Railroad Crossing Signal, September 1924

01

Artifact Overview

Wigwag railroad crossing signals, named for the way they swung back and forth when activated, first appeared around 1914. Their waving action simulated the motion of a lantern being swung back and forth -- long a signal for "stop" on American railroads. Typically, wigwags were driven by a pair of electromagnets that alternately pulled and released the pendulum.

Artifact Details

Artifact

Photographic print

Subject Date

16 September 1924

Location

By Request in the Benson Ford Research Center

Object ID

84.1.1660.P.189.2371

Credit

From the Collections of The Henry Ford. Gift of Ford Motor Company.

Material

Paper (Fiber product)

Technique

Gelatin silver process

Color

Black-and-white (Colors)

Dimensions

Height: 10.25 in
Width: 8.25 in

Railroad Crossing Signal, September 1924