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Miscellaneous Signals

Be sure to click on the photos for closer views!

PUSH BUTTON WITH INDICATOR LIGHTS-Here are two views of the Econolite older push button device. Basically the unit is normally dark until activated by pushing the button.  The button actuation energizes a relay that engages the red light as well as places the call into the controller. When the signal changes to green or "WALK" the light changes to green as well, indicating that you may cross the street.  When the signal changes to yellow, or "WAIT" or flashing "DONT WALK", the green light is extinguished and lamps are dark until the next activation. I remember these vividly as a child visiting Palm Springs, Ca. It still is mesmerizing to listen to the "click" of the relay within!

And this is the larger Automatic Signal / LFE version of the illuminated push button. Basically the same layout as the Econolite, but with a bit more room and removable cover vs. flip up design. I'm not sure why exactly these eventually fell into disuse, as they gave a nice, low-level indication to the pedestrian. It might have been the occasional maintenance of the lamps and relay.

AUDIO SIGNAL- ..Or more appropriately called "Audible Pedestrian Signal". Here is a close-up view of one. The volume of the "bird" output adjusts automatically dependent on ambient traffic noise. There is an internal microphone that senses this. The "cuckoo" sound is created by method of two combined frequencies. The "chirp" by continuous variation.

METER SIGNAL- This signal from the city of Los Angeles, is typical of the warning messages displayed when a ramp meter signal is operational.

LANE CONTROL SIGNALS- To control the movement of traffic in special circumstances, lane control signals are used to provide the flexibility. The LED clusters are arranges to display a green arrow (use this lane) or red "X" (lane closed). I have both the 12" and the 16" version of these. The green color produced by the LED's is an unusual yellow-green.

Here is an older barricade warning light made by Paralta Equip. Co. of Los Angeles. Most newer lights employ a photocell to turn the light on at dusk and off at dawn.  This one only has a switch so workers would have to turn it on and off manually.

Warning light made by Flex-o-Lite.  Note the unusual clear lens.

Warning light made by Empco.

Complete barricade unit with Empco light.

These photos show a couple of examples of the older lanterns that were used on highway barricades.  On the left, City of Los Angeles Lantern with frosted red globe.  On the right another highway lantern with clear red globe. Lanterns like these that used kerosene fuel were very popular with highway departments before compact batteries and light sources rendered them obsolete.