Restored - Honolulu PD Super Beacon Ray 174

7d9_z28

New Member
Mar 15, 2012
3,048
West Michigan
That is awesome!
 

warubozu47

Member
Oct 6, 2010
114
Honolulu, Hawaii
Can you please post a photo of this light with them dome off? I would like to see the inner workings of the cruise light. Thanks!
Can do when I get back from San Diego in Jan.
 

warubozu47

Member
Oct 6, 2010
114
Honolulu, Hawaii
San Diego?? You know i only live one hour north of there!
Yeah, parents moved up 20 years ago.  So I try and make it up every winter (put up christmas lights, etc).  If youre an hour up north, i'd guess the Laguna area?
 

u387962

New Member
May 21, 2010
54
Chicago, IL
If possible can we see a photo of this light with the dome off? I am interested in seeing the cruise light and how it was mounted to the Beacon Ray base.


Thanks!
 
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shues

Lifetime VIP Donor
May 21, 2010
10,276
NW Indiana
The benefits of the oscillation of the model 174 have been discussed here before. To put it in a somewhat more modern context, consider the effectiveness of the Magnabeam versus the Firebeam.

If I recall correctly, the 176 came out some years after the 174 for applications where the an oscillating beacon would not necessarily be desired.
 
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Phillyrube

Member
May 21, 2010
1,272
Flatistan
The benefits of the oscillation of the model 174 have been discussed here before. To put it in a somewhat more modern context, consider the effectiveness of the Magnabeam versus the Firebeam.

If I recall correctly, the 176 came out some years after the 174 for applications where the an oscillating beacon would not necessarily be desired.

Do you have the thread on that? Just searched for 30 minutes and could not find anything.
 

dmathieu

Lifetime VIP Donor
May 20, 2010
8,766
S.W. New Hampshire, USA
I can tell you that Federal Signal advertised the MagnaBeam oscillator as being 3 X as effective as a rotating light (of the same flash rate) because of the dwell created by oscillating back and forth instead of rotating all the way around.
I'll check my old Super Beacon Ray 174 literature for more.
 
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dmathieu

Lifetime VIP Donor
May 20, 2010
8,766
S.W. New Hampshire, USA
In Federal Sign and Signal's first 174 ad in May of 1958, they say the following:
The new Super Beacon Ray Model #174 is a four-way 360 degree revolving warning light. It does not revolve continuously. It revolves through 95 degrees and reverses to produce an "off beat" irregular flash of increased intensity.
The Super Beacon Ray revolves more slowly than conventional beacons, almost doubling the beam's effectiveness.........
 

Phillyrube

Member
May 21, 2010
1,272
Flatistan
Have always liked oscillating lights. Last two ambos I helped spec we put the new flush mount Rotabeams in the center white light. Couldn't get the dept to spring for 888s but Rotabeams do well.
 

Rampart51

New Member
Aug 20, 2018
10
Tulsa,OK
Good morning,guys! Coming from work and relaxing at home I saw that beauty oscillating in front of me after I open the YouTube app... Gosh! That's old school! Many moons behind(when I was a kid)I saw quite a few cadillac ambulances using the F.S. 174 with red dome... let tell you,my friend,that was God's heaven.
 
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