What years did the NYPD use Twinsonics? I know they used a mix of twinsonics and dual comms during that time so was there any rhyme or reason as to what rmp got what light bar?
NYPD twinsonics
- Thread starter mercurygrandmarquis1
- Start date
LRGJr72
Member
My understanding is that they used TwinSonics in very limited numbers as part of a test phase. I don't think they were ever deployed in large numbers among NYPD units. Now the AeroTwinSonic, on the other hand, a much different story.
empire5150
Member
toon80
Member
IIRC, before we settled on the Signal-Stat light and siren combo for the 1973 model year, red Twinsonics and PA170 sirens and matching SW70 switchboxes were field/pilot tested in a few RMPs. Later, the clear domed Twinsonics seen in the posted pic were mounted on IIRC the 1979-1980 Volares and possibly the 1981 Lebarons. With the Plymouth Gran Fury joining the M-Body lineup in 1982 the AeroTwinsonic became the standard until the Vision platform debuted.
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Mars Light
Member
Of course, the 1977-1979 era Impala HWY patrol RMP and IIRC the 1980-1981 Plymouth Fury HWY patrol RMP wore the Twinsonic also
LRGJr72
Member
I thought I'd seen some literature or a flyer with pics describing the NYPD warning-light testing program in the early 70s. I'm 85% certain that was here at eLightbars.. somewhere.
Stampeed Valkyrie
Member
Interesting I did not know that NYPD ran Twinsonics.. I know FDNY did cause I have one..
I 2nd the call for pics.. lol hop to it Matt.
I 2nd the call for pics.. lol hop to it Matt.
empire5150
Member
From the POLICENY website:
The Department also experimented with several different light bars before finally adopting the 1973 Signal Stat bar.
The Department also experimented with several different light bars before finally adopting the 1973 Signal Stat bar.
So I wonder what prompted the NYPD to adopt the Signal Stat dual beacon bar over the TwinSonic in 1973? Price? Eight rotating sealed beams vs. four and a pair of V mirrors? Potential maintenance issues? Separate motors on each side vs. a single drive motor? Interesting that when the NYPD was looking to replace the Signal Stat dual beacon bars with enclosed bars that they gave Federal Signal another shot at it rather than upgrading to the Signal Stat Dual Comm without competition.
The literature says the LEDs are red, blue, white and amber, but amber isn't used by standard programming and you have to have custom programming from the factory for the amber to work. Maybe see if you can't fiddle with it and see what you can come up with on your own.
I can only guess they felt the dual beacon setup provided more light sweep than an enclosed bar, and I really can't argue with that. The only thing I would have done differently was mount the barrel lights on the ends with the beacons right inside them. But you do realize the Dual Comms came next, and then the Twinsonics?
Now just an additional question to tack on but What siren would have been used during that time? Also I think I read it here that patrol, esu and highway had different sirens at the time and was wondering if there was any truth to that.
lotsofbars
Member
The sirens for regular RMP's were Signal Stat sirens for a very long while, I'm thinking up until the 90's (correct me if I'm wrong). I can't speak for Highway or ESU though.
Which time period are you asking about? There were a few different models used from model year to model year begining with their inception in 1973 to I think 1978 before it was standardized with the model Vll(7).
As for different sirens in different units/vehicles, yes, there was a period during the late 1970s to the early 1980s the ESU REP and Truck sirens and possibly HWY RMPs were a different Signal-Stat model than the general patrol fleet model Vll. I do remember for a short period in the early 1980s HWY RMPs had FedSig PA150s or 200s.
The model/Mark Vll was in use from 1978(give or take a year) ending with the 1989 model year demise of the M-Body Gran Fury. The 1990 model year Caprice came equipped with the FedSig PA300 and matching rocker switchbox until the 1991 redesigned Caprice came with the Vision platform.
I'm considering doing an Late 70s/early 80s highway restoration so Im just trying to get exact details of what was used for highway back then. I have a MK VII and I'm hoping that would be correct however I have heard the MK X was also used during that time period as well or was that pre 1978?
Would really depend on make/model/year of car. When you decide I know 3 people I can ask who may remember.
At the moment its a toss up between either a 1979 Impala or 1980-81 Gran fury. I'm leaning more towards the Impala
Exterior metal painted, coated, or otherwise treated to make it olive drab green and I presume set up to run on 24VDC.
