Whelen ROTA-BEAM Family History
- Thread starter dmathieu
- Start date
I remember back in the late 60s-early 70s, buying a green dome for the Model 66.
I was not impressed because it was a clear dome with a green coloring sprayed on the inside.
Definitely not as nice as the solid green domes on the other ROTA-BEAM models.
I was not impressed because it was a clear dome with a green coloring sprayed on the inside.
Definitely not as nice as the solid green domes on the other ROTA-BEAM models.
Here's an ad for a 1957 Maxim fire truck mfg. in Massachusetts.This is sporting a 1957 Whelen ROTA-BEAM RB11 as it's primary warning light on the roof.
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I just scooped my second NOS/NIB 2nd generation Whelen Freez alarm FA-5 that used the Responder platform.
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Here is my 3rd original version, early 1960s vintage, SENIOR, pictured next to a DEPUTY for size comparison.
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My 3 original version ROTA-BEAM SENIORs
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Skip, these SENIORS were the predecessor to the MODEL 22/44/55 series, all the same size.
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The Senior series beacons were pretty big, think in terms of the size of Federal's 15 Junior Beacon Ray.
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Size comparison.... ROTA-BEAM SENIOR / Beacon Ray Junior / ROTA-BEAM Model 22/44/55/33/77.Also note that the magnifying lenses in the ROTA-BEAMS are much larger than the Beacon Ray Junior
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The lenses in the Whelen Senior series are larger than those in the Junior Beacon Ray, but the Junior Beacon Ray used a 64 watt, 100 candle power bulb to produce 40,000 candle power flashes, Whelen used 27 watt, 50 candle power bulbs and produced only 10,000 candle power flashes.
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On the larger SENIOR series beacons Whelen did use a Whelen numbered W200, and later W44 bulb, supposedly higher powered, and with a larger filament to give more beam spread.
A major brightness problem with the ROTA-BEAMs was the adjustable filament to lens placement. If the filament was not adjusted properly to the center of the glass lenses, the brightness straight on suffered greatly.
The Beacon Ray Junior and most other simarly designed bulb/lens lights had a fixed bulb focus.
Whelen actually advertised the adjustable focus as a feature in their ROTA-BEAMs.
A major brightness problem with the ROTA-BEAMs was the adjustable filament to lens placement. If the filament was not adjusted properly to the center of the glass lenses, the brightness straight on suffered greatly.
The Beacon Ray Junior and most other simarly designed bulb/lens lights had a fixed bulb focus.
Whelen actually advertised the adjustable focus as a feature in their ROTA-BEAMs.
This is a pic, received form Skip Goulet, of a 1952 Packard ambulance with a Version One RB11 STANDARD ROTA-BEAM, as the main 360 degree beacon, rarely seen on an ambulance.AmeriCar The Beautiful's Photos
Skip, the 1019 bulb was not offered.
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The bulbs in Whelen's beacons was mounted in a base up position, so the heat produced by the bulb goes up and into its base. This is not good for bulb longevity. I'm sure the 1019 bulb created a lot of heat, it probably would not last long mounted in a base up position.
I would guess that's why Federal mounted them base-down in the Juniors, then. They do create heat. As I've noted on another thread, we put a 1019 bulb in an old Mars DL8 light that went on a '60 Chevy ambulance we had. That thing was bright, and you could feel the heat if you stood near it when it was on. For a very short time it was fender-mounted and later went on the roof, where it could been seen.
Thanks for posting, Dan. I hadn't noticed the AmeriCar link before. Some very neat old cars.
Hi. I found a RB11 in my basement. Looks like the 1954-1957 version according to a post on Page 6. It was built in Deep River, CT. Can anyone advice as to what bulb is suppose to go in this light? I read a reply about converting a 6V rota-beam to a 12V and someone mentioned the 1196 bulb. Can I use that in this one? Thank you.
You would need a 12v motor as well or you risk burning up the current one.
Look at the inside of the socket. If it is double contact the 12 Volt bulb is 1196. If it is single contact, the bulb is 1195. For proper beam make sure you get the older bulbs with a vertical or "V" shaped filament as opposed to the newer horizontal filaments. Then make sure that you raise or lower the socket to put the filament in the middle of the magnifying lenses for brightest beam.
Put some pics up, and I can tell you exactly what you have there.
Many of the 6 Volt ROTA-BEAMS had a resistor that can be cut to make the motor run on 12 Volt. The only thing you would have to change, if this is the case, would be the bulb.
Recheck page 6 pictures, I labeled the pictures to avoid confusion as to which vintage you have.
Put some pics up, and I can tell you exactly what you have there.
Many of the 6 Volt ROTA-BEAMS had a resistor that can be cut to make the motor run on 12 Volt. The only thing you would have to change, if this is the case, would be the bulb.
Recheck page 6 pictures, I labeled the pictures to avoid confusion as to which vintage you have.
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I looked inside the bulb socket and it is a double contact. Bummer about the age, according to page 6 now I have the '62-'92 version. Oh well. In 30 years it will be older 
Does anyone have a photo of the older/better style 1196 bulb? And where to get it? I'll try to work on the photo.
Is that what you mean by older style bulb?
http://www.topbulb.com/1196-bulb-12-5v-3-0a-rp11-incandescent-double-contact-bayonet-base
Does anyone have a photo of the older/better style 1196 bulb? And where to get it? I'll try to work on the photo. Is that what you mean by older style bulb?
http://www.topbulb.com/1196-bulb-12-5v-3-0a-rp11-incandescent-double-contact-bayonet-base
The one you found will work. I added a pic of an old one from ebay.
Sorry about the confusion with the pictures. They didn't seem to upload in the order that I wanted them too.
I do have a version 1 RB11 in my FOR SALE thread if interested.
Sorry about the confusion with the pictures. They didn't seem to upload in the order that I wanted them too.
I do have a version 1 RB11 in my FOR SALE thread if interested.
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Just grabbed another (3rd) very nice split Amber/Red DEPUTY/RB11 dome.
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Assorted Manchester, CT police cars with original version Whelen SENIOR ROTA-BEAM beacon lights.Photo Credits to copcar.com
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Skip, 1960 to 1980 or so in the 44 series.
I've seen a picture of one on a 1960 Ford.
I've seen a picture of one on a 1960 Ford.
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Here are my GLASS DOMED Model 66 Rota-Beams with a few spare glass domes.In the Model 66's early years, this is the only Rota-Beam that was offered with glass domes.
The nice thing about glass is that these domes look virtually perfect, even after 50 plus years.
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Glass domes really are nice as they don't fade, haze and craze due to being out in the weather.
International Scout off road fire truck with a ROTA-BEAM as its main warning light.
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Just a note to add to my first post in this thread......
I just received some information from a gentleman who worked for Whelen in the 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!
I just received some information from a gentleman who worked for Whelen in the 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!
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Just received my new large size Whelen ROTA-BEAM Branch Guard Mount. (thanks Tony)I plan to disassemble clean it up, and mount a Model 44 in it. More pictures when done.
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This is the set up of the dash light used on the dash of Grafton, MA Call F.D. "Car 9", Assistant Chief. This was a personally owned Ford Ranchero, blue. This light was used in the 1960s-early 1970s.
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Added to the ROTA-BEAM sub-collection:4 NOS still in plastic, perfect Model 66 plastic domes. 2 red, 2 clear.
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