cool unusual New York traffic signals

found digging through http://digitalgallery.nypl.org/

Traffic lights, a brief bit of true but funny history

The above light is made for quick easy identification by anyone who can see shapes, or colors. Particularly in the case of color blind people.

The 1st traffic light ever made exploded, killing the cop that was operating the lever to direct it's light in the right direction. Jan 2nd 1869 was the day, and natural gas vapor was the source of the flame that made the lights visible... no electricity, nothing but a torch behind a colored lens.

The first traffic light in Ireland (1890's) was placed near the oldest pub in Europe (900 AD) because the first car in Ireland was owned by the pubs frequent patron, and he was Ireland's first drunk driver.

Photo and much more info at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Traffic_light

But the best idea in traffic lights is a light that has a time indication of when it will switch to green http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2010/04/two-good-ideas-id-like-to-see-in-world.html

Unusual rail road crossing sign, ever see one that says "Look out for the cars" ?

1939 photo above, below is one of the traffic signal towers I've been posting, it's from a 1918 photo

photos from http://www.shorpy.com/

Old fashioned stop signs

The above probably looks nothing like anything you've seen before, but I did post one similar once before: http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2010/03/museum-exhibit-you-wont-want-to-miss-if.html

from http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=428585&page=733

1922 traffic conductor

For closer photos of one of these traffic conductors, look at: http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2008/11/1913-haynes-roadster-and-marvelous.html

Ever wonder what to do with an elephant?

Only posting these because of the traffic signal and umbrella to keep the cops dry while directing traffic, and the curiosity of why an elephant was used to pull that car out of that bombed out bldg

two good ideas I'd like to see in the world of street signs

I didn't keep track of what Tumbler I found the top one at, but the bottom is from a great idea at http://www.ted.com/

Here's a good idea, why not a "yield and take your turn" sign?

From http://www.ted.com/ one amazing bunch of ideas, innovators, and thinkers that have improved on things, and if you find the catagories you are interested in you'll find a lot of great things

A museum exhibit you won't want to miss if you're in New York! Museum of the City of New York "Cars, Culture, and the City" symbiotic influencing

http://www.mcny.org/ is the website to get more info on the other events they have

This exhibit explores how New York City played a pivotal role in creating American car culture, and how the car has helped, in turn, to shape modern New York.

The exhibition features visionary drawings and models; historic photographs, films and advertisements; and a wealth of car memorabilia to tell this fascinating, largely unknown, story.

The exhibition is on view from March 25 to August 8th 2010 and is augmented by some exciting public programs:
Cars, Culture and the City: Gallery Tour - Saturday, March 27th, 1 PM
Speedy: Silent Film Screening - Saturday, April 3rd, 2 PM
Cars, Culture and the City: Educator Open House - Wednesday, April 14th, 4:30 PM
The Car of the Future: Family Workshop - Saturday, April 17th, 2 PM
Speed and Glamour: Early Automobiles and NYC - Tuesday, April 20th, 6:30 PM

Traffic Tower , 5th Ave. and 42nd St. , Looking North, New York City , c. 1920 Postcard Museum of the City of New York , Gift of Dale E. Jenkins

Model of a Traffic Tower for Fifth Avenue , designed by Joseph H. Freedlander, c. 1922 Photograph by Ali Elai Museum of the City of New York

Untitled [Brooklyn Battery Tunnel looking South], c. 1950 Photograph by Andreas Feininger Museum of the City of New York , Gift of the Photographer

Chrysler Building showroom, 1936 Photograph by Samuel H. Gottscho Museum of the City of New York , Gottscho-Schleisner Collection

Crow Motor Sales Co., 1918

Museum of the City of New York , Byron Collection

Crow-Elkhart Motor Company, 1920
Museum of the City of New York , Byron Collection

Warren Nash Motor Company showroom, Broadway and 58th Street , 1925
Museum of the City of New York , Byron Collection

Packard Dealership, designed by Albert Kahn, Broadway and Sherman , Manhattan ,
Courtesy Albert Kahn Associates Inc.

Packard Dealership, rendering, designed by Albert Kahn, 11th Avenue between 54th and 55th Streets, circa 1928
Courtesy Albert Kahn Associates Inc.

Ford New York Service building, designed by Albert Kahn, 1788-22 Broadway, circa 1917
Courtesy Albert Kahn Associates Inc.

South and DePeyster Streets (near Wall Street), 1935-39
Photograph by Berenice Abbott
Museum of the City of New York

Columbus Circle with General Motors Building, 1908-09
Photograph by Samuel H. Gottscho
Museum of the City of New York , Gottscho-Schleisner Collection

Park Avenue and 51st Street , 1921
Museum of the City of New York , Byron Collection

Exterior, Ford Pavillion, 1939/40 New York World's Fair
Photograph by Samuel H. GottschoMuseum of the City of New York , Gottscho-Schleisner Collection

Grand Central Terminal, 1944
Museum of the City of New York , Gift of the Department of Local Government, Public Record Office of South Australia
(now this blows my mind.. .. what a layout, I'd be too distracted by the enormous stately building to make the turn!)

Exterior, GM Building, 1939/40 New York World's Fair
Photograph by Samuel H. Gottscho
Museum of the City of New York , Gottscho-Schleisner Collection

National Automobile Show program, 1935
Courtesy Automobile Reference Collection, Free Library Philadelphia

Experimental cars displayed at the General Motors pavilion at the 1964 New York World’s Fair
Courtesy Automobile Reference Collection, Free Library Philadelphia

Experimental car displayed at the General Motors Pavilion at the 1964 New York World’s Fair
Courtesy Queens Museum of Art

US Royal Tires Ferris Wheel at the 1964 New York World’s Fair
Courtesy Queens Museum of Art

UW “The up-way,” designed by Rafael Viñoly, 2009
Courtesy Rafael Viñoly Architects

Reproduction of images is permitted for the sole purpose of editorial publicity for Cars, Culture, and the City, an exhibition on view at the Museum of the City of New York from March 25 through August 8, 2010. http://www.mcny.org/

Museum of the City of New York
1220 Fifth Avenue at 103rd St.
New York, NY 10029
212.534.1672 Phone212.423.0758 Faxinfo@mcny.org E-mail

Museum Hours
Tuesday - Sunday: 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
Closed Mondays (except holiday Mondays)

Suggested Admission (as of April 15, 2009)
Adults: $10
Seniors, students: $6
Families: $20 (max. 2 adults)
Children 12 and under: free
Members: free

I'm a Neighbor
If you live or work in East Harlem above 103rd Street, visit the Museum free of charge. Mention “I’m a neighbor,” and the suggested admission charge will be waived.

Directions
By bus:
M1, M3, M4 or M106 to 104th Street, M2 to 101st Street.
By subway:
#6 Lexington Avenue train to 103rd Street, walk three blocks west, or #2 or #3 train to Central Park North (110th Street), walk one block east to Fifth Avenue, then south to 103rd Street.
Ramp access is available at the 104th Street entrance.

Nearby Public Parking Garages
105th and Madison Avenue
97th Street and Third Avenue
95th Street and Third Avenue
95th Street between Third and Lexington Avenues
88th Street between Park and Madison Avenues
89th Street between Park and Madison Avenues
90th Street between Park and Madison Avenues
94th Street between Park and Madison Avenues

Terrific stuff from before the 1930's

1918 and most of those tires have snow chains

1920 Wash DC and a Stutz

1925 Semmes Motor Co

last of the Wash DC fire dept horses, 1925

above, 1926

Yellow Coach 719 1937 Greyhound bus

Before the big boxy taxi, Checker made the Model A, here is a photo with a 1940 example

Via Shorpy. There are two in the photo, click on it for the full size, one is right behind the unbrella holder. Notice the antique 2 bulb stop light as well.

1913 Haynes Roadster, and marvelous historical elements of city life 95 years ago

First, the car is one I've never heard of. It seems there were hundreds of car makers that made a short run of cars, and then couldn't make a financial success of it with all the competition. I love the people catcher on the front of the trolley car

2nd, it appears that the car was posed and photographed by the same photographer form 4 directions, and that gives a real good view around the car at what else was happening in the area.

How about the knickers on the cop near the car, and the heavy long coat on the other cop... which brings me to the prominent umbrella the traffic cops were stationed under while they turned the stop sign to direct traffic. No red, yellow and green lights to get traffic slowed down before coming to a stop, nor any time delay between the cross traffic getting into moving through the intersection once the "stop" order was given to traffic moving through the intersection

Via http://www.shorpy.com/