GE called it "the traffic industry's first major redesign in a generation" as well as a "major step forward in simplified, functional design". Most collectors call it the "Streamline" while others refer to it as the "Roundbody". I am not sure what GE's official name for the signal was and I have only seen GE refer to it in their own literature as their "lightweight" signal. The Streamline is a very unique signal not only in it's appearance, but construction as well. It's roundness definitely stands out among a collection of square body lights(decos, flatbacks, etc). Yet, it is a very simplistic design featuring very parts(compare the number of screws and fasteners on this light to a typical signal from that period). The signals are so light and simply, yet they seem to have held up well in service. I knew the first time I saw one that I'd like to someday have one in my collection. So here is my new acquisition.
PRODUCTION:
GE applied for a patent on the light on December 22, 1955 and the patent was granted on June 12, 1956. The light was produced by GE until Econolite took over the GE traffic signal line in 1957. It does not appear production continued under Econolite, however, some believe that Econolite would later base the design of their 12" Bulleye light on the Streamline. Streamlines only came in 8". Streamlines were very common in Baltimore, MD with the lights there having tunnel visors for the red/yellow sections and cutaway visors for the green. Most of the remaining ones in Baltimore were removed around 2005/06 during a changeover to LED lights.
Here is a link to a post by Tony (Buttoncopy) with a photo of the patent application:
viewtopic.php?f=4&t=1271&p=9671&hilit=streamline#p9671
Buttoncopy wrote:
Here is a link to a post by EdT. with original advertisements by GE featuring the lights:
viewtopic.php?f=28&t=3864&p=39121&hilit=streamline#p39121
EdT. wrote:
CONSTRUCTION:
The light is made of stamped aluminum as opposed to cast aluminum used in other lights. This led to the light being much lighter than competitor's offerings with GE's stating that the light weighed 45% less.
SNAP ON DOOR ASSEMBLY
The door is composed of the visor, a ring and the lens. The back of the visor is bent into a flat flange that allows it to be held on by a ring that also holds the lens. It is all held together by a single screw. The doors snap onto the body. GE stated, "Snap on door and lens assemblies simplify and lessen your maintenance problems".
REFLECTOR AND GASKET
The aluminum reflectors are held in the body section by a tall rubber gasket. They are removed by twisting the gasket to the left a few degrees.
Text on the gasket reads: "TO REPLACE <-- TURN --> TO REMOVE"
This photo shows the terminal strip as well as how the body sections attach to each other.
SOCKET:
VISORS:
The lights came with several different types of visors.
1. Cutaway type similiar to CH & Eagle ones were most common.
2. Cutaway that is the same length but with noticable thinner side profile.
3. Tunnels
4. Plus, Willis has one with short 5" Cutaway that appears to be factory made vs. being cut down. (viewtopic.php?f=4&t=5951&p=73007&hilit=streamline#p73007)
LENSES:
They came with Kopp brick lenses embosed with the GE logo with likely the most common being marked "TL 4655". There were several different patterns of the brick lenses with that same number on it some of which may not have seen use in the Streamline. Jay says Streamlines also came with MGN style lenses. They would not have came from the factory with Halophane "Spiderweb" lenses as they predated the Streamline.
Here is a discussion by Steve (somuchtoseeanddo) about different types of GE brick lenses:
viewtopic.php?f=4&t=9765&p=126518&hilit=ge+brick+lenses#p126518
somuchtoseeanddo wrote:I have identified 3. Some simply say on the rim, KOPP GLASS on the top and 8 3/8 on the bottom. Others have all the Swissvale, PA, 4655, etc. Anyone have a timeline or additional information? Fogive me, please if this is something which has already been covered.
Same as the Econolite patten:
Seems to be an exclusive:
A bit like the Marbelite TA-19418s:
Here is another discussion by Easy about the various types of GE brick lenses:
viewtopic.php?f=4&t=1586
Easy wrote:Here are a few different patterns of Ge lenses. I found out many years ago that not all GE lenses were the same pattern when I sold a set of mismatched lenses to a member!You have to set them side by side to see the difference on some of them.
Easy wrote:They're all TL-4655's, but some of them come with numbers, and some come without numbers. I'm having a problem with the lenses that I'm selling. The members don't understand that even though they are all TL-4655's there are different patterns. I need to know what pattern, and if they have numbers on them or not so the lenses can match the ones that they have..
PAINT COLORS:
Yellow(this appears to have been the most common color)
The lights in the above GE advertisements appear to either be black or dark green.
Does anyone know what all colors the lights came in from the factory?
MOUNTING AND MISCELLANEOUS HARDWARE:
The lights have 1 1/2 inch openings for mounting. I have seen the question asked before, but no clear answer as to what the correct gooseneck hanger for these lights are. I'm not sure that GE designed any new mounting hardware specifically for this light, however it would seem that they would've as they touted the light as being a revolutionary design. What was the typical GE hardware from this period used on their other lights? Did the Streamline have a special weather cap?
Does anyone have a GE catalogue from the 1955-1957 period?
As I said before, feel free to correct the above info and please add any information or photos that you may have. Lets see your Streamlines as well as those still in the wild.
