SignalTraffic Forums

Hi,
My name is James and I live in Pt. Richmond, CA. I am 40 years old and first became interested in traffic signals at about 10 years old. I still remember hearing the clunks from the electro-mechanical traffic signal controllers around Richmond and along San Pablo Ave. in the mid 1980's. My first signal head was an 8 inch Econolite in the mid 1980's that came from a Caltrans worker who's beat included the old portions of Cal. route 17 that ran to the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge(Hoffman Blvd., Canal Blvd., and Standard Ave. before I-580 was completed). This was close to my home and signals were constantly being knocked down.

I also started collecting AAA traffic signs and made a couple of friends at the Richmond corporation yard. When I first noticed several fancy looking traffic signals on University Ave. in Berkeley with flippers on the doors and neat lenses, I asked the Caltrans worker what they were, and he told me they were very old signal heads made by Crouse Hinds. I new that I had to have one, and I also noticed that several Econolite, G.E., and Eagle signal heads scattered around Richmond had stray Crouse Hinds lenses in them. I also saw a 1955 postcard of Macdonald Ave. in Richmond and saw an intersection of Crouse Hinds traffic signals in it.

Finally in 1991 I found a newer, early to mid 50's deco Crouse Hinds signal head at the old Urban Ore reuse center in Berkeley with only the yellow lens intact. I went to the Berkeley corporation yard and managed to get a red and a green smiley lens out from them. Over the next few years I eventually found a few more Crouse Hinds heads and plenty of parts before the wiring harnesses were butchered during LED conversions. I Have restored one of the Crouse Hinds heads that is from 1948 according to the date stamped on the mirrored glass reflector. I now want to restore another Crouse Hinds from 1941 with the tunnel visors, and I also have an original G.E. head from Richmond with the finial on top, and an Eagle signal head with the rods through the body like the Crouse Hinds (newer than Eaglelux) that I want to restore.

I also have an old Eagle electro-mechanical controller that I would like to get functioning so I can bring these signals to life. I know absolutely nothing about these so I'm hoping to learn and hoping to find a few parts to complete my signal heads along the way. I still continue to buy Crouse Hinds parts and lenses when I run across them, and I even found an Eaglelux WALK/WAIT pedestrian signal at a flea market recently. Although I'm no expert, I do know quite a bit about The CSAA and ACSC traffic signs from California glass and plastic reflectors, and I hope I can be of some help in the future to fellow members.

JAMES

I also have an old Eagle electro-mechanical controller that I would like to get functioning so I can bring these signals to life.

James, welcome to the forum. You're west of the Mississippi so we're practically neighbors. Tell me about your Eagle controller and I can bring it back to life.

Welcome to the forums.

Welcome

Greetings from New Jersey, James.