This mirror arrangement made the bar effective from the front, but the flat mirror blocked most of the light directed at the rear facing portion of the V-mirror.

I toyed with the idea of adding to this bar but I think I'll keep it original.

 

[shues]

The Gall's Traffic Buster (this particular version) was a re-branded PSE Force 4 SD, but where PSE used rotator assemblies at both the outboard and inboard positions and a diamond mirror or fixed/oscillating light between the two rotator assemblies, Gall's were cheaper with only outboard rotators, a flat mirror in the middle area and a V-mirror in the inboard position. This mirror arrangement made the bar effective from the front, but the flat mirror blocked most of the light directed at the rear facing portion of the V-mirror.

Source: https://elightbars.org/forums/threads/galls-catalog-1989.90887/ posted by @LRGJr72

 

[stansdds]

Source: https://elightbars.org/forums/threads/galls-catalog-1989.90887/ posted by @LRGJr72

Yeah, 6 good flashes to the front, 2 good and 2 small flashes to the rear.

 

[Ben G]

One of our members had one in all green. Totally blew everyone away at the time. Resulted in the Chief replacing most beacons on the trucks at the time with Code 3 lightbars.

 

[Mattdecker]

Yeah, 6 good flashes to the front, 2 good and 2 small flashes to the rear.

Since it'll be going on the shelf, I may remove the flat mirrors and see how i like it.

 

[stansdds]

Since it'll be going on the shelf, I may remove the flat mirrors and see how i like it.

Since it will be put on a shelf for display, rear protection is not an issue. I'd keep it all original.