Historical Timeline of Federal Sign and Signal Devices

[Skulldigger]

I have been doing some research to date some items and thought others might find it interesting if not useful.  Below is a timeline of Federal Lights and a few other collectible items.

FS Symbol

     First Use 1912



Beacon Ray

     First used Oct. 1948

     Patent applied for 20 May 1955

        Beacon Ray 27S, mentioned in a 1957 copy of “The Investment Dealers’ Digest, V 23, Issue 9-17

         “Federal’s Beacon Ray Light, used universally on top of police cars, ambulances and fire trucks, and later it’s Beacon Ray 27s, which produces 100 brilliant flashes per minute in a 360-degree are......”

Federal Q

     First use 20 Aug 1951

     Patent applied for 08 Dec 1977 (Image Trademark)



Fire Ball

     First used July 1957

     Patent applied for 11 June 1964

          dmathieu states that First production run was August, 1956  

           Fireball is mentioned in a 1957 copy of “The Investment Dealers’ Digest, V 23, Issue 9-17

“…and last year’s new development, the Fireball, all represent the companies incessant research efforts to maintain it’s leadership…..”

          The American City, Volume 72, 1957

“Unmarked police cars and the family autos of deputies, volunteer firemen and other officials can be turned into emergency vehicles in seconds by placing a Fireball on the roof.  This portable emergency light was developed by Federal…”

          From Fire Engineering, Volume 135, 1982

“…the New Fireball II”.. “the brighter, smaller Fireball 2”.

Federal Interceptor

     First used July 1960

     Patent applied for 11 June 1964

Federal Visibar

     First used 28 Oct 1963

     Patent applied for 11 Mar 1964

     (I have a newspaper article from 01 Aug 1963, The Blue Island, Illinois, Police testing the "new Visibar with red twin beacon ray lights and PA-20 Siren with speaker".  It further states "The equipment manufactured by the Federal Sign and Signal Corp here in Blue Island, is not on the open market yet."  (How cool is that !)

Federal Titan

     First used 11 Oct 1967

     Patent applied for 06 Nov 1967

FS Symbol

     First use 22 Dec 1975



AeroDynic

     First used 23 Sept 1977

     Patent applied for 08 Dec 1977

Tri-Flash Snap-on Mirror Assembly for mounting on a Rotating Warning Light on an Emergency Vehicle to provide a multiple flash effect.

     First used 27 Jan 1982

     Patent applied for 22 Feb 1983

Aerotwinsonic

     First used 08 June 1982

     Patent applied for 26 July 1982

Federal Jetsonic

     Fist use 31 Jan 1983

     Patent applied for 06 Oct 1983

There are more modern available if anyone is interested.  Still curious about the Beacon Ray Models 11, 14, 17 and others.  The search continues !  There has been no application yet for the Bacon Ray.

 

[Wailer]

Federal Interceptor

     First used July 1960

     Patent applied for 11 June 1964

The first version of the Interceptor was the PA10 (c. 1960-1962)

The following versions were:

PA20 (c. 1962-1966)

PA20A series 2B, 2C, and 2D (late 1960s)

PA20A series 2E (1970s)

PA20A series B (early to mid 1980s)

1960s era Interceptors have low-pitched wail and yelp tones.

1970s and 1980s era Interceptors have high-pitched wail and yelp tones like the sirens that are use today.

 

[Skulldigger]

There are also Federal Sirens called "Director" that must predate the Interceptor.  The both have Radio/PA selector switches and only offer Wail and Yelp as siren sounds. The basic design is almost identical to the Interceptors.  I have seen a PA 5 and PA 15A.  No idea on dates for these, and have not found any patent apps for it.

 

[Wailer]

The Director (PA5, PA15 and PA15A) was the the 'economy' model and the Interceptor (PA10, PA20, and PA20A) was the the 'deluxe' model.  Changes to the Director circuit corresponded with changes to the Interceptor circuit.

PA5 and PA10 (c. 1960-1962)

PA15 and PA20 (c. 1962-1966)  The PA15 and PA20 have the 'alert' tone.

PA15A series 1B, 1C, 1D; PA20A series 2B, 2C, 2D (c. late 1960s) The PA20A has the hi-lo tone.

PA15A series 1E and PA20A series 2E (c. 1970s) E series units have high-pitched wail and yelp tones.

 

[Skulldigger]

Federal Signal  was founded as the Federal Electric Co. in Chicago in 1901.  Became Federal Sign and Signal in the 1930's, then in 1975 it changed to the Federal Signal Corporation. 

This helps a little in dating your lights and other equipment.  If your Beacon tags say Federal Sign and Signal Corporation, they predate 1975.

 

[stansdds]

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.

 

[dmathieu]

I told you, stansdds was the guy!

 

[LRGJr72]

I love this historical stuff. There's a thread here somewhere that shares the engineering specs and drawings submitted during patent applications. I remember seeing drawings for early renditions of the VisiBar and the TwinSonic. The TwinSonic rendition featured curved ends that mimicked the curvature of the Model 14 dome. Sort of the way the Mars Spectrasystem domes are just like Skybolt domes.. only stretched out in the middle. The explaination I remember in the TwinSonic going rectangular/square was that liquid injection molding is a much easier process with all straight lines.

 

[ERIC6913]

I have an original Federal Electric Co. lighted, cobalt blue, porcelain enamel steel, 3 foot tall by 7 foot long Boardwalk sign in my collection (This is what they originally started manufacturing before anything else). In pristine condition of course, dated 1903!

 

[dmathieu]

I have an original Federal Electric Co. lighted, cobalt blue, porcelain enamel steel, 3 foot tall by 7 foot long Boardwalk sign in my collection (This is what they originally started manufacturing before anything else). In pristine condition of course, dated 1903!

Pics please Eric!

 

[Skulldigger]

Does anyone have a date for when Federal started using the open bulb holders?  All of my 60's and 70's lights have full holders, but my Aerotwin with a motor date of 1984 has open holders.  Is there a correct term for these holders - open - closed?

 

[ex416]

the A3 series Twinsonic lightbars had the open bulb holders.   according to member ryan's Twinsonic website the Twinsonic lightbars came out with the open bulb holders in 1974.   

 

[stansdds]

If you are referring to the lighter weight "skeletonized" aluminum sealed beam bulb holders used as rotators, my research points to 1978 as being the first year in beacons, 1979 for the Twinsonic.

 

[dmathieu]

You should make a "pinned" thread with all of your research!

 

[shues]

You should make a "pinned" thread with all of your research!

I've been making the very same suggestion for years!

 

[stansdds]

And I'm still working on it!  Seriously, this is very much a work in progress.

 

[tsquale]

You should make a "pinned" thread with all of your research!

I'm sure site staff would be happy to help set that up.

 

[dmathieu]

And I'm still working on it!  Seriously, this is very much a work in progress.

Looking forward to it.

Each topic in it's own post, and you can go back int the post anytime to edit or add info on that topic.

This will be great!

 

[Skulldigger]

I have a source that dates the FS motors !
84422B111-5 Series 1 motor: 1963 to 1974
8422B111-15 Series 2 motor (has X on bottom) 1974-1976 (short run)
84422B111-25 Series 3 motor (round with vents) 1976 to 1984. This should help us greatly pin down the dates of some of these lights !

 

[stansdds]

That may pin down the dates the motors were made and bought, but FedSig did not waste those motors, so motors such as the Series 1 were used into 1977, as were Series 2 motors. The Series 3 motors were used in all Aerodynic/Aero Twinsonics and introduced into the model 14 and Twin Beacon Ray production in 1976, then in some TwinSonics in 1977, presumably late 1977. Case in point is my TwinSonic, all original and a Series 1 motor that has a date code for 1977.

 

[Mars Light]

I have here mod.14 beacon with a squared motor (on 2 sides) with the number:
8422B111-2
MSI 2617
12V

The beacon has the old full sealed beam holder. Type tag is missing.
I guess it is a mod.14 A2 series. Is that correct?

 

[stansdds]

I have here mod.14 beacon with a squared motor (on 2 sides) with the number:
8422B111-2
MSI 2617
12V

The beacon has the old full sealed beam holder. Type tag is missing.
I guess it is a mod.14 A2 series. Is that correct?

That would be correct for a Series A2, if there is no date code, which would be a letter and a single digit, although some early 1970 motors did have a letter and "70", on the motor, then likely 1964 to some time in 1969.

 

[Mars Light]

On the other side of the motor is "2617" and "D7" stamped.

 

[Skulldigger]

That would be correct for a Series A2, if there is no date code, which would be a letter and a single digit, although some early 1970 motors did have a letter and "70", on the motor, then likely 1964 to some time in 1969.

This is an A2 motor. is the H2 the date code?

 

[stansdds]

This is an A2 motor. is the H2 the date code?

View attachment 230708

That would be the correct motor for a Model 14, Series A2, and that H2 would be the date code for the motor. August, 1972.

 

[Mars Light]

Means "D7" = April 1970 ?

 

[stansdds]

Means "D7" = April 1970 ?

Incorrect. D7 would be April, 1977. Federal Signals date coding on motors in the 1970's mirrors that of their serial number scheme of the Beacon Ray series of lights. Take a look at my guide on decoding Beacon Ray serial numbers in the "sticky" threads.

 

[Skulldigger]

That would be the correct motor for a Model 14, Series A2, and that H2 would be the date code for the motor. August, 1972.

Very cool. I had no idea about the motor code. Now I'm going to have to look back at some others I have. Thanks !

 

[Mars Light]

I found a motor in a Mod14 A2 with:
MSI
2723 J8
12Volts

For what a month is "J" if the list has no "I" or "J" ?
A = January
B = February
C = March
D = April
E = May
F = June
G = July
H = August
K = September
L = October
M = November
N = December

 

[dmathieu]

I'm thinking those A-N month codes are for light ID, not motor ID. Just my thoughts.