Willis Lamm's
Traffic Signal Collection
Special Presentation

  FIXED FOUR-WAY SIGNALS
In the New Millennium
Part Five

  Gassaway, WV

SSC run by an ancient Eagle controller. (Elk and Seventh Streets)
(One of the last remaining SSCs in the "wild," this one still displaying incandescent indications.)

("Signal Steve" got a video of this signal albeit with a burned out yellow indication.)

W.S. Darley with original internal controller. (Elk and Fifth Streets)
(Still displaying incandescent indications and the controller cams are a little out of adjustment.)

("Signal Steve" got a video of this signal in operation.)

  So Long, Teeco Safety

No feature on fixed four-way signals in the new Millennium would be complete without giving credit to Teeco Safety, Inc. Teeco Safety was the last manufacturer to carry on the proud tradition started by the Southern Switch Company of Shreveport, LA. Southern Switch produced Southern Autoflow signals as far back as the 1930s. The Southern Autoflow designs gave way to the durable and practical Sargent-Sowell traffic signals. They in turn evolved into the Traffic Signals Inc. (TSI) line of signals, and finally Teecos.

By continuing to produce quality aluminum traffic signals, Teeco was often the only sensible alternative to restoring old signals in situations where fixed four-ways were either the most practical or are most complimentary to historic urban street designs. While we love to see original old signals rehabilitated and their service lives extended, sometimes the costs involved in restoring a particularly difficult model signal or one that had sustained serious physical damage was hard to justify. Teeco provided new signals that could be used as direct replacements for old and damaged four-ways, and these signals were also creatively used for new installations where fixed face signals would be appropriate and where the design elements called for more traditional traffic control devices. So thanks, Teeco, for preserving a long time American tradition! Unfortunately the new movement to utilize fixed 4-way signals in historic districts came too late.

Here are a few views of Teeco signals on the street.

  Demopolis, AL

Single Teeco. (Arcola Rd. and Third Ave.)

  Winter Park, FL

One of my all time favorite urban designs is the Park Avenue section of Winter Park, Florida. The ambiance these designers created is exceptional and the use of Teeco signals to provide a "classic" look, while still providing effective traffic control fits in perfectly. What is really amazing is the designers apparently mounted the Teecos to old Eagle pagoda style top plates and they used round "WAIT" and "WALK" pedestrian signals, visible on the corner street lamp post.

Teeos with Eagle top plates to create an older look. (S. Park Ave. and W. Lyman Ave.)
Vintage style pedestrian heads at the same intersection)
Several other fixed 4-ways including Teecos can be viewed in the images from Athens, AL. Please visit Part 7.)

  Demopolis, AL

Crouse-Hinds type Ms. (N. Walnut Avenue and W. Washington Street)
Southern Autoflow over-under beacon. (E. Jackson St. and S. Front Ave.)
Not sure if this predecessor to Teeco was originally installed as a beacon or a 2-color signal.

  Smackover, AR

For some years cities have been preserving vintage traffic signals, lamp posts and other "street furniture" in efforts to restore historic districts and to maintain a sense of history. In most of these districts the older signals are quite adequate and add character.

Smackover, Arkansas is home to the last known pedestal mounted fixed 4-way signal in the state. ("Smackover" is an Americanization of the original French name, "Sumac Couvert.") The Arkansas Historic Preservation Program is attempting to get this old signal, most likely a Sargent-Sowell, officially registered as an historic artifact.

Sargent-Sowell. (E. 7th and S. Broadway Streets)

  Kansas City, MO

What is likely the oldest and most unusual traffic signal still in service today can be seen at the intersection of The Paseo and Linwood Boulevard in Kansas City, MO. Designed by architect Edward B. Delk, who produced an incredible amount of structural art for the city in the 1920s, this signal has survived several intersection upgrades and is a registered historical landmark.

(The Paseo and Linwood Boulevard)
(The original signal has been upgraded to include programmed visibility optics.)

A number of cities have started restoring their historic span-wired signals to maintain the character of historic districts and to also save money. Links to two significant case studies appear below.

Continue to Part Six

Return to Part Four

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