SignalTraffic Forums

by **steven1981** on Mon Feb 11, 2013 11:47 pm

mcha9797 wrote:Is there a phone number or email to contact them??

Here's his contact information.

Phone number: 1-732-292-2100 ext. 101

E-mail: jlipari@marbsignal.com

I'd suggest you call him. He's usually very busy. So, if he doesn't pick up, then just leave him your message and phone number. He'll get back to you when he has the chance.

by **mcha9797** on Mon Feb 11, 2013 11:55 pm

steven1981 wrote:
mcha9797 wrote:Is there a phone number or email to contact them??

Here's his contact information.

Phone number: 1-732-292-2100 ext. 101

E-mail: jlipari@marbsignal.com

I'd suggest you call him. He's usually very busy. So, if he doesn't pick up, then just leave him your message and phone number. He'll get back to you when he has the chance.

Thanks for the contact information Steven!! :thumbsup:

It may be a few days before I call, but I'll let everyone know what I find out!! Information on this controller seems to be somewhat of a mystery.

by **Mike80** on Tue Feb 12, 2013 9:32 pm

mcha9797 wrote:
2070 wrote:That is the nature of these beasts.......

The "Motor" is a sealed unit that is run by induction....

What are the rectangular thingy's wire-tied together on top of the key contact's?? Mine doesn't have them.

They are capacitors, probably used as electrical noise suppression/filtering caused by the opening/closing of the key contacts and relay.

by **mcha9797** on Wed Feb 13, 2013 8:43 am

steven1981 wrote:
mcha9797 wrote:Is there a phone number or email to contact them??

Here's his contact information.

Phone number: 1-732-292-2100 ext. 101

E-mail: jlipari@marbsignal.com

I'd suggest you call him. He's usually very busy. So, if he doesn't pick up, then just leave him your message and phone number. He'll get back to you when he has the chance.

I sent Joe Lipari an email yesterday asking for a little history on this controller, this was his response:

Mark,

The M-15 was an "economy" model made specifically for the small municipal
market, especially in Ohio.

Our records do not reflect the vintage, unfortunately.

Joe

I guess it's still a mystery on the age of this controller. :scratch:

by **steven1981** on Wed Feb 13, 2013 1:17 pm

Before Marbelite revised its website recently, I recall the company had useful information and parts for some of its signal controller models, such as the M-30, for example, on its website. Since everything is obsolete in this day and age, a lot of stuff was discarded by the folks. It is kind of sad from a collector's and enthusiast's point of view, but I suppose that is how the cookie crumbles.

Even after the company discontinued to manufacture its own signals in the late 1970s, Marbelite still continued to manufacture spare parts for some of its signal controller models until several years ago, since the company dealt with New York City frequently. The last time I talked to Joe, he told me he had very little left (some cycle gears and what not).

I think Phil's belief is plausible.

by **mcha9797** on Wed Feb 13, 2013 2:09 pm

I may shoot him another email, and ask if the serial number has anything to do with the year of manufacture as Phil suggests.

by **mcha9797** on Thu Feb 14, 2013 11:14 pm

The verdict is in.......

Joe Lipari confirmed Phil's earlier post, this controller was manufactured in 1970. I thought that it might be older than that, guess not.

by **SirMarbelot** on Fri Feb 15, 2013 6:12 am

The cabinet design is older, but obviously they either kept making them or still had them on stock in 1970.

Phil has handled and fixed lots of equipment for years, so he has the knowledge.

by **mcha9797** on Fri Feb 15, 2013 7:42 am

SirMarbelot wrote:The cabinet design is older, but obviously they either kept making them or still had them on stock in 1970.

Phil has handled and fixed lots of equipment for years, so he has the knowledge.

Another member sent me a picture of his Marbelite controller from the 30's, and the cabinet looks identical to mine except it didn't have the "M" with the lightning bolt. Looks like they have been making that cabinet for many years, even the "AGA" days!! I guess that I can tell everyone that the cabinet design dates back to the 30's or before.

We can finally put the "how old is this controller" question to sleep. :sleep2:

Thanks for the contact information Steven!!! :thumbsup:

What year did Marbelite buy out AGA and Horni??

by **SirMarbelot** on Fri Feb 15, 2013 6:49 pm

mcha9797 wrote:What year did Marbelite buy out AGA and Horni??

AGA's signal manufacturing division became Signal Service Corp. in the early 30's (right guys?), then Marbelite took over SSC in 1945 (announced in a printed ad). AGA designs go back to the 20's.

Marbelite took over Horni in 1947, also announced in a printed ad.

The thing is, it seems all these companies, and more, shared lots of designs of various things. The progression of designs from one company to another is not an easy, smooth line. I think Ruleta, GE, Highway Sign and Signal, and perhaps others, are all intertwined with Marbelite/Horni/AGA in one way or another.

What's REALLY cool to me is that present-day company GTE still makes 8" signals with the same basic housing design that Marbelite was making in the 70's...and that housing shape goes way back to Horni signal in the late 30's, though it has been modified/modernized over the decades. I was excited to see some of the molds at the factory when I visited there last year - like I was seeing something sacred. There was even an old Marbelite LPS-20 housing among the random bits in the yard - obviously, GTE acquired Marbelite's stock and molds when the company was formed...they just didn't get the name "Marbelite".

Larry Rogak mentioned on FB that he spoke to a Marbelite employee a long time ago, who claimed a few of these companies were run by the same people.

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