Willis Lamm's
Traffic Signal Collection

Crouse-Hinds DT 4-Way
GREEN IN THE MIDDLE

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50 years ago two-color signals were still common in many states. As a child, one of my favorite places to see two-color signals was Daytona Beach, FL. What was interesting there was in addition to the typical two section signals, Daytona had a few three section two-color signals downtown. While this particular signal came from Ohio, I decided to restore it to the old Daytona Beach configuration, with green in the middle.

Facing the approaches on the main street, the top two sections of the three-section two color signals were the same as two section signals, with red on the top and green directly below it. When the signal changed to red both colors displayed for about three seconds, just as a yellow light does in modern day signals. The third section displayed a green left arrow. After the red interval a short protected left turn just before the green ball indication allowed any left turning cars that had been stranded at the intersection when the light changed red to make their left turns before oncoming traffic started moving.

Indications facing the arterial street.

Stop indication.
Protected left turn.
Regular green indication.
Changing back to red.

Indications facing the cross street.

The indications facing the cross street were slightly different. The third section was used to try to control pedestrian movement. A WALK indication would display for a few seconds when it was safe for pedestrians to step off the curb to cross the larger street. When WALK went dark, pedestrians in the crosswalk could finish crossing but additional pedestrians weren't supposed to step off the curb. In reality, many pedestrians grew to ignore the darkened WALK indication and continued to cross on the green light, so the single WALK indications were phased out in favor of WAIT - WALK pedestrian signals.

Years ago Sesame Street produced an animation of a New York STOP-GO-WALK signal so that young children would understand what the WALK indication meant. (See Sesame Street - Cars Walking.)

See the signal operate on YouTube.

Green with WALK indication.

A red-green signal in New England with the WALK indication in the center, 1940s.

The evolution of an intersection - S. Beach & Orange Streets, Daytona Beach, FL.

Original 2-color signal.
shown in an early 1950s post card
3rd section added for turns and peds.
Present day view. (Google Street View)

Continue to the Restoration of this Signal

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