Vintage Frankenstein-ed lights, beacons and light bars.

[Skip Goulet]

Yes, Skip, I would not be at all surprised to find a prototype of just about anything imaginable.  Remember the Federal 185 that showed up?  A prototype model 184 Power Light with 5 PAR-36 bulbs.  That would have made for a wild light show, but I expect marketing found little demand for such a thing, especially considering that this was a late 1980's development and at that time the market was embracing strobes for the benefits of lower maintenance and less amp draw.  Who knows what the engineers at Federal, Whelen, Dietz, Signal-Stat, etc, came up with, but never entered production.

Well, with Federal it was not just supply and demand...but mostly demand.  In their earlier days they would build almost anything someone asked for: hence the 175s, the 174s, etc.  Back then everything was actually a variation off the original 17.  If they got enough orders for any of these variations, then they were assigned a model number and went into regular production.  Just like the ones you mentioned above. There's no telling how many specialty beacons or other lights or sirens they came up with for someone.   Just like Sireno.  They pretty-well copied everything that Federal built, but did so a bit cheaper. And in a few instances, better.  But they did a considerable number of special-builds for people that never appeared in any of their catalogs.  They actually built a dualtone siren (couldn't used the name doubletone because Federal had that patented); but they were built as special order only.  I had the underhood model, the J8A (no brake) and it was nice.  Ended up lending it to the sheriff's office in Odessa years ago and have never seen it since.

 

[Wigwam700]

4-My Cj Frankens with Stratolite Lenses.

 

[tsquale]

Those CJs look great!

 

[Pimp]

From the Pimp's archives:

 

[Skip Goulet]

From the Pimp's archives:

frankenbeacon.JPG

What was that monstrosity used on, Pimp?  Is that a 14 on top of the 17 skirt?

 

[Pimp]

Just a picture that was posted on the board several years ago, apparently snagged from eBay.

 

[JohnMarcson]

Edge modifications.

 

[Wigwam700]

Dietz 7-40  with clear Federal Lens compliments of Localhero800.

 

[Wigwam700]

A One Baader Brown 175 on a Tri Pod with a poorly painted red bulb & an amber Federal Beacon Ray Dome.

Just had to add this one of my favorites as a kid!!

 

[Skip Goulet]

A One Baader Brown 175 on a Tri Pod with a poorly painted red bulb & an amber Federal Beacon Ray Dome.

Just had to add this one of my favorites as a kid!!

There's nothing worse than painted bulbs.  When I was a little kid the funeral home had a '51 Chevy sedan-delivery ambulance that had a nice Federal 78 doubletone siren on the left fender with a red PropelloRay light.  But on  the roof were two clear driving lights that had been painted red.  You could see them, but they really looked like crap.

 

[stansdds]

A One Baader Brown 175 on a Tri Pod with a poorly painted red bulb & an amber Federal Beacon Ray Dome.

Now that is a Frankenbeacon!

 

[Wigwam700]

Federal 184 with red Dietz Lens

 

[JohnMarcson]

 

[CrownVic97]

Federal 184 with red Dietz Lens

CJ184 with clear Dietz lense  . I like the shape of the Dietz lense on the Federal beacons.

 

[stansdds]

pa1.jpg

pa2.jpg

Definitely a frankenbeacon.

 

[Skip Goulet]

CJ184 with clear Dietz lense  . I like the shape of the Dietz lense on the Federal beacons.

We ended up one time doing just the opposite.  The clear dome on our Dietz 211-WW "hill light" got broken and the only thing we could find locally at the time to replace it was a blue 184 dome.  Worked fine for many years.

 

[signal12]

here is my retrofit of a code 3 xl9000 converted to 4 rotating strobes

 

[JohnMarcson]

here is my retrofit of a code 3 xl9000 converted to 4 rotating strobes

For those not familiar with this build concept, the strobe bulbs are stationary, multi-colored filters rotate around them.  It was a really cool concept.

 

[signal12]

thanks for the further details john and the compliment

ed

 

[JohnMarcson]

thanks for the further details john and the compliment

ed

If LEDs hadn't hit the scene when they did this could have been a really useful product.  I always like the concept and execution.

 

[Pete L.]

I almost forgot about this one, John

Thank you for reminding me, I love that concept.

I'm going to build one for myself..........................been awhile since I've built one for me.

My own slight changes will be made.

http://elightbars.org/forums/uploads/monthly_07_2014/post-12426-0-91886800-1406211681.jpg

 

[dmathieu]

Whelen 1200 strobe...........

 

[Maxim2Eng]

Whoa! Super freaky!

 

[dmathieu]

Interesting look.......It got my attention.

 

[stansdds]

Whelen 1200 strobe...........

Yeah, once upon a time and before Dr. Bubbastein got a hold of it.

 

[wfdstation42]

My model 17C that had a second sealed beam added to it.

 

[dmathieu]

Those stationary lights are worth more than the 17.....each!

 

[JennyCop]

My model 17C that had a second sealed beam added to it.

reminds me of Veggie Tales, I call that the "Larry boy" light! I like it.

 

[Skip Goulet]

My model 17C that had a second sealed beam added to it.

My goodness, it's a Mickey beacon. Just look at those big ears!

 

[signal12]

here"s a code 3 xl being re-arranged from its original set-up

 

[DefianceEngineCompany]

here"s a code 3 xl being re-arranged from its original set-up

VIDEO !!!!

 

[stansdds]

here"s a code 3 xl being re-arranged from its original set-up

Holy amp draw!

 

[signal12]

video to follow upon completion

if i decide to keep it that way

im actually thinking of making it a six rotating strobe bar or combo of rotating strobes and sealed beams

whats 35/40 amps? piece of cake.... lol

 

[stansdds]

I'd say more like 40 to 50 amps.

 

[CodeMan]

great thread..

 

[stansdds]

I found a couple of frankenbars at lighbarliquidators.com.

[Broken External Image]:http://www.lightbarliquidators.com/668_500_csupload_38470320.jpg?u=2789453804

Federal twinsonic vista # 284. Custom one of a kind. The story goes like this: one evening a federal twinsonic in his 40”s hooked up with a vista in her twenties.It’s ok, it was consentual. Anyway, 9 months later came the results…. A red twinsonic lightbar with a vista heavy duty power supply and 4 front facing strobes !! this one of a kind light is great for the serious collector for a rec room or man cave. This is perfect for a band, club, or d.j. only one in existance $ 449.95

[Broken External Image]:http://www.lightbarliquidators.com/668_500_csupload_58374716.jpg?u=3681788620

Federal Twinsonic custom lightbar. Bar # 383 is a Federal Twinsonic lightbar with CLEAR lenses. We stripped the insides and added 2 Federal Red/Clear Firebolt Revolvers which draws a fraction of what the Twinsonic did. We also added 2 Red Federal 360% strobes in each end. This is a one of a kind. Only $499.95 this is too good for a vehicle but can be. Add this to your "mancave" or rec room. CAN NOT BE SHIPPED

 

[lotsofbars]

That bullsh!t they try to sell on lightbarliquidators.com makes me sick. 

 

[stansdds]

That bullsh!t they try to sell on lightbarliquidators.com makes me sick. 

Yep, and I wonder exactly how much of this mess they really sell?  The prices are outrageous for frankenbars.

 

[kitn1mcc]

i have met the guy who runs it   he is whacky

 

[JennyCop]

What a clown!