Federal Signal Beacon Ray

Big units compared to European cars..

Good call on the wet and dry, I'll give it a go, thanks. That Aerodynic looks ace. And massive!

I think you are right about driving a 'slave', like this-





Although Mrs Generallee would go mad of I started buying more, and bits of old roof rack and loud halers to cobble one together.

Haven't touched this for ages.

I put 12v through it and it lit up but wouldn't rotate. Knowing next to nothing about electricity I cracked the motor open and cleaned the brushes and commutators. Didn't really have anything to clean it with. Way back my dad used to use methalated spirits to clean the rails of his train sets, but I didn't have any so used vodka. It sort of worked a bit.




Mrs Generallee cleaned the gubbins inside so it's spotless. I "cleaned" it before using my usual method of wiping it with an oily rag. I had a little go at yhe dome with some wet n dry as described above but didn't go to town. I will do though.



Hot wired it up to a battery and it lives! Hurrah!




Plonked on the top of my pick up, it's a bit too big I think.

I don't know where the time goes...

The old Beacon Ray is still doing sterling service, warning people in the living room that the sideboard is stationary. I switch it on from time to time, it brings me joy.

So, I was browsing on eBay, and this popped up. I stuck it in my watch list, it was cheap. I don't need it.
Couple of weeks later, I messaged the seller. And bought it...



It's a Premier Hazard "Optimax"
I washed a few quid into it, and it came up well. The lenses dried a bit cloudy, but not bad at all.



I couldn't resist taking it apart and cleaning it.
It's really nicely made, in Leeds, and very 'modular' so loads of configurations are possible.
The mirrors are set up to throw maximum light one way, usually to the rear. This one is back to front, the red lens in the middle needs turning round.





I tried some 2000 grit on the middle section, it's much better but still yellowed.


(Only the patch on the top left done)

Put it back together, all the rubber gaskets were nice and soft still

The little bag has fitting instructions in it, and some spare clips and hardware in case bits get broken or lost. Class.







And cobbled it onto the car



Long term plan is to add some wigwags, and maybe mess about with the mirrors a bit. I'd really like to build an 'Aerodynicalike', I might try wiring the motors in series to slow them down, but they might be too slow then.
Whatever, it will be a garage ornament for the foreseeable as we just bought a house which needs doing up, and I don't really need a light bar on any of my vehicles 😀