One of you oldtimers ever see one of these?

I got this old tail light from a friend and thought it was pretty cool! It's got a lamp socket in the top and also in the bottom "lantern" section. Separate leads to each, and the bottom lantern is also connected to a pulse magnet that makes it swing and illuminate when power is applied to that part.
I need to replace all the wiring and sockets, and I'm not sure the pulse magnet can even be made to work. I cleaned the white house paint off the body and lense and it looks halfway decent.
The tag reads, "Dua-Saf" and under that "Signal Division" then it says it was made in Chicago Illinois USA, and patent pending. Looks like it might be one of the first turn signaling devices for automotive use.
Hope someone might share some info as to when these might have been made if you can? Thanks!

 

it would look fantastic on your 1971 Camaro.

 

why the drama? it's a very cool piece he might just want to add it to his collection. have stuff going back to the 20s but i'm not going to put it on my import project, sometimes it's just nice to collect some of these super rare pieces, I would love to get my hands on that and fix it to put up on the wall or in my case of stuff.

 

That is bad ass! I have never seen anything like that before. Now if you had two they would make cool tail lites on the back of a bucket, or any open wheel ride, I dig it, good friend to give it up.

 

That's cool, I've never seen one. Could be for fire trucks, that swingin' part looks like a RR or fireman's hand lantern.

 

That's exactly my plan. I collect old car parts to decorate my "man room" and I will wire this one up with a 12 v. transformer to be able to light up above the fireplace.
I know the '71 is too new for the HAMB, but thought the tailight might be OK on the board.

 

The swinging part is called a "WigWag"

 

maybe an early schoolbus light. pretty cool .

 

wow that light is neat

 

Can I have that? Really cool. When you get it ut to use post some pics.

 

That item belongs on the back of something steel. (preferably pre-'30!)

 

10-4 on that. That is really cool. Great find!

 

wow

Some guy on hamb knew how to find patents without a patent number. I think he searches by catagory? I don't know where or how to start looking.

 

thats the kind of shit comment that ruins this site

 

Very cool
Most likely 6 volt magnet

 

Who you calling an old timer?

 

Well I'm probably referring to myself if I knew anything about the tailight! Since I'm headed for 6 decades this fall!

 

I saw them on a '37 Studebaker. The lantern part swings back & forth when the brake lights are on. That's probably how they got the Wig Wag name. You can see the cut out in the bottom of the taillight housing for the swing clearance.

 

Yes! The lantern has an electromagnet that pulses when the lantern is powered to make it swing!

 

A very neat piece! But not a turn signal I think, just a more insistant stop light than the usual 15CP fixed bulb.

I've seen a vacuum operated swinging light turn signal assembly on a late 20s Packard Sedan. It mounted a unit on each side under the sunvisor over the windshield which when activated slid a swinging light out from under the visor to the left or right. When turned off the light stopped swinging and returned under the visor.

 

Have seen them on old Studebaker trucks quite often.
They're cool.

 

Nice piece! I'd love to see it in working condition!

 

That makes more sense that it would be to signal a stop rather than a turn. You'd only need one to signal stop.

 

They were used as brake lights, actually quite a good idea since a moving light will get your attention quicker than one that isn't moving. The electromagnet setup that makes it move shouldn't care whether it's on 6v or 12v, it'll just swing faster on 12v.

 

Unfortunately the electromagnet is toast. It appears to have shorted and burned up, so when I get it working it will be lights only now.

 

Agreed. Why all the hate?

Can'ts we all just get along?

 

maby if you are really lucky, someone will find one in worse shape, with a good coil winding in it. with all the members on here it,s a possibility

 

That's really cool. You should be able to rebuild the electromagnet without too much difficulty. Just be careful when you disassemble it and make lots of notes and pictures so you can get it back together correctly.

 

There was an article in Collectible Automobile on '30s Studebakers recently. It mentioned these lights, and said that they were an aftermarket accessory, but were offered as an option on Studes.

There's a guy in WLA with a coffin-nose Cord that has a set on it -- so mid-to-late '30s seems like the time frame.

 

shame on you...

OP, thats a really neat light. like yourself, i have several nick nacks from days gone that look great on display. heres one of my favorites

its no more than 5'' in length and fits nicely in your hand. i imagine it was meant to be mounted in a car being how small it is. still has stuff in it too!! twist the knob to extinguish! if i ever get a model A it will be mounted inside on display!