Julian A. McDermott Circle Beam

NESQ115

Member
Jan 21, 2012
118
New York
The lights do alternate - once you hook them up to an alternating flasher. There should be two wires that come out of the bottom. They are are both positive, and should be attached to the two output terminals of an alternating flasher.

By the way, the orange paint in vintage condition suggests it may be ex-Nassau County (NY) PD.
 
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jph2

Member
Apr 21, 2012
2,122
USA Michigan
Nice find and thanks for the vid. It will be doubly cool once you fix the wiring to alternate the lights. Kinda cool to find it's ex- Nassau County in my opinion. You never disappoint with your posts, Tony. :)
 
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tsquale

Lifetime VIP Donor
Oct 12, 2010
10,511
Minnesota, USA
@NESQ115 I would agree that it is likely Nassau County, looking more closely at it. Thank you for the info on the flasher. I will have to rewire it when I find the free time. I haven't decided yet if I want to strip the paint down and repaint it, or leave it aged as is. It displays pretty cool as is
 
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coop359

Member
Apr 16, 2012
495
USA Tennessee
Hi. I just found this CircleLight in VA. It is in good shape besides missing 2 sealed beams. The two lights in the light are GE4509 100 watt aircraft lights. What bulbs are suppose to be used. Are they all the same? What would be the best way to clean up the metal? Lens has no cracks. Not sure the top nut is correct? Maybe an acorn nut?
 

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tsquale

Lifetime VIP Donor
Oct 12, 2010
10,511
Minnesota, USA
They appear to be PAR36s, as they are quite small compared to the others. I only had a brief moment to look at them in between tasks this weekend
 

coop359

Member
Apr 16, 2012
495
USA Tennessee
Thanks Dan. So it looks like there was a model with PAR46s. I’m looking for the correct model of bulb. I can do flood bulbs like alley lights in the Aerodynics? Flasher inside or external
 

cmb56

Member
May 22, 2010
746
Norrköping, Sweden
If I have not got the wrong information once, you could get this light as you wanted.
McDermott is a company that hand made their equipment and still is.

There seems to have been CircleBeams with one PAR46 and three PAR36, two PAR46 and two PAR36, four PAR46 and as this one with four PAR36.

Michael
 

John211

Member
Sep 30, 2013
39
Long Island, NY
The lights do alternate - once you hook them up to an alternating flasher. There should be two wires that come out of the bottom. They are are both positive, and should be attached to the two output terminals of an alternating flasher.

By the way, the orange paint in vintage condition suggests it may be ex-Nassau County (NY) PD.
Just stumbled across your post. FYI and everyone else, the Circle Beam had a flasher built into the unit. Vernon McDermott, Julians son, said they still make them and get a call or two a year for the part. Likely the ones with the 2 wires hanging out of the bottom were rewired after the original flasher broke. See photo's below. They also made a revolving light with two PAR 36 bulbs, but Vernon said they didn't last, the motors went after 500 hours, which he felt was not a lot of time on a police car.IMG_7023.JPGIMG_7026.JPG
 

NESQ115

Member
Jan 21, 2012
118
New York
Just stumbled across your post. FYI and everyone else, the Circle Beam had a flasher built into the unit. Vernon McDermott, Julians son, said they still make them and get a call or two a year for the part. Likely the ones with the 2 wires hanging out of the bottom were rewired after the original flasher broke. See photo's below. They also made a revolving light with two PAR 36 bulbs, but Vernon said they didn't last, the motors went after 500 hours, which he felt was not a lot of time on a police car.View attachment 221032View attachment 221033
Very interesting. I had no idea, but it makes sense. Thanks for the information!
 

Nolines

Member
Apr 5, 2018
1,678
Margate, FL
Hi. I just found this CircleLight in VA. It is in good shape besides missing 2 sealed beams. The two lights in the light are GE4509 100 watt aircraft lights. What bulbs are suppose to be used. Are they all the same? What would be the best way to clean up the metal? Lens has no cracks. Not sure the top nut is correct? Maybe an acorn nut?
Not to sound silly but is it possible it was used at an airport as a marker light or something similar with lights that bright on it??
 
May 21, 2010
418
Western Montana
Just stumbled across your post. FYI and everyone else, the Circle Beam had a flasher built into the unit. Vernon McDermott, Julians son, said they still make them and get a call or two a year for the part. Likely the ones with the 2 wires hanging out of the bottom were rewired after the original flasher broke. See photo's below. They also made a revolving light with two PAR 36 bulbs, but Vernon said they didn't last, the motors went after 500 hours, which he felt was not a lot of time on a police car.View attachment 221032View attachment 221033
Interesting as mine has no internal flasher, so presume it failed as mentioned and was removed or never installed to being with.

Did Vernon happen to mention a price for the flasher/assembly?

Thanks.
 

cmb56

Member
May 22, 2010
746
Norrköping, Sweden
John211
Regarding the flasher assembly in the pictures it seems to be the bottom part of McDermott’s flasher TG-12-90.
This was the flasher used for their High-Rise bar.
It was still available for about a year ago when I spoke with them.

Michael

00F17817-FB26-4FF2-B06C-75A92C93007A.jpeg099C691C-A9BC-4092-A00C-2A64620EB90E.jpeg
 
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John211

Member
Sep 30, 2013
39
Long Island, NY
Looks the same. There is one like yours for sale on ebay currently with a Ridgewood, NY address.
They have stacks of the old Riser Bars in their factory that they rebuild and sell for about $1800 bucks.
Thanks for the post
JB
 

brw1249

Member
Apr 5, 2011
129
Tulsa, Oklahoma USA
This is the one I just restored. Came off an old tug boat. I installed a Tridon electronic flasher.
The base and cap were powder coated in bright chrome, fully re-wired, new gaskets. The lens is typical thin plastic with one small crack near the seam.
this is the second or third Model 806 Circle Beam I've restored.
my first fire department was on Long Island, New York (1968-1972) had the circle beam as the roof beacon on all our apparatus. None of us younger guys never liked them. Everybody had Federal Signal, Dietz etc and was better lighting.
We got a Pittman Young snorkel in 1970 and had some cheap revolving beacons on the cab which made us happy. Our fire chief got a new car which had a Dietz 2-11 beacon and a PA-15 electronic siren.
now those lights we hated are not collector items!
 

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brw1249

Member
Apr 5, 2011
129
Tulsa, Oklahoma USA
I plan on calling Mcdermott next week to see about the flasher and maybe an original label/badge for my recent restoration. thanks for all the information provided from members.
A prior restoration of a Circle Beam light that I sold, I was able to get a new red lens from them. The warehouse manager I spoke with told me that it was the last one they had.
the light I just finished ( photos above) had the best base and top cover I’ve ever worked with.. it has multiple coats of paint and sealant on it, but sandblasted off easily. The powder coating really came out very nice.
 
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brw1249

Member
Apr 5, 2011
129
Tulsa, Oklahoma USA
This is the one I just restored. Came off an old tug boat. I installed a Tridon electronic flasher.
The base and cap were powder coated in bright chrome, fully re-wired, new gaskets. The lens is typical thin plastic with one small crack near the seam.
this is the second or third Model 806 Circle Beam I've restored.
my first fire department was on Long Island, New York (1968-1972) had the circle beam as the roof beacon on all our apparatus. None of us younger guys never liked them. Everybody had Federal Signal, Dietz etc and was better lighting.
We got a Pittman Young snorkel in 1970 and had some cheap revolving beacons on the cab which made us happy. Our fire chief got a new car which had a Dietz 2-11 beacon and a PA-15 electronic siren.
now those lights we hated are not collector items!
I’ve now obtained another
Circle Beam in like new condition, 12” diameter with red lens. Chrome top and base with an alternating flasher installed. Looks like right off the factory floor.

The amber is a 9” diameter version.
 

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