Here is a list of some less commonly known vintage Whelen / RotO/RotA-Beam dates and facts. These are correct to the best of my ability with the research that I have.
Please check back, it's a work in progress.
Original Whelen rotating aircraft anti-collision light, 1952.
Whelen Engineering started in May, 1955 in Joliet, Illinois as a 2 man operation.
1st Whelen automotive Roto-Beam RB10/portable magnet mount, and RB20/permanent mount, 1956. Joliet, Illinois.
The name Roto Beam was changed to Rota-Beam and model numbers RB10/RB20 changed to RB11/RB22.
1st Rota-Beam RB11 Standard, 1956. The 1st RB11 was magnetic portable mount, and the permanent mount was labeled RB22.
1st ever rotating motorcycle beacon, Rota-Beam RB11 to Joliet, Illinois Police Dept. November, 1956.
Whelen moved to Deep River, Connecticut in November, 1956.
Rota-Beam Clear-Ray Flasher, 1958.
Larger Rota-Beam Senior, 1958. The RB11 "STANDARD" came out in 1956, and had numerous engineering revisions. The larger RB11 "SENIOR" came out in 1958. Notice that both were labeled Model RB11. The smaller was called the STANDARD, and the larger called the SENIOR. Shortly after the tag on the larger was changed to Model SENIOR.
The Senior and Senior Deputy were altered to have cruise light and Quick Disconnect base when used by the Honolulu Police Dept.
Heavy duty WRM, glass domed aircraft anti-collision beacon, 1961.
Rota-Beam Model 66 glass domed automotive beacon, 1961.
Rota-Beam Deputy, 1962.
Rota-Beam RB11 Standard rebadged for Pyle National Company, Chicago, Illinois, sold as Rota-Beam Portable. 1955.
1st aircraft strobe by Whelen, 1964.
Rota-Beam Commander 4 sealed beam oscillating beacon, mfg. 1965-1967.
Rota-Beam Corporal, 1965.
Rota-Beam Commander 4 sealed beam oscillating beacon, 1965.
CB100, and CB200 2 beacon crossbars, 1965.
Whelen 1st automotive strobe light line, 1965.
6000 strobe bar, 1975.
8000 strobe bar, 1978.
Edge 9000 low profile strobe bar, 1983.
Below are some INDUSTRY FIRSTS BY WHELEN:
1st magnetic portable beacon.
1st use of magnifying lenses to intensify rotating beams.
1st snap on quick disconnect beacon mount, 1959.
1st to eliminate radio interference.
1st to easily convert from 6 to 12 Volt and back.
1st adjustable beam, up or down.
1st to eliminate radio interference from motor noise.
1st multi-light cross bar. CB-100 and CB-200
1st automotive strobe lights.
1st enclosed all strobe bar. 6000 Series
Whelen seemed to be the very 1st with cruise lights. This was a requirement in Honolulu, even whe rotating lights were all that was available. They used Whelen and Federal. These were used to identify police vehicles on patrol. When marketed by Whelen they were also sold as a steady on light, so your warning light (strobe), never went dark between flashes, increasing effectiveness and tracking of vehicle.
The Rota-Beam numbering system started with RB10 and then went loosely to the double digit number system.
RB10 / RB20, Magnet mount/permanent mount
RB11 Standard / RB22 Standard
Clear-Ray Flasher
RB11 Senior
Senior
Senior Deputy
Model 66
Deputy
Corporal
Model 22 Senior
Model 44 Senior Deputy
Model 55 Senior
Model 33H
Model 77H
88 Series
99 Series
Then the went into the Rota-Beam II ( Roman numeral two) Series, Models RB2, RB6 etc.
Please check back, it's a work in progress.
Original Whelen rotating aircraft anti-collision light, 1952.
Whelen Engineering started in May, 1955 in Joliet, Illinois as a 2 man operation.
1st Whelen automotive Roto-Beam RB10/portable magnet mount, and RB20/permanent mount, 1956. Joliet, Illinois.
The name Roto Beam was changed to Rota-Beam and model numbers RB10/RB20 changed to RB11/RB22.
1st Rota-Beam RB11 Standard, 1956. The 1st RB11 was magnetic portable mount, and the permanent mount was labeled RB22.
1st ever rotating motorcycle beacon, Rota-Beam RB11 to Joliet, Illinois Police Dept. November, 1956.
Whelen moved to Deep River, Connecticut in November, 1956.
Rota-Beam Clear-Ray Flasher, 1958.
Larger Rota-Beam Senior, 1958. The RB11 "STANDARD" came out in 1956, and had numerous engineering revisions. The larger RB11 "SENIOR" came out in 1958. Notice that both were labeled Model RB11. The smaller was called the STANDARD, and the larger called the SENIOR. Shortly after the tag on the larger was changed to Model SENIOR.
The Senior and Senior Deputy were altered to have cruise light and Quick Disconnect base when used by the Honolulu Police Dept.
Heavy duty WRM, glass domed aircraft anti-collision beacon, 1961.
Rota-Beam Model 66 glass domed automotive beacon, 1961.
Rota-Beam Deputy, 1962.
Rota-Beam RB11 Standard rebadged for Pyle National Company, Chicago, Illinois, sold as Rota-Beam Portable. 1955.
1st aircraft strobe by Whelen, 1964.
Rota-Beam Commander 4 sealed beam oscillating beacon, mfg. 1965-1967.
Rota-Beam Corporal, 1965.
Rota-Beam Commander 4 sealed beam oscillating beacon, 1965.
CB100, and CB200 2 beacon crossbars, 1965.
Whelen 1st automotive strobe light line, 1965.
6000 strobe bar, 1975.
8000 strobe bar, 1978.
Edge 9000 low profile strobe bar, 1983.
Below are some INDUSTRY FIRSTS BY WHELEN:
1st magnetic portable beacon.
1st use of magnifying lenses to intensify rotating beams.
1st snap on quick disconnect beacon mount, 1959.
1st to eliminate radio interference.
1st to easily convert from 6 to 12 Volt and back.
1st adjustable beam, up or down.
1st to eliminate radio interference from motor noise.
1st multi-light cross bar. CB-100 and CB-200
1st automotive strobe lights.
1st enclosed all strobe bar. 6000 Series
Whelen seemed to be the very 1st with cruise lights. This was a requirement in Honolulu, even whe rotating lights were all that was available. They used Whelen and Federal. These were used to identify police vehicles on patrol. When marketed by Whelen they were also sold as a steady on light, so your warning light (strobe), never went dark between flashes, increasing effectiveness and tracking of vehicle.
The Rota-Beam numbering system started with RB10 and then went loosely to the double digit number system.
RB10 / RB20, Magnet mount/permanent mount
RB11 Standard / RB22 Standard
Clear-Ray Flasher
RB11 Senior
Senior
Senior Deputy
Model 66
Deputy
Corporal
Model 22 Senior
Model 44 Senior Deputy
Model 55 Senior
Model 33H
Model 77H
88 Series
99 Series
Then the went into the Rota-Beam II ( Roman numeral two) Series, Models RB2, RB6 etc.
