New England 8" Singer   

MFR:  Singer Sewing Co.
Make:  Unknown Model Designation 
Years Made:  1970-1978
Estimated Year:  1970-1978 

Lense Size:  8"
Orig City:  Washington D.C. Area
Orig Color:  Grey
Orig Configuration:  Side-of-Pole Mounted 8-8-8 R-Y-G
Orig Visors:  Tunnel
Orig Lenses: Kopp Glass Sawtooths

Current Color:  Same (Repainted)
Current Configuration:  Same
Current Visors:  Same
Current Lenses: Same

Notes, Commentary, Restoration: 
This Singer (as in sewing machine) light was procured from the props department of a Gaithersburg, Maryland theater. It most likely came from the Washington DC area where grey signals are predominant. The outside is coated in many a layer of brushed on grey, now a flat dull coat.  From the interior it is apparent this light was once a shining grey example fresh from the factory, not just someone's crazy color experiment. In this view you can also see some of the minor differences Singer had over most other lights of the era, such as the foam-type of lens/sealing gaskets, hexagonal wrench/screw heads for the lens tabs, and most of all that they used the Dzus Aircraft fastners to hold the doors shut in a style similar to the TSI lights. The reflectors and sockets are pretty typical, echoing the breadpan in mounting style of socket and retainer clip. What's unusual to note though is that when the reflectors are swung open they will latch into place until you lift them up and turn them back into the housing. The overall styling of this light leaves little to the eye, apart from a couple slab-sides there is nary even a drip rail for water to run off. Even the section mating faces are flat...something which could pose a problem in cold wet winters. 

I did get a bit of a surprise though, as nearly two full post-mounting brackets were included with the light as extra hardware. The big one only has the front half, while the little one has the front and back post brackets. The actual donuts are Crouse-Hinds parts, while the remainder of the plumbing is Marbelite pipe, T's, nipples, and endcaps. These were used to mount the light horizontal on a wall. The topcoat of paint was stripped and the signal and mounting hardware recoated with a similar grey color.

Photographic Records: 
Before


After

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This page was last modified on 04 September 2006.