JohnMarcson
Administrator
Thanks, I really need to continue cleaning and sorting. I found 4 all strobe versions, 3 gen 1 bars and 6 other later bars and another 2 valubars. Two of the bars have green domes and one has a split red/clear dome. They really deserve to be added to the display.All I can say is that's a really outstanding looking collection of lights. Thanks for posting the photo.
I think DX is the move to the larger dome, but I will need to look at my catalogs some more.Wow! I am very impressed! Please explain the difference of the Responder II and Responder DX to me.
OK, thank you.I think DX is the move to the larger dome, but I will need to look at my catalogs some more.
Responder "I" (there was no actual 1) was the "beacon", responder II was the first minibar (debuting in the early 1980s) and went through two dome and two rotator types while still being called responder II and respond-a-strobe, those being the only two models Whelen released in the smaller dome. Austin Electronics had a few variations in the later smaller dome style but their numbering remained more similar throughout all dome and rotator styles (see more below). The "dx" was simply the move to the larger dome (in 1995) that supported the two styles of advantedge rotators (and later a 4500 / delta style rotator) and model numbers started being assigned to the new versions being offered in numeric order. Model number r2dx was for the 2 rotator version. The 3 rotator version was r3dx and respond-a-strobe was r4dx at that time. Later when the dual strobe version arrived (around the time of the new advantedge rotators) it was dubbed "5dx". Much later at the end of the bar's lifespan the rotators were updated again and so were the strobes and the R6dx was offered which was the 5dx with updated strobes. A "heavy duty" metal base was offered and added "HD" to the model number. If you note a "M" or "P" attached to the model that was for magnet and permanent mount designation. The model numbers remained pretty consistent on the Whelen side even when the LED versions arrived (using the HD model prefix due to base style) in the 2007/2008 (Austin designation had been dropped in 1999). The rotator version was phased out somewhat recently, the guardian bar used larger rotators and carried the halogen rotating torch for a bit too.OK, thank you.
No problem, I love these bars. But I have to reread the literature I have usually to keep my own collection straight. The Austin/Whelen overlap is probably the most confusing part, but also gave us some of the most interesting variations. I need to dig out all the responders I have and see which ones are exact duplicates and list a them for sale.John - thank you very much for the education! I appreciate the time and effort you put into this.
Matthew
I actually bought a box of three or four generation one respond-a-strobes all together. I just display one but I'm hanging on to the others for now. I am in the process of photographing / videoing my responders so I can post an accurate depiction of my collection and the many variations. Once I have done that I may start selling some duplicates as well as make a better display. There are so many more types than I ever imagined when I started collecting. Right now I think I just need an AS200 model and I'd like some colored filters for the second generation smaller rotators. Other than that I think I'm pretty happy with my collection, but I might discover other areas that are lacking.Wow, I thought it was just the PAR 36 strobe and then the 4x3 strobe, now I know just how many editions there are beyond that. I also didn't know that Whelen actually called the version with the strobe in the middle the "Respond-A-Strobe," I kinda thought that's just something we as a collecting community made up. I'm glad to see you have at least 1 of the first edition Respond-A-Strobes too, they're the coolest. I scooped 2 of them up when some guy was selling a bunch of them a couple years ago, and I haven't seen them for sale before or after that.
The amber bar does have cruise lights...and I bet it does look familiar.Here’s one that’s kind of on your list. A “heavy duty” version but labeled as a Val U Bar Which is pretty neat. Has fast rotators too.
The code matches your photos; R2HDP… except an extra P on the end. Any idea what that means?
PS that amber full size amber Val U Bar looks familiar lol. Wouldn’t happen to have cruise lights by chance? ;-)
Fantastic collection!!!
Very cool! Bar Looks better with you anyway!The amber bar does have cruise lights...and I bet it does look familiar.
P is for permanent mount. Some of the last responder rotator bars in HD shared a base with the valuebar of that time. That is a very cool find, especially with fast rotators.
Here is the valubar with cruise lights
In my possession
At it's previous home
Nice looking little bar, I love responder split domes. I should video some split domes next to clear domes with the same color filters to show the difference. There is a degree of variation in the rotation speed of the "last gen" rotators from Whelen, but I don't think those technically had a fast and slow version.Very cool! Bar Looks better with you anyway!
Here’s a video of the mini val u bar (HD responder). And I may stand corrected, I don’t know if it is the fast rotators but definitely not the slow ones; maybe med-fast if there is such a thing?
Duplicates? What duplicates? Actually I do have a few duplicates, any specific bar your are looking for?Any of those duplicates for sale????
Duplicates? What duplicates? Actually I do have a few duplicates, any specific bar your are looking for?
I have some of the R2DX (2 rotator with mirror) models with the GEN 3 "brushless" rotator that are essentially new and unmounted. I think they are amber. Those I generally sell for $150ish depending on hardware, cords, labeling etc and which amber color, (yes it varied from year to year), and I might have a clear dome version with filters; I sell them for more and they usually depend on the filter color. I honestly have to take better inventory.You mentioned having duplicate responders. I am beginning to collect those specifically. But I collect dashlights and mini roof bars mostly.
So I thought I'd ask if any were for sale.
Ok, I think I may have a duplicate one of those, I'll have to check.John,
If you decide to get rid of one of one of the clear dome with R/B filters, lemme know. Might be interested depending on price or trade.
"needed"... that certainly leaves it open to my interpretation.I have this if needed
I don't have many HD ones. I had decided they were too new to add to the collection but recently changed my mind.Do you happen to have any duplicates in the R9HD or R10HD series?
I have not seen a LED version of the "pin style" (this type of rotator) or the "SN style" in the next gen rotators.Picked up this Austin Responder DX over the weekend for $5. Adding it to my FS Highliter and Respond-A-Strobe bar I already have. Has anyone used LED bulbs or something in these to cut the amp draw? Would love to not have to drag out the heavy 20A Astron power supply when I want to play.
Picked up this Austin Responder DX over the weekend for $5. Adding it to my FS Highliter and Respond-A-Strobe bar I already have. Has anyone used LED bulbs or something in these to cut the amp draw? Would love to not have to drag out the heavy 20A Astron power supply when I want to play.