Billy Goldfeder
Member
This was sent to me recently and I wanted to pass it on to those on ELB.
Thanks,
Billy G
The MARS Signal Evolution
With the CFD
Special lights built for Fire & Rescue
Lazy 8 MARS first light
This version of the MARS Light had an oscillating head, coupled with an undulating reflector. The combined operation of these two caused the light to emulate a lazy 8 pattern. These lights were widely used and retrofitted to either the front of the vehicles just above the bell standard. Also, they were mounted in the forward roof of some buggies.
The Model 888 light is an electro-mechanical oscillating and rotating in a triple lazy 8 pattern. Then The State of Illinois Law making it exclusive to Fire Rigs. CD had 2 that were Red & Green lenses. CFD Shops 1st to modify 888 with sealed beam, instead of incandescent bulb. MARS later made this a standard adaptation for any 888 lights.
Football light This light had an independent front and rear lens. These were Red in color. A motor caused the front and rear lamp assembly to oscillate side to side. These were generally roof-mounted and widely used for quite a number of years on all rigs, including the buggies. MARS also made a version the was mounted right in the grill of certain rigs, like the Pirsch Rigs. The American Red Cross had one with Blue Lenses prior to State Law setting aside Blue for the Fire Service only and Illinois Police Depts. With 100,000-plus population cities.
MARS and the problematic Aurora Borealis Light. Chief Frank Thieleman’s (Acting Chief Fire Marshal- Buggy housed at Engine 33 on Clybourn Ave) was they 1st to get one. These lights proved to be most troublesome, required a lot of maintenance due to the poor rack-and-pinion design. They were constantly being sent in for service. They sported a clear lens with a mixture of Red & White Sealed Beams. The light used a Rack-and-Pinion movement.
MARS Rotary or “Gumball” lights. A couple with Green domes was once on the CFD Gas Wagons to ID them at a scene. Lights were installed with a 2 position“pull" switch” for operation. This gave the ability to control just the front lamp or the front and rear in combination. These lights, first with a rounded top dome and later with a flat-topped dome were widely used by the Chicago Police Dept. First they were in Red and later in Blue for the Police.
Mystery Light in Commissioner Quinn’s Limo. Only 2 units known to have been made. When activated, the front license assembly, mounted in a license frame that was part of the light, was electrically flipped down horizontally and the white sealed-beam “shaker light” behind it activated to clear traffic. This entire assembly was built right into the front chrome bumper.
MARS Light Wagon @ 1044 Orleans (originally a Fire Insurance Patrol House, taken over by the CFD when the “Patrol” was abolished in 1959.) One of the several Jeep “Disneyland” Rigs housed here was a small Light Wagon built by MARS. It was a small pickup type with a Generator mounted on the rear bed. There were four sets of light banks (2 large sealed beams in each housing) with a protective glass over the front of each housing. MARS took a cue for an earlier Light Wagon made by Civil Defense Fire & Rescue Service from an old Telephone Company Service Truck. MARS had poles that could be inserted manually, one into the other, to raise the light up to 35 feet level. Large spiral coil-cords expended to supply power. This rig was prominently marked “MARS Light Wagon”, due to the close friendship between Commissioner Quinn and the MARS Company.
MARS mechanical siren, Model G-1-G “The Commander”, used on all rigs. At one time, even the Gas Wagons had sirens. Siren had 8” rotor and automobile “starter” motor. Ran down automotive batteries on rigs due to high current draw. The siren could be equipped with an optional solenoid that would be activated by a separate push button, to stop the rotor and therefore the siren CFD never used this feature or had their units outfitted with the solenoid for this option.
888 housing changed to not so radical bullet shape, so as to fit Commander Siren also. CFD, never used bullet housing
Only 1 known 10” rotor was tried for a while on the second SS-1 rig.
MARS Electronic Sirens were first installed in Buggies and then finally on rigs. Certain equipment, like SS-1, sported both mechanical and electronic sirens. The electronic sirens also doubled as P.A. Systems.
With the advent of the modular ambulance in CFD, and on a few of the Squads, a newer version, all plastic housing and lens, was utilized, some being even placed on Buggies on a MARS Bar. These also offered vertical slots on the lenses, into which could be inserted colored vertical strips to change the light’s pattern. CFD used them with the natural clear lens and with some alternate red vertical strips inserted. The early version had a high failure rate. Later, a slip-clutch was installed between the motor and the drive train to prevent motor burnout due to stalling of the light, especially in cold weather. Those Buggies that utilized this, also had mounted on the Bar, two 4” diameter “marker lights” that shown red & green to the front of the vehicle and red at both lights to the rear. These were steady burn…not flashing.
The 1st experimental Strobe light was installed by Bucom, Inc. of Wauconda on Engine 112. This was done unofficially…was Blue in color. The Engine Captain at that time was Chief Dave Lozeau (Ret.)
Conventional “marker lights” (red & greens), were not supplied by MARS, but rather by Unity Manufacturing…the same people that made and still makes “automotive spotlights” The original UNITY marker lights were a chrome housing, short bullet shaped to the rear and with a colored lens. Inside was an incandescent bulb on an unusual flanged, twist-lock base usually reserved for sound “exciter lamps” in movie projectors. Later, sealed beams with permanently colored lenses were employed. These were 5” diameter.
A couple of the series of CFD rigs did not use the conventional housing, but rather ones made by Unity with a “knob” at the rear of the housing. This housing was also the one used on either of the rear bar on the back-step if a rig with white lights installed. Some of the rigs that used this different style housing were the earlier Mack, Pirsch and FWD rigs. These had the “knobs”, but in a non-swivel housing. Swivel housing, with the knobs were used in the 3 International Light Wagons and on some of the John Bean Fog Pressure units.
The MARS Company was started in Chicago after WW II. It was owned by Mr. Ollie Berland. It was located out west on Chicago Ave. Later, MARS moved to Florida. The local operations were contracted to Able Fire & Safety Equipment Co. on Chicago’s West Side.
The original invention of the Company was not safety signal equipment, but rather “Sweeper light” used on the front of Railroad Locomotives. From there, the Company branched out into the signal business for police and fire vehicles.
Being locally in Chicago, it was a natural for them to work with the City’s agencies that required signal equipment. Along with the owners and staff at MARS, a great deal of input and feedback on the Company’s development, was Edward Prendergast Sr., then General Superintendent of the CFD Repairs Shops and Mr. Harry Williams, General Manager of MARS.
Circa, early 1980’s, the Company relocated to Naples, Florida. It was inevitably sold to the Tri-Lite Division of the Trippe-Lite Company, Chicago based. Tri-Lite still manufactures the popular 888 Light and can provide limited parts for other MARS Lights. As part of MARS relocation to Florida, and given the number of MARS Equipment in use by the CFD, Able Fire & Safety Equipment of Chicago, became the authorized dealer and repair station for MARS, doing all the repairs at their Chicago based facility.
Unity Manufacturing still exists and is still located on Clybourn Av. Near Division St. They continue to make signal lights and in recent years, bought out the remains of their only 2 competitors in the USA, making Automotive Spotlights. Now, they are the sole manufacturer of Auto Spotlights.
Ken Falk
Thanks,
Billy G
The MARS Signal Evolution
With the CFD
Special lights built for Fire & Rescue
Lazy 8 MARS first light
This version of the MARS Light had an oscillating head, coupled with an undulating reflector. The combined operation of these two caused the light to emulate a lazy 8 pattern. These lights were widely used and retrofitted to either the front of the vehicles just above the bell standard. Also, they were mounted in the forward roof of some buggies.
The Model 888 light is an electro-mechanical oscillating and rotating in a triple lazy 8 pattern. Then The State of Illinois Law making it exclusive to Fire Rigs. CD had 2 that were Red & Green lenses. CFD Shops 1st to modify 888 with sealed beam, instead of incandescent bulb. MARS later made this a standard adaptation for any 888 lights.
Football light This light had an independent front and rear lens. These were Red in color. A motor caused the front and rear lamp assembly to oscillate side to side. These were generally roof-mounted and widely used for quite a number of years on all rigs, including the buggies. MARS also made a version the was mounted right in the grill of certain rigs, like the Pirsch Rigs. The American Red Cross had one with Blue Lenses prior to State Law setting aside Blue for the Fire Service only and Illinois Police Depts. With 100,000-plus population cities.
MARS and the problematic Aurora Borealis Light. Chief Frank Thieleman’s (Acting Chief Fire Marshal- Buggy housed at Engine 33 on Clybourn Ave) was they 1st to get one. These lights proved to be most troublesome, required a lot of maintenance due to the poor rack-and-pinion design. They were constantly being sent in for service. They sported a clear lens with a mixture of Red & White Sealed Beams. The light used a Rack-and-Pinion movement.
MARS Rotary or “Gumball” lights. A couple with Green domes was once on the CFD Gas Wagons to ID them at a scene. Lights were installed with a 2 position“pull" switch” for operation. This gave the ability to control just the front lamp or the front and rear in combination. These lights, first with a rounded top dome and later with a flat-topped dome were widely used by the Chicago Police Dept. First they were in Red and later in Blue for the Police.
Mystery Light in Commissioner Quinn’s Limo. Only 2 units known to have been made. When activated, the front license assembly, mounted in a license frame that was part of the light, was electrically flipped down horizontally and the white sealed-beam “shaker light” behind it activated to clear traffic. This entire assembly was built right into the front chrome bumper.
MARS Light Wagon @ 1044 Orleans (originally a Fire Insurance Patrol House, taken over by the CFD when the “Patrol” was abolished in 1959.) One of the several Jeep “Disneyland” Rigs housed here was a small Light Wagon built by MARS. It was a small pickup type with a Generator mounted on the rear bed. There were four sets of light banks (2 large sealed beams in each housing) with a protective glass over the front of each housing. MARS took a cue for an earlier Light Wagon made by Civil Defense Fire & Rescue Service from an old Telephone Company Service Truck. MARS had poles that could be inserted manually, one into the other, to raise the light up to 35 feet level. Large spiral coil-cords expended to supply power. This rig was prominently marked “MARS Light Wagon”, due to the close friendship between Commissioner Quinn and the MARS Company.
MARS mechanical siren, Model G-1-G “The Commander”, used on all rigs. At one time, even the Gas Wagons had sirens. Siren had 8” rotor and automobile “starter” motor. Ran down automotive batteries on rigs due to high current draw. The siren could be equipped with an optional solenoid that would be activated by a separate push button, to stop the rotor and therefore the siren CFD never used this feature or had their units outfitted with the solenoid for this option.
888 housing changed to not so radical bullet shape, so as to fit Commander Siren also. CFD, never used bullet housing
Only 1 known 10” rotor was tried for a while on the second SS-1 rig.
MARS Electronic Sirens were first installed in Buggies and then finally on rigs. Certain equipment, like SS-1, sported both mechanical and electronic sirens. The electronic sirens also doubled as P.A. Systems.
With the advent of the modular ambulance in CFD, and on a few of the Squads, a newer version, all plastic housing and lens, was utilized, some being even placed on Buggies on a MARS Bar. These also offered vertical slots on the lenses, into which could be inserted colored vertical strips to change the light’s pattern. CFD used them with the natural clear lens and with some alternate red vertical strips inserted. The early version had a high failure rate. Later, a slip-clutch was installed between the motor and the drive train to prevent motor burnout due to stalling of the light, especially in cold weather. Those Buggies that utilized this, also had mounted on the Bar, two 4” diameter “marker lights” that shown red & green to the front of the vehicle and red at both lights to the rear. These were steady burn…not flashing.
The 1st experimental Strobe light was installed by Bucom, Inc. of Wauconda on Engine 112. This was done unofficially…was Blue in color. The Engine Captain at that time was Chief Dave Lozeau (Ret.)
Conventional “marker lights” (red & greens), were not supplied by MARS, but rather by Unity Manufacturing…the same people that made and still makes “automotive spotlights” The original UNITY marker lights were a chrome housing, short bullet shaped to the rear and with a colored lens. Inside was an incandescent bulb on an unusual flanged, twist-lock base usually reserved for sound “exciter lamps” in movie projectors. Later, sealed beams with permanently colored lenses were employed. These were 5” diameter.
A couple of the series of CFD rigs did not use the conventional housing, but rather ones made by Unity with a “knob” at the rear of the housing. This housing was also the one used on either of the rear bar on the back-step if a rig with white lights installed. Some of the rigs that used this different style housing were the earlier Mack, Pirsch and FWD rigs. These had the “knobs”, but in a non-swivel housing. Swivel housing, with the knobs were used in the 3 International Light Wagons and on some of the John Bean Fog Pressure units.
The MARS Company was started in Chicago after WW II. It was owned by Mr. Ollie Berland. It was located out west on Chicago Ave. Later, MARS moved to Florida. The local operations were contracted to Able Fire & Safety Equipment Co. on Chicago’s West Side.
The original invention of the Company was not safety signal equipment, but rather “Sweeper light” used on the front of Railroad Locomotives. From there, the Company branched out into the signal business for police and fire vehicles.
Being locally in Chicago, it was a natural for them to work with the City’s agencies that required signal equipment. Along with the owners and staff at MARS, a great deal of input and feedback on the Company’s development, was Edward Prendergast Sr., then General Superintendent of the CFD Repairs Shops and Mr. Harry Williams, General Manager of MARS.
Circa, early 1980’s, the Company relocated to Naples, Florida. It was inevitably sold to the Tri-Lite Division of the Trippe-Lite Company, Chicago based. Tri-Lite still manufactures the popular 888 Light and can provide limited parts for other MARS Lights. As part of MARS relocation to Florida, and given the number of MARS Equipment in use by the CFD, Able Fire & Safety Equipment of Chicago, became the authorized dealer and repair station for MARS, doing all the repairs at their Chicago based facility.
Unity Manufacturing still exists and is still located on Clybourn Av. Near Division St. They continue to make signal lights and in recent years, bought out the remains of their only 2 competitors in the USA, making Automotive Spotlights. Now, they are the sole manufacturer of Auto Spotlights.
Ken Falk
