[Pyth]

Before we start, keep in mind that this is not meant to look professional, it's just something I enjoy doing.

--Background Info--

I've liked traffic signals for as long as I can remember. I've always been able to memorize the layouts of signal clusters hanging on cables over intersections, and I even once wrote a letter to my town asking for a signal on my residential street corner, despite the complete waste it would be. They never replied.

--Starting--

The signal I will repaint is an 8-inch Marbelite i received as a Christmas gift when I was ~13. I asked a signal collector named Willis about it after sending him a few screenshots of it.

Willis via email posted:

This is the early version of the TE-19408. The down sloping parallelogram was used in the 1960s. The last Marbelites, using the TE-19408 design, had a vertical logo on the back and appeared in the 70s and I believe early 80s. Then Marbelite was bought out. The signal you have is about 50 years old. A marbelite is a collectible signal. Such signals with glass reflectors and original lenses sometimes sell on eBay for over $100.00. Signals with aluminum reflectors typically sell for a bit less. It is relatively easy to take the tweaks out of the visors and these signals clean up pretty nicely.

I plan on finishing the repainting within a week, but it may take longer depending on time constraints.

--Day 1--



I tested yellow and black, I'm going to go with black on this one. The green section was already removed, and I put an old mounting bracket bit on top of it for safekeeping. It's best to separate all of the parts before painting, to keep it as neat as possible.



Putting the green aside, I'll focus on splitting the red and yellow beacons.



The doors are held closed with bolts and thumb nuts, usually very easy to open.



The inside contains the glass/aluminum reflector, the bulb (sometimes), and the lens.



The reflector is on an axis of sorts, and swings open to reveal where the wiring is, as well as the metal brackets to lock beacons together. Expect bugs and dirt in this area if you use an older/dirty signal. The red beacon opens the same exact way.



Since the red is on top, it contains a unit for organizing and connecting wires, helps a ton.




The bracket is very simple, with 3 bolts and 3 nuts pressing 2 plates together.



Although rusty, the nuts will turn with some effort. Be careful not to break anything.



Once the 3 nuts are off, the beacons pull apart fairly easily. Be sure to disconnect any wires that span both beacons, such as the yellow in the picture.



You can then put all 3 beacons in any arrangement you damn well please. From here, I'll focus on the green lens beacon.



You will want to remove the visor. It's held on by 4 flat screws, normally pretty easy to take off/out.



Arranged to make repainting as neat as possible.



Once the door is open, the lens is held in by 4 similar screws and small metal brackets, and is removed the same way.



The door is held on by metal dowels, they can be pushed out with some force. One of the dowels was missing, so I substituted it with a screw and thumb nut.



The reflector is easily removed, the bottom axis is pushed up by a spring. Pulling the reflector down will pop the top axis out.



At this stage, all 3 metal parts can be painted. I use spray paint, you don't need to.


I can assume the other 2 beacons will be strikingly similar, so I'll refrain from posting those, but I'll post pictures when the entire signal is complete.

[Reserved Parkin]

Cool shit. Are you gonna sell it?

[Pyth]

Doubt it, I like this particular one a lot and I don't really need money right now. Besides, it's more fun buying them.

Edited:

I recently won an 8-inch green arrow lens on ebay, which I will use for this signal. It's particularly noteworthy because in the states, a newer traffic law passed that requires all turn lenses to be of the 12-inch variety, the larger of the 2 main sizes. This means 8-inch turn lenses are obsolete, so getting one means a lot to me. I'll try a yellow 8-inch arrow lens as well, but I've been less lucky finding one with the quality I prefer.

[Reserved Parkin]

You should put it at your front door. Always on Yellow light. Someone steps in front of door (Need a motion sensor), turns Red. When door opens, turns Green.

[Pyth]

Out of black spray paint, will get more soon. Also will replace the green ball lens with that green arrow lens once it ships in.

[Pyth]

Yellow is disassembled and ready to be painted, hopefully tomorrow.



New rigging system. Not as nice-looking as the previous, but much sturdier.

[Pyth]

Getting a tiny bit impatient, so I did 2 beacons at once. More efficient this way. If that arrow ships in this week, I'd like to get this finished by Friday.

[Pyth]

All painted, just waiting for the green turn lens, I'm expecting it Friday, which satisfies my week expectation for the total project length. Half-assed wiring done by tortus412

[Pyth]

Got it off of the gooseneck hanger and in my room. Still no arrow lens, maybe tomorrow. Bought a controller for it last night, that will probably arrive next week. In this picture, I put it next to a 12-inch Alusig turn beacon and a Gatorade bottle for size comparisons.

[G-Man_v2]

After five years of lurking, I believe it's time for me to come out and post.

Best thread.

[BadPixel]

This thread, for me, signals the start of great things. Things that make you light up inside. I hope this thread sees heavy traffic and isn't painted in a poor light.

[Lexic]

Forgive my lack of knowledge over New York traffic signals, but why is the green lamp blue?

[ButtsexV3]

Lexic posted:

Forgive my lack of knowledge over New York traffic signals, but why is the green lamp blue?

that particular signal was stop, yield, and sale at kmart

[Pyth]

Blue is used to help people who are color-blind, since green looks a lot like red in grayscale. Normally green is on the bottom but not everyone knows the sequence for sideways signals.

The lens and controller both arrived today, as well. Sorry for the blur, I didn't have a tripod or flat surface available when taking these.

Please do excuse the way I talk, I don't speak very often.

[SEKCobra]

Why are you talking about a green beacon when it actually is blue?

[Pyth]

It signifies green and takes the place of where green traditionally goes. Calling it blue is not only somewhat pointless, it can also be confusing.

[Pyth]

Recently got this on ebay, same company as the above signal (Marbelite) and for $30, which is an amazing price considering how few and far between signal brackets are found on ebay. My controller short-circuited or something, but it has a year warranty.