cool unusual New York traffic signals

found digging through http://digitalgallery.nypl.org/

Traffic lights, a brief bit of true but funny history

The above light is made for quick easy identification by anyone who can see shapes, or colors. Particularly in the case of color blind people.

The 1st traffic light ever made exploded, killing the cop that was operating the lever to direct it's light in the right direction. Jan 2nd 1869 was the day, and natural gas vapor was the source of the flame that made the lights visible... no electricity, nothing but a torch behind a colored lens.

The first traffic light in Ireland (1890's) was placed near the oldest pub in Europe (900 AD) because the first car in Ireland was owned by the pubs frequent patron, and he was Ireland's first drunk driver.

Photo and much more info at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Traffic_light

But the best idea in traffic lights is a light that has a time indication of when it will switch to green http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2010/04/two-good-ideas-id-like-to-see-in-world.html

Unusual rail road crossing sign, ever see one that says "Look out for the cars" ?

1939 photo above, below is one of the traffic signal towers I've been posting, it's from a 1918 photo

photos from http://www.shorpy.com/

Old fashioned stop signs

The above probably looks nothing like anything you've seen before, but I did post one similar once before: http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2010/03/museum-exhibit-you-wont-want-to-miss-if.html

from http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=428585&page=733

1922 traffic conductor

For closer photos of one of these traffic conductors, look at: http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2008/11/1913-haynes-roadster-and-marvelous.html