SignalTraffic Forums

by **jaxonalden** on Tue Nov 06, 2012 3:01 pm

My names David Herman and I’m from Oklahoma City. I'm an Air Force retiree originally from northern Wisconsin. I’m into Harley-Davidsons, VW bugs, Porsches, antiques and I’ve always wanted a traffic light to go in my shop along with all the other “shop art” I have. I was lucky enough to find a light in a small town out-of-the-way consignment store in northern Texas. I got my taste for antiques from my mom and have always had my eye out for unique, hard to find pieces that represent the past. Pieces that my 5 year old son can enjoy, and understand the evolution of innovation this great country has to offer.
As I said above, I found a light in Texas. I’ve stopped by this store 4-5 times in my business travels and always wanted this big, metal traffic light that sat in the corner of the room. I talked to the store owner on my last trip through and he said he had power to negotiate on the price. He came down $75 and I walked out the proud owner of a traffic light. I didn’t tell my wife for a week.
What I have is a W.S.Darley C-810. Four out of the eight command lens are in perfect condition (2 red, 2 green). One other green is broke in half and I was told I should seek out a bowling ball repair shop to save it. I was also missing two visors/reflectors. I recently purchased two visors and three non-command lenses to fill the voids until I can purchase the correct lens.
The controller is in surprisingly good shape considering it age. I blew out the dust and dirt and sprayed it down with WD-40 and let it sit for a couple of days. The plate spins and the gears turn like a watch, the simplicity of the mechanism makes me think that when this was made, WWII had not been fought and the tens of thousands had not sacrificed and died yet. The ’57 Chevy wasn’t even a dream, walking on the moon was left up to Buck Rogers and by this time in history we would be traveling in flying cars.
I put power to the controller last night and the plate spun and gears turned…I was ecstatic!! The one thing I didn’t count on during the purchase was the rarity of parts and glass lenses. I’m afraid to replace the ones I’m missing is going to cost me a good chunk of money. But a least when I do, my son will have something, when I pass on, that he can be proud of due to its age and being an early piece of art deco Americana history.

Thanks for letting me into your world and going back into the past.

David Herman