Just grabbed another very vintage early 1960s SENIOR!
Great parts light!
This is a large ROTA-BEAM 6 3/4" wide X 8" tall.
Great parts light!
This is a large ROTA-BEAM 6 3/4" wide X 8" tall.
Whelen ROTA-BEAM Family History
- Thread starter dmathieu
- Start date
If you go through the posts from the beginning of this thread, you will find pictures referred to missing, or out of order. This was due to pictures not coming through in a previous software change, I hope to soon begin the project of retaking and adding pictures into the proper posts. Hopefully this will make this thread a better reference for the ROTA-BEAM.
Stay tuned!
Stay tuned!
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My newest addition to my vintage ROTA-BEAM literature/advertisement collection:
A 1959 advertisement.
Note that the ROTA-BEAM was the first portable magnet mount beacon light.
A 1959 advertisement.
Note that the ROTA-BEAM was the first portable magnet mount beacon light.
Just found some new information on my oldest ROTA-BEAM brochure.The original ROTA-BEAM model numbers were:
RB-10....Magnetic mount portable version
RB-20....Permanent toggle bolt mounting
Both of these numbers were soon discontinued and all mountings were RB-11
They were originally available in red dome only, then added amber and blue.
They advertised as easy to change from 6 to 12 Volt, so original may have been 6 Volt only. The change was made by cutting a resistor lead and changing the bulb to a 1196 12 Volt bulb.
This brochure would be dated approximately 1955.
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Hey Dan, here's a repurposed HPD model 22 on an Honolulu Emergency Management subsidized Ford Explorer Interceptor.
Amber MODEL 44, 795X bulb, polished base and ring, switched plug and cord, Magnetic/suction mount, fairly fast rotation, and extremely bright.
I think it'll be a winner!
I think it'll be a winner!
Let's add this one to the History thread!
http://elightbars.org/forums/threads/whelen-rotabeams.79570/
http://elightbars.org/forums/threads/whelen-rotabeams.79570/
I have a RB-11 Version 2 "Rota-Beam, Portable 12 volt, Pyle National Company, Chicago, Illinois", with original blue canister. The dome is damaged with a hole in it and the cord is brittle. Looking to sell. Does anyone have any idea how much this is worth?
Picture From John Dee, Massachusetts Police Car Facebook page.
1950s car with 1st version Rota-Beam RB11 with the old dark blue colored dome,as primary warning light
1950s car with 1st version Rota-Beam RB11 with the old dark blue colored dome,as primary warning light
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I think it's a Peterson 756 or similar beacon, several manufactureres have marketed the same design.
The Quincey light above is too large to be a Peterson 756/North American BB light. I remember this light on Quincey, and there was a company that made a very narrow dual sealed beam light. I believe that this is that light.
Bartonsville, IL Police Department Circa 1965: * Willie Brown Facebook Vintage Police Everything.............Nice Rota Beam RB11 dash light with eye shield cover! Back in the early to mid 1950s Whelen was based in Joliet, Illinois, about 130 mile drive NE from Bartonsville.
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Yes, I have some of the larger Senior lights and a number of Standard sized RB11, Deputy, Corporal, Model 66 with Quick disconnect mounts.
Whelen Rota-Beam Quick Disconnect mounting option
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I remember Quincy. I only remember the red light being used once. He was responding somewhere with a siren. I thing the first station wagon was an AMC. Then he got the Ford wagon. It had an amber signal stat light with the magnifier type cage
The nipples/studs for these QD mounts are tough to find.
They came in 2 sizes. The one shown is the smaller version.
They came in 2 sizes. The one shown is the smaller version.
History LINK BELOW with a picture of Whelen's very first light. 1952 vintage.
http://www.whelen.com/pb/Automotive/ProductSheets/Misc/Whelen_History.pdf
http://www.whelen.com/pb/Automotive/ProductSheets/Misc/Whelen_History.pdf
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For the Vintage catalog part of my Rota-Beam collection, 
Just grabbed a MINT 1966 catalog page for the Rota-Beam CORPORAL, and other Rota-Beams on the back page.
Just grabbed a MINT 1966 catalog page for the Rota-Beam CORPORAL, and other Rota-Beams on the back page.