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Michigan
Signal Tours
A few notable signals spotted throughout
the state.
2006 Photos were taken with a Kodak CX6330
2007 Photos were taken with a Canon S3 IS
All photos are taken at full resolution before cropping and downsizing
for viewing.
Wayne County, MI (2008):
Here at a local signal shop we see part of Detroit's heritage preserved. This is a typical Tokheim of the era, albeit painted in Modern yellow instead of the factory Model-T black. A puzzlement though, is that base. It
certainly isn't any bottom or slipfitter Tokheim used. It appears to be a hanging light bottom (such as from early GE's) bolted to a plate, attached to a standard post slipfitter. The bottom does have the bumps typical of a Tokheim plate however...
Inside of Detroit City (2007):
Our first stop on this tour was a delightful cluster of signals watching over a well kept firehouse. (Rare for the city, both are still functional) The
span wires aren't much to scoff at either, a couple 4-way flattop inset-door Marbelite clusters with the
requisite open hanging door and missing visors on the Econolite/Eagle
pedestrian clusters. Pole mounted, though, is the treat.
GE Novaluxes! In the wild! Macbeth-Evans Lenses! Not even shot out! This beautiful pair is well-preserved under many, many coats of paint. The original color is anyone's guess, logically this era of signals would have started as black or dark green, but some archival footage shows similar signals painted in lighter colors. On this early Sunday morning, and perhaps forever, the signals were locked in the flashing red/yellow sequence. The visors appear to be early models, made from steel.
Update as of 14 February 2008
We have also received word from reliable sources that this other pair of GE signals and the entire intersection, last seen in flash mode, has been removed as well, either during a recent windstorm or a winter signal crew. It's a sad day that sees the last GE's removed from the streets. Once confirmed as early 30's, it appears that the oldest signals left in the city are either
tall-fin (no logo) Eagluxes, followed by the sole Deco [IF it's a D],
otherwise it would be the GE Firehouse Beacon, any Econolite-Style GE's,
then the Deco.
And of course, a photograph of the fireHOUSE. Something lost on all the suburbanites nowadays, used to their public services all being in the downtown business district, this is one of many fire stations located in the
residential area, in-between houses on the corner of a block well off the main thoroughfares.
Down by the original Model-T factory, and just down the road from the former Studebaker plant that burnt to the ground, is several interesting pieces.
First, lets look at the light poles. Painted black, they look like any decorative lightpole. Looking closer, they're not. A metal base and head, the actual body is wood. An early 1900's treasure, these are some very early light from the electrification of the city. Why, it's very possible that these were once gaslamps and only retrofitted with electricity after installation. A large number of these remain in the older industrial areas, mostly not vandalized either! Many of the modern poles have the bases ripped open and the wires gutted, before the city
clamps a plastic boot on them. Perhaps the city should reconsider its modernization programme.
The signals , Rodded Eagles on one set of piles, flattop Marbs on another, and a "modern" cluster of short-groove
Econolites clustered over the intersection.
Just because it was a beautiful, artistic shot, here is some turn of the century industrial architecture.
The first two views were the first Ford automobile factory, for the Model T,
and the other shot is a view down the road.
Just blocks from the real Tiger Stadium, we find another little cluster time has forgot. More pole-mounted GE Novalux Signals. These are not faring so well, however. One pair sports the latest in coathanger - turned latch technology and has an easy access feature for the local hornet population. Look how closely the end of the "Tunnel" visors are though; from a distance these look like full circles.
UPDATE 29 October 2007
In a Halloween trick, it appears that this entire intersection has been replaced with new signals and new poles. Yellow poly's hang above the road, and black single-section countdown peds hang in the spot once occupied by the proud Novalux.
The other tips it hat to you. Poles like this, whether improperly set 50 years ago, or recently trucked, are all too common a sight in the city. There's those odd poles, too. In some areas of the city they used these featureless styles of
poles without finial toppers. We believe these indicate former trolley lines, as the trolleys stopped, the lines came down but the poles remained.
Tattered Clusters of Poly Alusigs hang over the intersection.
Take a last look at the old stadium, in only 7-15 years it will be razed
for a new parking lot.
Off the beaten path, in an industrial park by the Ambassador Bridge is another odd couple. Two GE sections are set atop a stop sign. Dead today, they might be active on weekdays, or like so many others, dead forever. These style of wig-wags are pretty rare in Michigan, but in operation would have flashed in an alternating pattern, like a railroad crossing.
There's something about Fire Departments and Classic Signals
that bring a bright light to the dim bulbs of the city. Here, we see one head of a two-head firehouse beacon. Presumably, it would have lit up to clear traffic whenever traffic is trying to exit the firehouse. One direction is completely missing, however, and the
other direction doesn't look too good either. On closer inspection, the remaining signal is a single section Novalux beacon, only the small logo on the back belies the fact it is not an Autoflow section. Furthermore, it is hung upside down! That ball on the bottom was once a decorative finial.
One item, if not for the cache of Novaluxes, surely took the cake.
Off a main thrughfare, just over the trolley line was a real gem. While we were expecting "just another" Crouse 4-way, we found a beautiful horizontal neon ped still operating. Unfortunately, the shop was closed today, but one day we will capture photos of it up close.
Once a thriving hub, radiating six, seven, eight roads through an intersection, this sleepy
Littlefield & Tireman community has been relegated to nearly nonfunctional status. Oddly enough, signal replacements are underway with a bevy of polys set to take over from the old
guards of Eagluxes and the young kid Breadpans. Rather ironically, at least one set of polys was smashed by a passing truck before the install was completed.
Here are more of the signals, CH Breadpan M's and Eagle Eagluxes painted in the recent but uniquely
Detroit green that contains a large hint of blue. This Eaglux complete
with finial is a very early model, having no logo on the back and an ID plate on the bottom. Unfortunately well overpainted, the ID tag is far from readable. Oh, to be the scrapman who gets this collection...
One of the more mundane elder intersections of the city,
this cluster represents one of the few remaining black (or dark green) intersections around town that has not
succumbed to yellow fever, though the symptoms are already present. Once, all intersections were black or green, which was a unique sight for a child like myself on a trip to the city.
Also notable is a cluster of Alusigs mounted on the local pole. Two different ages, one has markings and the other is bare.
Downtown, a few blocks from the GAR
building is a one-of-a-kind intersection. Firs you have a
well-preserved Breadpan cluster that had a LED retrofit. Then, you
have some Rodded and modern Eagle Peds (with bent visors, of course)
with a new Alusig Poly head. But then, you have a randomly
assembled yellow and black alusig head on the second breadpan hardware
mount. If that wasn't bad, someone came along and tried to use
watercolors to paint over the black??? resulting in an awful mess.
Finally, rounding out this whirlwind is a classic Eaglux, painted with
the slop-bucket-brown so many poles are painted with.
On Several Overpasses of the M-10 John C. Lodge
freeway are vestiges of a long-gone traffic monitoring system. These
large, unknown branded lights would light up when traffic sensors indicated
large amounts of congestion. The signs would illuminate "Freeway
Stopped Ahead".
Misc Sights in the City
Rare in the suburbs but too numerous to count in the city is Eagles of all types. "Modern" flatbacks are all the rage, however there's more than a few rodded ones in there too. Most beautiful is the presence of the bar-WALK lense (Though none were seen with WAIT installed). In a short drive, 50 or more must have been seen. Rare, however, was the aqua lens, of which only a few were visible.
The visors, sadly, appear in such a deformed manner on all signals, or
so it seems.
And this is what a non-aqua lens looks like. These are very common
in the city.
Yes, Detroit also had its share of Decos. Here are two on a
streetcorner in a Very Bad part of town. No time was wasted in the
taking of these photographs. Note that the bottom fins have been
clipped...a common practice everywhere by ignorant signal departments
that don't want the hassle of using longer pipe sections or different
wrenches. Still, in my book a castrated signal is better than a primo
polly anyday.
Not far away was a pair of Breadpans, some with Small Bead Deco Smiley
lenses in them (And more than a few smashed...)
In addition to muggings, murders, rapes, and carjackings, there's one
more crime that occurs quite frequently. Neglect. Much of
the infrastructure for a city of 2 million is falling apart in a city
occupied by 900k. "Cluster Chains" are a common
accessory, and as this photo shows often a lifesaver. This was
just one of several signals around the city in this condition.
Here's a more interesting perspective...In several areas of the city a
normally straight road makes a sharp turn. To warn motorists,
beacons are hung down over the turn area. Very lowly hung.
This pair is mostly complete, but non functional. There were several
more pairs witnessed that were either missing parts (lenses smashed,
reflectors and bulbs stolen) or completely gone! The signal is
gone, just a few wires dangling in the breeze.
Here's a GE Grooveback Cluster. It is configured a little
out-of-norm for these parts, note there is no bottom X-member or pipes
to hold the signals together, only the top crossbeam. Also note
the extremely long tunnel visors. This is repeated on many signals
in the city.
In a few places, mostly where a 3-section cluster has been taken out of
service from side-of-pole duty, the Green lens is replaced with a
vintage WALK lens and the signal is repurposed as a pedestrian signal.
Here was a lonesome 12" Broad Arrow pattern lens hanging at a
large, quiet intersection.
Just some modern 12" Polys on the approach by surface streets into
downtown.
Here is a BLUE poly lens in an older flattop Marbelite.
Warren, MI (2007)
Just inside the border from Detroit lies several 50's and 60's
relics. The Chrysler Truck plant has several beacons inside their
property to control truck and employee traffic between buildings in the
facility. There are three beacons visible, one at least which
appears to have original smiley lenses and cast visors.
South of Nashville, MI (2006):
In the midwestern side of the state this temporary
signal was directing traffic on a one-lane stretch of road where work
crews were rebuilding the other half. On the far end of the
workzone a second signal was in identical configuration, the pair linked
by radio transmitters to keep in sync. While costly this replaces
the job of flagmen where 24-hour lane control is required.
I-75 Service Drive at Ten Mile, Hazel Park, MI
(2006):
This intersection is an interesting combination. First you
have the Southbound Service Drive and Ten Mile joining on a one way street at a V
intersection then you have a unique set of signals. On the rightmost pole
is a rare Michigan 3M that is signaling traffic on the left side of the
road. Overhead you have two standard 12-12-12 lights for the right lanes,
and two lights for the left lanes. Standard, except these contain
the vanes in the visor to restrict visibility. Oddly, with the poor
configuration of the 3M the vanes work better, as you can see while I was
driving in the right set of lanes I could clearly read the 3M signal and my
signals. Luckily this is a low volume intersection of local drivers
mostly.
Shortly after the prior intersection there is a East-West crossover
bridge that allows Southbound and Northbound traffic to perform a U-Turn
crossing over I-75 in the process. At the far end of this bridge is a
traffic light to regulate Eastbound and Northbound Traffic. Overall, a
flatback Eagle intersection in Michigan is pretty commonplace. I list these here
because they are the few remaining Cutaway Visors left on Michigan
Signals. Tunnel visors are common, and typically about the only type you
get to see on signals throughout the state.
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