) When was the first one produced? late 40's, 50, or was this in fact the light in the 1952 ads and the companies were just changing over? That part I haven't pieced together.
Most companies had there own version of weather plugs and hangers. Pictured below is what I refer to as the "Saucer Head" span wire hanger, and a large, flat, round Autoflow weather plug. Note the 2-1/2" cone under the hanger, I'm not sure if all of them came this way. I'll let those with far more knowledge than myself speak to that.
The only thing listed on the ID tag (abov) other than the manufacturer is a stamping on the tag indicating Type 32 ASW. Obviously the 3 is for 3 section and SW being span wire. On the inside of the light is a set of raised font which says U1MA-1A. Also note the aluminum casting. The 1A is intriguing, I'm not saying it is related or not, just making note because I've only seen that grouping in one other mystery signal. viewtopic.php?f=4&t=9509
These are a sectional lights having very similar body/housing characteristics to the solid one piece body lights of the early years. From the back they have a 5 sided contour, being flat in the back, made of cast aluminum.
The doors have a style of thumb screw latch which twists about a half of turn to open or close. They are also one piece cast aluminum with a similar hinge style for the period. (Singer used this same latch design)
The visors are sheet aluminum. The paint tends to peel from these with the most obvious reason being the smooth factory finish wasn't scuffed or etched and the paint had very little to adhere to. (Kind of reminds you of the Dursig/ Macains and pollies of today.
) These visors are solid riveted in place from the factory.
The reflectors are aluminum. ALZAK. They hinge open, other lights used a similar design for the reflectors. The oldest I can think of would be the Ruleta but the Autoflows reflectors seem to more of an off shoot from the GE Cereal bowl style to me. With a latching wire on the opposite side.
There were 2 styles of lenses found in the Autoflows. The early ones sported Kopp 66's, the later version had Kopp 4666's. (Credit Jay for that information
) They are held into place with 4 lens tabs. The gasket is a flat c-channels, open where it comes together on the ends.Pictured below are Kopp 66's
Please ad your Autoflow pictures and descriptions for research purposes in the future.
