Official Junk, Overpriced, etc. Thread

[WhelenNDealin]

I'll give you .25 for one!

You'd be ripping yourself off BIG TIME! I wouldn't be caught dead with this thing! I was given a Chinese knockoff bar by a whacker for free and I got ripped off.

They picture 2 different bars. Whelen knockoff in most shots but the shot of the bottom of the bar looks like a Tomar knockoff (endcaps).

I think that any pinhead that buys this junk doesn't know what an authentic Whelen or Tomar bar look like or has ever even heard of them. If they're dumb enough to buy this glorified paperweight, they probably wouldn't even notice that two different bars are pictured.

Also love the quality of the bar's feet! This thing's built to last! Maybe an hour, tops, but that's pretty good considering that the build quality is on par with a gradeschooler's paper mache solar system model.

 

[Nolines]

Ok so .05 then!

 

[WhelenNDealin]

Ok! More Chinese crap! I found this on a Japanese auction site. If you think that ebay and Amazon sell a ton of Chinese knockoffs, they have NOTHING on this site. So many crappy FS and Japanese brand knockoffs that most of your search results are copies. Fake Fed Sig stuff is really hot.





That speaker was being sold for about $36 USD.

Next in line....

I don't know much about teardrops, but isn't this pricey for a Fireball or am I missing something?






Now a trip down memory lane! I had BOTH of these lights as a kid! The first was the first light that I ever owned. I had two of the second one. Got the first fir $5 CAD at a flea market. Got the second ones for free from my grandfather. "Prizes" from those old mail order scams from ages ago.

That first one must have thrown out some serious light with that bulb. Powered by 2 AA batteries, IIRC. Second one was junk all around. The build quality was laughable. Rotation speed was fast and light output what you'd expect from a small flashlight bulb.






Forgot to add that the batteries exploded in this little gem; rendering it inoperable.

OK, now on to Nostalgia Piece Two. I used these to create a little DA style crossbar and then one that was like a Skybolt crossbar by using those round property reflectors and a toy electronic bike siren.

 

[Nolines]

Starsky and hutch???? They had the old teardrop if I remember correctly....

 

[Pete L.]

I found my old AutoMaster in the tubs. Cig. lighter plug and a 12volt flashlight bulb, wow.

 

[Tony P]

Woof.... http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-5...0001&campid=5338077216&icep_item=123918856811

 

[Tony P]

VINTAGE FEDERAL SIGNAL PA20-A INTERCEPTOR SIREN | eBay

This PA20 Series E1D siren is in nearly new condition. It includes a newly fabricated power cable and mounting bracket. A copy of a PA20 manual is also included but isn't the original manual. The electrolytic capacitors have been replaced.

rover.ebay.com

 

[WhelenNDealin]

Woof.... http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-5...0001&campid=5338077216&icep_item=123918856811

Somebody got lucky with that one. I mean a MARS frankenbar... Still...

Am I way off base here. I'd have jumped on it.

 

[tsquale]

Somebody got lucky with that one. I mean a MARS frankenbar... Still...

Am I way off base here. I'd have jumped on it.

Incorrect tag, no dome retainer, incorrect guts....no thanks!

 

[WhelenNDealin]

Here's another goodie! Description says that it doesn't work. Of course the magic word to sell junk these days is thers: vintage!

So a non-functional light that was garbage when brand new going for $25? I think that I'll pass on this gem.

What's the deal with these suction cup lights anyways? A tin can has better build quality than the skirts, plus tiny domes and laughable rotators in terms of reflector design and the lights themselves. Powered by 2-4 AA batteries with a tiny incandescent bulb. Visible from distances of up to 5 feet!

Who in their right minds would use these? The one that I posted in a previous thread was either a very slow single flash or steady, IIRC. Heck, a cheap teardrop would be more visible!

 

[NPS Ranger]

You have to remember, back in the day these were sold for motorists (love that word) to put on the roof of their car to warn traffic in case of a breakdown. That, and kids mounting them on their bikes to play cop. Nobody used them for emergency response.

 

[WhelenNDealin]

You have to remember, back in the day these were sold for motorists (love that word) to put on the roof of their car to warn traffic in case of a breakdown. That, and kids mounting them on their bikes to play cop. Nobody used them for emergency response.

I sure as heck used them to play cop! But even for a motorist, visibility would be so poor that their usefulness would be questionable. Then again, motorists actually paid attention to cars on the shoulder in those days!

 

[coop359]

My dad had added a 4way flasher system to his 66 Chevy Impala. It was this weird large silver pole switch that had a large red light on it when the 4 way flashers were activated. I guess that is why these cheap warning lights were made. When you broke down and here was no 4 way hazard flashers on cars.

 

[NPS Ranger]

I remember poking around the shop area of an Olds dealer while my folks were negotiating to buy a new car. They had a 63 Olds cop car in the shop and of course I hopped into the driver's seat when nobody was looking, under the dash was this odd red "Flarestat" switch. Of course I tried it and it turned out to be the first 4-way flasher I'd seen up to that point.

So I bugged my Dad to let me install one in his car, we eventually put them in both his cars, it was a "Roberk" brand but was nice looking in chrome. Back in the day when no new cars had 4-way flashers, they looked pretty cool & had that "official" look when flashing.

By the end of the decade the feds had mandated them as standard equipment.

 

[coop359]

That’s it. The roberk

 

[WhelenNDealin]

It's in pristine condition, but seems a bit steep for a Twin 12X. Or am I off base again? If any of these are the going rate.... So much for collecting the classics! Or at least looking on the bay!







More from the same guy. Pricey dome!



This is why I'll never own one if it's a normal price:



Did FS actually make this?! Is it like a traffic cone?! Someone using 'Federal Signal' to attract customers (because that's NEVER been done before....).

 

[Stampeed Valkyrie]

Honestly, the 12X is pricey, but appears to be almost NOS.
If the domes are in that good shape you could probably with some effort $200+ per side.
The innards are super clean and that probably would also fetch you some $$ if your parted it out.

As for the Blue dome... no. Even NOS that price would be high IMO.

 

[StEaLtH2]

Here’s an expensive piece of history....
Split Red/Blue Whelen Responder.....

Rare Whelen 12V Magnetic Fire Security Police Red Blue Beacon Rotating Light 4" | eBay

Rare in very good condition, used in action, tested working spinning bright lite, original lights Magnetic base.

rover.ebay.com

 

[Nolines]

But it is true, it's Rare you'll find someone dumb enough to buy that at that price!

 

[dmathieu]

It would be nice!

 

[coop359]

Great responder collection Dan.

 

[WhelenNDealin]

This one's a gem. Love the little drawings on the control box!

 

[Nolines]

Where's the one that says spin right and spin left???

 

[Turd Ferguson]

NIB Whelen Val-U-Bar

Amber 35" with 3 rotators and diamond mirrors in between. Yours for $300 plus shipping. I don't think these things went for that in Galls for Pete's sake.

 

[Turd Ferguson]

$1,500 Twinsonic

Looks like I spoke too soon on the over priced subject.

 

[shues]

The Economy series is sought after by some TwinSonic collectors, as is the Medium length. There you have an example of both.

 

[WhelenNDealin]

The Economy series is sought after by some TwinSonic collectors, as is the Medium length. There you have an example of both.

Plus it's pretty darn clean with clear domes in good condotion. Still wouldn't pay that much!

Anyone else notice 12EFs on the bay lately? Noticed a few. I found one going for $227.50. In great condition too! I was sniped at the last minute by $2.25. Wife just had to call at that time and I made the fatal mistake of thinking that I had it with a couple minutes to go and no watchers.

She thought that something really bad happened when she suddenly heard a giant F bomb dropped put of nowhere in the call. Told a buddy of mine about it and he sent his condolences.

 

[Stampeed Valkyrie]

$1,500 Twinsonic

Looks like I spoke too soon on the over priced subject.

The Economy series is sought after by some TwinSonic collectors, as is the Medium length. There you have an example of both.

Read the tag closely.. this might be an NYPD Twinsonic..
Or the seller is trying to pass it off as one.

 

[WhelenNDealin]

Read the tag closely.. this might be an NYPD Twinsonic..
Or the seller is trying to pass it off as one.

In which case the price makes sense and yes, if I had the money, I'd love to get it.

 

[jlofties]

Local guy (now ex- fire police, but thats another story) trying to sell a used 4200 Mini (e-tape and all) for the same price that you can buy it shipped on Amazon. not to mention it doesn't look like it will come with all of the hardware and stickers he did not use. listing states:
"FENIEX 4200 Mini Controller. Controller was used to control my Federal Signal Legend Lightbar. I have no use for the Lightbar anymore, hoping someone else has a use for it. Very lightly used. $100 firm cash only. "
All of that tape makes me cringe, from an OCD standpoint.

 

[Jarred J.]

they are only 75 new LOL sucker born every minute..

 

[jlofties]

they are only 75 new LOL sucker born every minute..

Was that your cost as a supplier? I have not seen them online for that low.

 

[Jarred J.]

I've seen them from 76 to 85 when they first came out.. but that's pre shipping..

 

[tsquale]

Who wants to message this poor sap and tell him this isn't what he thinks it is? http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-5...0001&campid=5338077216&icep_item=143535751827

 

[Nolines]

So what is it then?

 

[tsquale]

So what is it then?

Not a Trio T-2 can light, that's for sure

 

[Stampeed Valkyrie]

The box says K-D lamp company.

 

[MtnMan]

From a zero feedback EBay seller:

 

[Phillyrube]

$1200 for a model O?

Electronics, Cars, Fashion, Collectibles & More | eBay

Buy & sell electronics, cars, clothes, collectibles & more on eBay, the world's online marketplace. Top brands, low prices & free shipping on many items.

rover.ebay.com

 

[Nolines]

Maybe he's paying for spelling, and English writing lessons with that money?