Crouse-Hinds Type M 2-Color Many parts of the country still installed two color signals in the 1950s and in fact a handful are still in service to day. Two color lights didn't switch directly from green to red. Typical early signals either went dark for about three seconds during signal changes or, more predominantly, the red came on three seconds (over the green) as a warning before the signal changed. This Type M signal came out around 1952.
Crouse-Hinds Type M 3-Color The Type M was a popular 4-way signal. While most communities were switching to the modern color sequence (G-Y-R-G) a number of towns still had yellow displays when the signal changed from red to green. (The idea was to advise motorists to engage their stickshifts and advise pedestrians in the crosswalk that the light was changing.) Some jurisdictions programmed signals to display yellow on all four sides for 3 to 4 seconds during changes. Others had the yellow indication overlap the red and green indications so there would be no confusion as to which way the signal was changing.
General Electric (GE) GE was another major producer of traffic signals. This GE has "spiderweb" pattern lenses from the late 1940s and 1950s. GE signals also came with a down light option for lighting signs that hang from the signals. This signal has had the down light installed since the photo was taken. This is probably a mid 1950s signal since it came out of Pittsburgh and the original color was yellow.

Signals can be repainted for specific set requirements. Many can either be wire hung or adapted for post mounting.
Additional models and designs can be located for specific requirements.

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