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Gyralite is a similar type of gyrating warning light formerly made by The Pyle-National
Company and now by Trans-Lite, Inc. It is distinguishable from the Mars Light in that the ratio of vertical oscillations to horizontal oscillations is unitary, producing a circular or elliptical scan effect.
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Tri Lite, Inc. announced its acquisition of the Mars Signal Light
Company, on January 23, 1991. Tri Lite still manufactures many of the traditional Mars Lights under the Tri Lite Mars brand. The company has since updated the Mars "888" Traffic Breaker with energy-efficient
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There were many models of Mars Lights, that used several methods to oscillate the beam. Sometimes the entire lamp and assembly were moved; on other models, the reflector behind the bulb was rotated. The beam was usually oscillated in a
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Mars lights were developed by Jerry
Kennelly, a Chicago firefighter who realized that oscillating lamps would benefit fire departments and railroads. He performed an operational test with the
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Mars Lights are still used on fire fighting apparatus. The lights continue to be produced, and are available from Tri Lite / Mars, located in
Chicago, Illinois.
50:. Mars Lights used a variety of means to cause the light to oscillate vertically, horizontally, or both, to catch the attention of motorists and pedestrians.
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Many railroads used Mars lights on a variety of locomotives, both steam and diesel, from 1930s until 1990s. Prominent users were railroads such as the
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in 1936, and Mars Lights began appearing on locomotives in the later 1930s.
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diesel locomotive. More detail can be seen at high resolution.
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replacing the earlier sealed beam halogen/incandescent lamp.
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A Mars Light is mounted in the lower lamp housing on this
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116:. Mars Lights are no longer used on modern
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250:Railway signaling in the United States
34:are signal-safety lights used in the
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143:required Mars lights as a standard
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190:"The Emergency! TV Series FAQ"
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106:Chicago and North Western
40:Mars Signal Light Company
229:Gyrating Warning Lights
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236: — Tri Lite site
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155:Gyralite
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