New York City Ruleta traffic signal

About three weeks ago, I purchased this very rare 1920s to 1930s Ruleta two-section, fixed four-way traffic signal. Had originally seen service in the city of New York, and it was used in a scene from the 1950 movie called "Cinderella Man."

Was removed from service in the mid to late 1970s. Is in the same condition as it was when it was removed from service. Will remain that way.

From the 1920s until the early 1940s or so, Ruleta traffic signals, like this one, were installed throughout the entire of city of New York. It was not until the mid 1940s that Marbelite took over Ruleta. The company's earliest signals depicted the same designs and features to that of Ruleta's designs and features.

Because this traffic signal did not have a yellow indication, two sequences were originally used for the transition from green to red. Prior to 1952, there was a dark-out period that had lasted for only a handful of seconds when a Ruleta traffic signal changed from green to red. After 1952, the red indication had overlapped the green indication. As a result, both indications were lit at the same time.

Because the original requirement in New York City was red and green indications for all traffic signals, Ruleta traffic signals there had operated in both sequences.

By the 1960s, many Ruleta traffic signals were removed and replaced by modern (at that time) traffic signals, like two-section (red and green as well) Marbelite traffic signals.

They existed in service until the very late 1980s. Today, Ruleta traffic signals are extinct.