Griswold Signal Company

The Griswold Signal Company was a manufacturer of traffic signals and railroad grade crossing signals based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The company was founded by Minnesota native Frank W. Griswold, one of thirteen children born to attorney and local landowner Franklin C. Griswold.

History

Bobby signal

Griswold got his start in the early 1920s with the invention of the "bobby signal," a traffic signal designed for placement in the middle of an intersection that would collapse if struck by a vehicle. Many bobby signals were sold to municipalities throughout North America; this led to the development of Griswold Signal.

Rotating stop sign

The 1930s saw the invention of yet another signal. This was a unique combination of highway flasher and rotating stop sign. An approaching train would trigger not just the requisite red flashing lights and bells, but a mechanism that rotated a yellow stop sign ninety degrees to face traffic as well. (The signs eventually changed to red.)[1] This type of signal was relatively common throughout the midwestern United States; few made their way out west.

Surviving signals

As of November 2016, there are only half a dozen known Griswold signals still in service along active rail, all in Minnesota, none with rotating stop sign signals. The last pair with an operating banner protected 22nd Ave NE in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Griswolds in Tacoma, Washington and San Jose, California were both removed circa 2010.

Magnetic Signal Company

The firm purchased Los Angeles-based Magnetic Signal Company in the late 1940s and moved production to Minneapolis. Magnetic Signal is the company credited with the invention of the wigwag grade crossing signal once common throughout Southern California.

Safetran

Although the firm is now a part of Safetran and the name discontinued, countless Griswold Company signals of the standard variety still stand guard at crossings throughout North America.

External links

References

  1. ↑ See a photo of one without the lights at http://www.trainweb.org/dansrailpix/Griswold_calistoga.JPG
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