Railroad Crossing Flash Signal, September 1924

01

Artifact Overview

The first automated, flashing red light railroad crossing signal appeared around 1913. The flashing lights mimicked the motion of a lantern being swung back and forth -- long a signal for "stop" on American railroads. The X-shaped crossbuck sign, in wide use by 1900, was inspired by the skull and crossbones -- a universal symbol for danger.

Artifact Details

Artifact

Photographic print

Subject Date

18 September 1924

Location

By Request in the Benson Ford Research Center

Object ID

84.1.1660.P.189.2379

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: 8.25 in
Width: 10.25 in

Railroad Crossing Flash Signal, September 1924