Whelen American-LaFrance Lightbar - The BEAST!

[tsquale]

Found this on FB local to me. Seller wanted $100 but I talked him down to $75. It is complete with the mounting bar that holds it together and features cab clearance marker lights, 7 rotators, and two "alley" flood lights. Some elbow grease and polish cleaned it up nicely!

Listing photos:


Pre-cleaning and polish:


Ready for action:

 

[shues]

Nice bar! How do you plan to display it in light (pun intended) of its unique shape?

 

[Sparky_911]

Nice. Have only seen one of these in the wild. Came from a NY state rig that an area dept inherited. 600 heads strobe halogen version.

 

[firebuff17]

Hard to beat for $100 let alone talking him down to $75.
Neat concept and cool bar! I love the rotators. The rotators were not common near me.
Although the ones near me were highly ineffective and inadequate. They mostly used all strobe, all early version 5mm LED’s, or a mix of both.

That is going to take up some wall space for sure in your display @tsquale !

 

[tsquale]

Nice bar! How do you plan to display it in light (pun intended) of its unique shape?

It would make a great surround for a fire place, window or bar. My wife disagreed on all three haha. I think this may end up suspended from the ceiling upside down but haven't settled on that yet.

 

[dmathieu]

Recent

 

[stansdds]

Interesting concept, a bit limited in terms of re-purposing.

 

[EHFD_Tower_751]

I would seriously love to find one of these for my collection.

 

[Maxim2Eng]

Nice bar! How do you plan to display it in light (pun intended) of its unique shape?

Might I suggest consider mounting it from the ceiling…suspended or inverted.
very cool and most unique!

 

[tsquale]

Interesting concept, a bit limited in terms of re-purposing.

Yes, very limited in that regard. This was the first I have seen with all rotators. As others have mentioned, they typically seem to have been a mix of terrible strobes, a pair of rotators and maybe an LED or two. I'm sure with the poor performance, sheer size and limited initial application led to its demise.

 

[Maxim2Eng]

I'm sure with the poor performance, sheer size and limited initial application led to its demise.

The light bar or American LaFrance?

IMHO, LEDs have far eclipsed any previous iterations of warning lights in terms of power consumption, output and effectiveness. But this old stuff is still FUN!

 

[tsquale]

The light bar or American LaFrance?

IMHO, LEDs have far eclipsed any previous iterations of warning lights in terms of power consumption, output and effectiveness. But this old stuff is still FUN!

I was speaking to the bar itself, but the same could be considered for ALF! And I agree. The old stuff is fun to tinker with!

 

[kitn1mcc]

Nice find. Wonder what it was on to be red and blue. This bar is were whelen got the idea for the Delta

 

[tsquale]

Nice find. Wonder what it was on to be red and blue. This bar is were whelen got the idea for the Delta

Minnesota allows FD's to run red/blue to the front

 

[tsquale]

Might I suggest consider mounting it from the ceiling…suspended or inverted.
very cool and most unique!

Ceiling mount, inverted complete! It worked out very well!

 

[stansdds]

Ceiling mount, inverted complete! It worked out very well!

View attachment 246489

Mounted Australian style?

 

[AuroraBorealis]

That's the "raddest" ceiling light I've ever seen! All I would need to appreciate it's full effect would be some "tasty waves and a cool buzz..."

 

[AuroraBorealis]

Sorry, "its"....

 

[StEaLtH2]

Very eccentric piece for the collection and nicely done on presentation. Have you fired it up inverted?
We have a LaFrance reserve “squad” with rotators and strobes still in service to this day, all components still working.
Up until yours, I would’ve never thought they made blue lenses as it was targeted to fire apparatus and all the ones I’ve seen over the years were red and clear combos. I also wasn’t aware the corners fit either side. Great work like always!