I have been doing some research to date some items and thought others might find it interesting if not useful. Below is a timeline of Federal Lights and a few other collectible items.
FS Symbol
First Use 1912
Beacon Ray
First used Oct. 1948
Patent applied for 20 May 1955
Beacon Ray 27S, mentioned in a 1957 copy of “The Investment Dealers’ Digest, V 23, Issue 9-17
“Federal’s Beacon Ray Light, used universally on top of police cars, ambulances and fire trucks, and later it’s Beacon Ray 27s, which produces 100 brilliant flashes per minute in a 360-degree are......”
Federal Q
First use 20 Aug 1951
Patent applied for 08 Dec 1977 (Image Trademark)
Fire Ball
First used July 1957
Patent applied for 11 June 1964
dmathieu states that First production run was August, 1956
Fireball is mentioned in a 1957 copy of “The Investment Dealers’ Digest, V 23, Issue 9-17
“…and last year’s new development, the Fireball, all represent the companies incessant research efforts to maintain it’s leadership…..”
The American City, Volume 72, 1957
“Unmarked police cars and the family autos of deputies, volunteer firemen and other officials can be turned into emergency vehicles in seconds by placing a Fireball on the roof. This portable emergency light was developed by Federal…”
From Fire Engineering, Volume 135, 1982
“…the New Fireball II”.. “the brighter, smaller Fireball 2”.
Federal Interceptor
First used July 1960
Patent applied for 11 June 1964
Federal Visibar
First used 28 Oct 1963
Patent applied for 11 Mar 1964
(I have a newspaper article from 01 Aug 1963, The Blue Island, Illinois, Police testing the "new Visibar with red twin beacon ray lights and PA-20 Siren with speaker". It further states "The equipment manufactured by the Federal Sign and Signal Corp here in Blue Island, is not on the open market yet." (How cool is that !)
Federal Titan
First used 11 Oct 1967
Patent applied for 06 Nov 1967
FS Symbol
First use 22 Dec 1975
AeroDynic
First used 23 Sept 1977
Patent applied for 08 Dec 1977
Tri-Flash Snap-on Mirror Assembly for mounting on a Rotating Warning Light on an Emergency Vehicle to provide a multiple flash effect.
First used 27 Jan 1982
Patent applied for 22 Feb 1983
Aerotwinsonic
First used 08 June 1982
Patent applied for 26 July 1982
Federal Jetsonic
Fist use 31 Jan 1983
Patent applied for 06 Oct 1983
There are more modern available if anyone is interested. Still curious about the Beacon Ray Models 11, 14, 17 and others. The search continues ! There has been no application yet for the Bacon Ray.
FS Symbol
First Use 1912
Beacon Ray
First used Oct. 1948
Patent applied for 20 May 1955
Beacon Ray 27S, mentioned in a 1957 copy of “The Investment Dealers’ Digest, V 23, Issue 9-17
“Federal’s Beacon Ray Light, used universally on top of police cars, ambulances and fire trucks, and later it’s Beacon Ray 27s, which produces 100 brilliant flashes per minute in a 360-degree are......”
Federal Q
First use 20 Aug 1951
Patent applied for 08 Dec 1977 (Image Trademark)
Fire Ball
First used July 1957
Patent applied for 11 June 1964
dmathieu states that First production run was August, 1956
Fireball is mentioned in a 1957 copy of “The Investment Dealers’ Digest, V 23, Issue 9-17
“…and last year’s new development, the Fireball, all represent the companies incessant research efforts to maintain it’s leadership…..”
The American City, Volume 72, 1957
“Unmarked police cars and the family autos of deputies, volunteer firemen and other officials can be turned into emergency vehicles in seconds by placing a Fireball on the roof. This portable emergency light was developed by Federal…”
From Fire Engineering, Volume 135, 1982
“…the New Fireball II”.. “the brighter, smaller Fireball 2”.
Federal Interceptor
First used July 1960
Patent applied for 11 June 1964
Federal Visibar
First used 28 Oct 1963
Patent applied for 11 Mar 1964
(I have a newspaper article from 01 Aug 1963, The Blue Island, Illinois, Police testing the "new Visibar with red twin beacon ray lights and PA-20 Siren with speaker". It further states "The equipment manufactured by the Federal Sign and Signal Corp here in Blue Island, is not on the open market yet." (How cool is that !)
Federal Titan
First used 11 Oct 1967
Patent applied for 06 Nov 1967
FS Symbol
First use 22 Dec 1975
AeroDynic
First used 23 Sept 1977
Patent applied for 08 Dec 1977
Tri-Flash Snap-on Mirror Assembly for mounting on a Rotating Warning Light on an Emergency Vehicle to provide a multiple flash effect.
First used 27 Jan 1982
Patent applied for 22 Feb 1983
Aerotwinsonic
First used 08 June 1982
Patent applied for 26 July 1982
Federal Jetsonic
Fist use 31 Jan 1983
Patent applied for 06 Oct 1983
There are more modern available if anyone is interested. Still curious about the Beacon Ray Models 11, 14, 17 and others. The search continues ! There has been no application yet for the Bacon Ray.
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