Here is the Whelen Rota-Beam family of beacons. Most are NOS or mint condition.
If you are like me, you believe that all of Whelen Engeneering Co's early history is in Deep River, CT.
I just recieved a NOS, NIB, in original shipping tube, 1st version ROTA- BEAM RB11. With it came an original 2 page advertisement sheet. The picture of the ROTA- BEAM on the sheet has a tag on the light that says ROTO- BEAM RB-10, that's right RB-10 not 11, and RotO, not RotA. Also on the tag is Whelen Eng., Joliet, Ill, Not Deep River, Connecticut. So it looks like in the very early years, Whelen Engeneering may have been based in Joliet, Illinois, and discontinued RB10 in favor of RB11, and for some reason changed the model name from RotO-BEAM to RotA-BEAM. I have 2 of these extremely rare RB-10 ROTA-BEAMs in my collection. (pictured elsewhere in this thread)
I also now have a ROTO BEAM RB10 pictured later in this thread.
I just received some information from a gentleman who worked for Whelen in the very early years. Whelen Engineering did indeed begin their operations in Illinois, in their living room. They soon moved to Deep River, CT to be closer to family. Production was continued in their garage in Deep River.
Thank you to that former worker!
To add to this, the 1st Motorcycle light made was this version 1 RB11, and the first department to get one was Joliet, Illinois, a donation from Whelen's founder, George W. Whelen, in November, 1956. See the newspaper article and picture later in this thread.
To complicate matters, I also have a few of very early ROTA- BEAMs, three version 1s, and two version 2, with rebadged tags marked Pyle National Company, Chicago, Illinois. These were labeled ROTA- BEAM PORTABLE instead of Model RB11, and according to research, Pyle National marketed these portable automotive lights in at least 1955.
I think there is more to Whelen's history than Deep River, CT. There seems to have been a lot happening, in Whelen's early years, in Illinois.
Version 1 of the RB11, Picture 8. Version 1 of the RB11 was made first in magnetic mount in approximately 1954-1955, most notably to convert hearses into ambulances. The only dome colors available in the very early days was red, blue, and amber. It was the FIRST rotating light made for motorcycles, to be mounted on a special bracket on the front fender, or in front of the windshield. It was designed and tested to stand up to the vibrations associated with motorcycles, and put into service on same in 1956. Picture 9.
Version 2 of the RB11, with screw clip dome retainers, including Uber Rare NOS clear dome. Red. Picture 8.
Rebadged Version 2 of the RB11 for Pyle National Company, model PORTABLE. Red. Picture 8
Version 3 and final RB11 with twist on dome, and slight changes to the lens cage, and eventually the base changed from chrome plated steel, and later chrome plated brass, to stainless steel. Picture 1.
The RB11 was also called the ROTA- BEAM STANDARD.
RB2-12H, picture 7 was the replacement for the DEPUTY and the RB11, in the early 1990s.
CLEAR-RAY FLASHER, CR-P (permanent mount). Made in the very late 50s, and early 60s, then discontinued. This version has the flasher accessable under the dome. Picture 2.
CLEAR-RAY FLASHER. CR-M (magnetic mount). This version has the flasher under the base. I believe this to be the original version. Picture 6.
DEPUTY, light duty motor version of RB11. Picture 3.
The only difference between the DEPUTY, and the RB11 STANDARD, is the lighter duty motor in the DEPUTY, and the name tag, of course.
Original Whelen flash shields and bungee cord came standard when light was ordered as dash mount. Left is for DEPUTY and RB11, and right is for CORPORAL and MODEL 66. Picture 4.
FIRST MULTI LIGHT CROSSBARS / LIGHTBARS
The first lightbars consisted of a chrome plated crossbar and mounting brackets and,
2 MODEL SENIOR DEPUTY ROTA-BEAMs, one on each end--CB-100 or,
2 MODEL 66 ROTA-BEAMs, one on each end--CB-200. Picture 5.
If you are like me, you believe that all of Whelen Engeneering Co's early history is in Deep River, CT.
I just recieved a NOS, NIB, in original shipping tube, 1st version ROTA- BEAM RB11. With it came an original 2 page advertisement sheet. The picture of the ROTA- BEAM on the sheet has a tag on the light that says ROTO- BEAM RB-10, that's right RB-10 not 11, and RotO, not RotA. Also on the tag is Whelen Eng., Joliet, Ill, Not Deep River, Connecticut. So it looks like in the very early years, Whelen Engeneering may have been based in Joliet, Illinois, and discontinued RB10 in favor of RB11, and for some reason changed the model name from RotO-BEAM to RotA-BEAM. I have 2 of these extremely rare RB-10 ROTA-BEAMs in my collection. (pictured elsewhere in this thread)
I also now have a ROTO BEAM RB10 pictured later in this thread.
I just received some information from a gentleman who worked for Whelen in the very early years. Whelen Engineering did indeed begin their operations in Illinois, in their living room. They soon moved to Deep River, CT to be closer to family. Production was continued in their garage in Deep River.
Thank you to that former worker!
To add to this, the 1st Motorcycle light made was this version 1 RB11, and the first department to get one was Joliet, Illinois, a donation from Whelen's founder, George W. Whelen, in November, 1956. See the newspaper article and picture later in this thread.
To complicate matters, I also have a few of very early ROTA- BEAMs, three version 1s, and two version 2, with rebadged tags marked Pyle National Company, Chicago, Illinois. These were labeled ROTA- BEAM PORTABLE instead of Model RB11, and according to research, Pyle National marketed these portable automotive lights in at least 1955.
I think there is more to Whelen's history than Deep River, CT. There seems to have been a lot happening, in Whelen's early years, in Illinois.
Version 1 of the RB11, Picture 8. Version 1 of the RB11 was made first in magnetic mount in approximately 1954-1955, most notably to convert hearses into ambulances. The only dome colors available in the very early days was red, blue, and amber. It was the FIRST rotating light made for motorcycles, to be mounted on a special bracket on the front fender, or in front of the windshield. It was designed and tested to stand up to the vibrations associated with motorcycles, and put into service on same in 1956. Picture 9.
Version 2 of the RB11, with screw clip dome retainers, including Uber Rare NOS clear dome. Red. Picture 8.
Rebadged Version 2 of the RB11 for Pyle National Company, model PORTABLE. Red. Picture 8
Version 3 and final RB11 with twist on dome, and slight changes to the lens cage, and eventually the base changed from chrome plated steel, and later chrome plated brass, to stainless steel. Picture 1.
The RB11 was also called the ROTA- BEAM STANDARD.
RB2-12H, picture 7 was the replacement for the DEPUTY and the RB11, in the early 1990s.
CLEAR-RAY FLASHER, CR-P (permanent mount). Made in the very late 50s, and early 60s, then discontinued. This version has the flasher accessable under the dome. Picture 2.
CLEAR-RAY FLASHER. CR-M (magnetic mount). This version has the flasher under the base. I believe this to be the original version. Picture 6.
DEPUTY, light duty motor version of RB11. Picture 3.
The only difference between the DEPUTY, and the RB11 STANDARD, is the lighter duty motor in the DEPUTY, and the name tag, of course.
Original Whelen flash shields and bungee cord came standard when light was ordered as dash mount. Left is for DEPUTY and RB11, and right is for CORPORAL and MODEL 66. Picture 4.
FIRST MULTI LIGHT CROSSBARS / LIGHTBARS
The first lightbars consisted of a chrome plated crossbar and mounting brackets and,
2 MODEL SENIOR DEPUTY ROTA-BEAMs, one on each end--CB-100 or,
2 MODEL 66 ROTA-BEAMs, one on each end--CB-200. Picture 5.
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