Primarily Petroliana Shop Talk Forums Shop Talk Petroliana Forums General Petroliana Discussion Old traffic signal value

This guy called me up about these two old signals from the 40's. Has the poles as well. Not fluted except base. Someone told him $1500 to $3000 was the value. Anyone have any price info or know people who buy these? He wants to sell them and the 9 pumps in the next post.

I would think around $500 give or take for them

IMO the poles themselves arent' worth too much. Nobody I know puts the signal lights on an original pole. Maybe they could be repurposed - be I'd need to see photos to make that determination.

As for the signals themselves. I usually see them listed separately for $100.00 to $125.00 each. Again, not many people want a 4-way light. They are worth more divided into separate units.

Later . . .

Jim

I had a couple of the post mounted(actual post into the light) 2 way signal that I got around $500.00 for the first then learned what they were worth and got $1000.00 for the second. IMO the actual post mount is worth a lot more than the type where the lights are attached together with pipe. I agree with T-way seperate and get more $

THAT Someone who told him $1500 to $3000 was the value. well, he had to be the original seller!lol w/pole and............ just add a base.sold as is $400. a piece, It is an Eagle 4-Way from around the early to mid 1950s The signal is from Olympia, WA. and is controlled by a matching Eagle EF-20 Electromechanical controller.Assuming the mirror reflector is not shattered,and all the other lenses are in good shape,and your visors, your still not close to $1,500 ! now if you took the time to strip and re-paint ,either,,,,,,,,,,there's to colors, that are close enough, "safety yellow" or "school bus yellow" and installed a new controller,to synchronize lights,you could MAYBEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE GET YOUR $1,500 from someone who "REALLY" wants a eagle 4 way!"OR NOT" the lights that i've seen bring some "REAL" greenbacks, are CROUSE-HINDS, that's the only lights i'd mess with,in terms of a re-sale for profit, or your new obsession with traffic lights for your new collection you'll be starting! jm2c

BOTTOM LINE,I'D START MY OFFER WITH $150.00 A PIECE! THAT'S JUST ME THOUGH !GOTTA HIM EM' LOW AND KNOCK EM OFF HIGH HORSE!GET HIS THINKING DOWN,BECAUSE HE IS WAY TO PROUD OF THEM AT 1500!

Always see these seperated at auction, unrestored, they sell for $40-50 each unit.....I've also seen each unit on a pole,nicely painted and electrified go for $175.00....and there was a whole row of them. The auctioneer had no higher bid. We used to restore a bunch of these but have stopped because we couldn't make it pay. Paul www.severngaspumps.com

PAUL i hear ya, me personally,id pass ! but ya know i've seen some folks get there heads split back on price,with these signals,and loaded em up with a smile on there face!its just one of those things, like you say,hell at the sale, your liable to trip over signals there so many,but i also know,and have witnessed a un-restored single type r ,go for $300.at a freakin craft sale,or,,,,and a lot of 50 go for $1,200.my point there's never no telling what somebody will pay for a signal!but Paul your right ,i damn sure would not go into the vintage signal business!

It looks like there are 5 Crouse-Hinds and the other 3 I don't know. The Crouse-Hinds have the fancy little piece on the top and bottom and the backs have grooves or ribs in them. They also have two little latches by the shade that allows them to be opened. Don't know how to explain but 5 of them look alike and the 2 very center of picture are different along with the one on the right hand back.
I agree with T-way on the pricing. I believe the 4 ways that bring the big dollars are one complete 4 way unit. Not separate lights joined together like this. That's my 2 pennies.
Mike

If you can find a Tokheim, now you are talking bucks.

Jack Sim

Those are cool and I would love to have one but I concur with the comments above on pricing !

These are what I think of on 4-ways ! hanging type, these are typically worth some big bucks !



I picked these singles up for $45 a piece :-)

I had couple of 2 way crouse hinds signal lights like this. They are post mount but I think they are a very early style of post mount

i have sold tons of traffic signals at the big swap meets, but i am no expert on value or the differance between valuable models and junk!!! i am sure there are people who collect them and could give you a better estimate on value. as a vendor i can tell you i stopped buying them a couple years ago because i cant sell them anymore for $25....... and everyone who has ever wanted one, has one!! ! IMO i would need to buy the lot in the picture for $50 to be interested.

If you pick them up, I will buy one if you pull it apart.

Mike

pm sent

I have always wanted the early 30s ones I see in old movies like the ones on the Signal cans that had the flag that goes down but I guess they don't exist anymore must have been all destroyed as I have never seen one for sale anywhere and I have looked for last 25 yrs or so