Smith and Wesson 8881 Aquisition

Hey everybody,

Just picked this rare specimen, mostly intact. It's a Smith and Wesson 8881 Ligthbar with the original domes. Missing are the front flashers that were taken out and replaced with a v-mirror; possibly for more visibility, they may have been converted to a fire dept bar; who knows for sure? It's pretty clean overall; not sure if the speaker installed is original or not. Any comments or knowledge is welcome as this is my first S&W bar.

 

[shues]

If I recall correctly, some of these bars used sealed beam headlamps, like the 4651, as takedowns or flashers.

 

[Master X]

If I recall correctly, some of these bars used sealed beam headlamps, like the 4651, as takedowns or flashers.

Yep, initially these came with the small rectangular headlights with the option for halogen-type headlights. Later on, S&W switched to PAR 36 bulbs for front and rear TDs/flashers.

 

[Stampeed Valkyrie]

These bars largely suffered the same fate that the other bars that shared internals SVP/Yankee/Dietz etc The rotators are often sunbaked and the gears just disintegrated over time. Neat find, lots of these are just plain unfixable due to lack of parts.

 

[Master X]

Yeah, if this was a clear dome S&W every rotator would be destroyed from UV. Mine, however, is in great shape after the cleanup. I think Sireno was another bar that used the same rotator.

 

[Master X]

The Par36 Alley lights had these stickers on the center of the bulb.

 

[Master X]

Restoration complete.

 

[stansdds]

Your restoration turned out great! I agree, this was likely a bar that was repurposed for use on fire or ems equipment. I don't recall ever seeing one of these bars with those cascade mirrors.

 

[Master X]

I beleive you're right, I can still see the imprint where the headlight flasher cages were. I think they took the half reflectors out of the cages and riveted them in to fill the void. At least they were creative.

 

[ccsd834]

Nice bar you have restored there, @Master X. @stansdds is quite correct. I was a distributor starting 45 years ago, and the 80-series came standard with the four rotators and four inboard rectangular "headlights." The only mirrors inside from the factory were between the rotators and the speaker but in a backwards "V." The 40-series was a cheaper version that replaced them with Par36 lamps front and rear. Their catalog showed them only on the outboard positions, but I have seen some that are inboard as well. Not sure if that was factory or field placement. They did put mylar tape against the speaker hosing to give a little extra help with the rotators. And finally, the 10-series was the economy version. Set up just like a Code 3 LP with four inline rotators and dual diamond mirrors.

Like you eluded to, @Master X, I do believe that your mirrors are the stock mirrors that have been reversed - especially noting the highly reflective side toward the inside of the bar instead of facing the rotators - and have been moved next the speaker housing. I've never seen a model with reflectors positioned there. Doesn't mean they didn't make one, but I have my doubts. Your speaker appears to be original, as that was the shape they used for these bars to ensure they would fit inside the oddly shaped speaker housing. They came in 75,100, and 200-watt variants.

I personally used the 80-series back in the 80s (no pun intended) when I was at our local PD with mixed effectiveness. The rectangular takedowns and rear flashers sure put out a lot of light and washed out the rotators. Quite unique and interesting design back then none the less.

 

[NPS Ranger]

"Iodine gas quartz bulbs provide three times the brilliance and twice the life of ordinary sealed beam bulbs. Iodine gas retains its brilliance for the life of the bulb." Halogen bulbs were called quartz-iodine back in the day.