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Darley C-811 controller
Here is the bulb, reflector and controller layout of the Darley signals that used one bulb to shine in all 4 directions.  The original signal would have used a 150 watt bulb.  I used 116 watt signal bulbs to save power, plus 150 was pretty bright indoors, so I had to use a socket extension to align the filament with the center of the reflector openings.
Keywords: Traffic_Lights

Darley C-811 controller

Here is the bulb, reflector and controller layout of the Darley signals that used one bulb to shine in all 4 directions. The original signal would have used a 150 watt bulb. I used 116 watt signal bulbs to save power, plus 150 was pretty bright indoors, so I had to use a socket extension to align the filament with the center of the reflector openings.

econo_fire_signal01.jpg econo_fire_signal01.jpg darley_c811_controller.jpg tsi_4way.jpg potts_signal_intersection.jpg
File information
Filename:darley_c811_controller.jpg
Album name:Nevada Willis / Traffic Signals
Keywords:Traffic_Lights
Company and Date Manufactured:W. S. Darley & Co., 1930s - 1940s
Filesize:42 KiB
Date added:Apr 03, 2011
Dimensions:600 x 450 pixels
Displayed:223 times
URL:http://www.galleryoflights.org/mb/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=5869
Favorites:Add to Favorites

Comment 1 to 8 of 8
Page: 1

GullWhiz   [Apr 03, 2011 at 02:24 PM]
Wow that design actually does the job?
Nevada Willis   [Apr 03, 2011 at 02:52 PM]
It's a magnetic induction wheel that turns a small camshaft via a couple of reduction gears. The cams would make or break contacts that powered the lights. Back when intersections had just one signal and before traffic actuation, this was a simple, inexpensive and practical way to regulate traffic. Some of these controllers ran for 40 years or more.
GullWhiz   [Apr 03, 2011 at 03:00 PM]
Yeah I am also impressed that ONE lightbulb in the middle of FOUR reflectors did the job too! I mean because the lightbulb isn't really INSIDE the reflectors, it makes it hard to see how well it would work.

By the way just to show how keen eyes I have, it isn't a socket extension...but a Edison to 2 prong adaptor plugged in by a 2 prong adaptor to Edison socket! Razz
Nevada Willis   [Apr 03, 2011 at 03:36 PM]
OK, you caught me. Shocked The actual socket extensions were about 1/4" too short so I replaced them. The reflectors actually did work pretty well. They kept phantom light from entering from the opposite side of the signal during early morning and late afternoon and the orange peel lenses tended to splash light back to the reflector that splashed light back to the lens. Pretty primative but with a 150 watt bulb they worked OK. I remember these as a kid. On the street they weren't as bright as the individual bulb models but you could certainly see them.
GullWhiz   [Apr 03, 2011 at 03:44 PM]
What did the VERY FIRST traffic light look like? The very first model?
Nevada Willis   [Apr 03, 2011 at 04:04 PM]
I just uploaded a picture of William Potts' very first 4-way traffic signal, installed in Detroit.
SeanB~1   [Apr 03, 2011 at 06:57 PM]
I have a 4way sign flasher based on the same principles as that controller, just without the gears. Uses some very big cadmium-silver contacts.
basilicon89   [Apr 10, 2011 at 03:34 AM]
the reflectors more or less kept sunlight from shining in through one lens and out the other. Earliest Darleys didnt use reflectors at all. Latest ones used the current 12 bulb design

Comment 1 to 8 of 8
Page: 1