Griswold Signal Company
Encyclopedia
The Griswold Signal Company was a manufacturer of traffic signals and railroad grade crossing signals based in Minneapolis, Minnesota
.
The company was founded by Minnesota native Frank W. Griswold, one of thirteen children born to attorney and local landowner Franklin C. Griswold.
Griswold got his start in the early 1920s with the invention of the "bobby signal," a traffic signal designed for placement in the middle of an intersection that would collapse if struck by a vehicle. Many bobby signals were sold to municipalities throughout North America; this led to the development of Griswold Signal. The 1930s saw the invention of yet another signal. This was a unique combination of highway flasher and rotating stop sign. An approaching train would trigger not just the requisite red flashing lights and bells, but a mechanism that rotated a yellow stop sign ninety degrees to face traffic as well. (The signs eventually changed to red.) This type of signal was relatively common throughout the midwestern United States; few made their way out west. Today, only three rotating stop sign signals remain in active use in the West. Two guard a crossing in Tacoma, Washington
and a single Griswold guards a Union Pacific spur line on Bayshore Highway in San Jose, California
; its mate was knocked down by a car in October, 2002 and was replaced by a standard flasher and electronic bell. One remaining pair guards a grade crossing on a spur in Northeast Minneapolis, Minnesota and is still in complete working order with rotating stop sign. Several remain in use in the Twin Cities area on low train traffic lines, but with only the flashers in working order- the unique rotating stop signs have been removed and disabled. The firm purchased Los Angeles
-based Magnetic Signal Company
in the late 1940s and moved production to Minneapolis. Magnetic Signal is the company credited with the invention of the wigwag
grade crossing signal once common throughout Southern California
.
Although the firm is now a part of Safetran
and the name discontinued, countless Griswold Company signals of the standard variety still stand guard at crossings throughout North America.
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Minneapolis , nicknamed "City of Lakes" and the "Mill City," is the county seat of Hennepin County, the largest city in the U.S. state of Minnesota, and the 48th largest in the United States...
.
The company was founded by Minnesota native Frank W. Griswold, one of thirteen children born to attorney and local landowner Franklin C. Griswold.
Griswold got his start in the early 1920s with the invention of the "bobby signal," a traffic signal designed for placement in the middle of an intersection that would collapse if struck by a vehicle. Many bobby signals were sold to municipalities throughout North America; this led to the development of Griswold Signal. The 1930s saw the invention of yet another signal. This was a unique combination of highway flasher and rotating stop sign. An approaching train would trigger not just the requisite red flashing lights and bells, but a mechanism that rotated a yellow stop sign ninety degrees to face traffic as well. (The signs eventually changed to red.) This type of signal was relatively common throughout the midwestern United States; few made their way out west. Today, only three rotating stop sign signals remain in active use in the West. Two guard a crossing in Tacoma, Washington
Tacoma, Washington
Tacoma is a mid-sized urban port city and the county seat of Pierce County, Washington, United States. The city is on Washington's Puget Sound, southwest of Seattle, northeast of the state capital, Olympia, and northwest of Mount Rainier National Park. The population was 198,397, according to...
and a single Griswold guards a Union Pacific spur line on Bayshore Highway in San Jose, California
San Jose, California
San Jose is the third-largest city in California, the tenth-largest in the U.S., and the county seat of Santa Clara County which is located at the southern end of San Francisco Bay...
; its mate was knocked down by a car in October, 2002 and was replaced by a standard flasher and electronic bell. One remaining pair guards a grade crossing on a spur in Northeast Minneapolis, Minnesota and is still in complete working order with rotating stop sign. Several remain in use in the Twin Cities area on low train traffic lines, but with only the flashers in working order- the unique rotating stop signs have been removed and disabled. The firm purchased Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
-based Magnetic Signal Company
Magnetic Signal Company
The Magnetic Signal Company of Los Angeles, California was the manufacturer of the ubiquitous "Magnetic Flagman" wig-wag railroad crossing signal seen all over California and the western states....
in the late 1940s and moved production to Minneapolis. Magnetic Signal is the company credited with the invention of the wigwag
Wigwag (railroad)
Wigwag is the nickname given to a type of railroad grade crossing signal once common in North America, named for the pendulum-like motion it used to signal the approach of a train...
grade crossing signal once common throughout Southern California
Southern California
Southern California is a megaregion, or megapolitan area, in the southern area of the U.S. state of California. Large urban areas include Greater Los Angeles and Greater San Diego. The urban area stretches along the coast from Ventura through the Southland and Inland Empire to San Diego...
.
Although the firm is now a part of Safetran
Safetran
Safetran Systems Corporation is a US-based supplier of switch machines, railroad wayside signal systems, rail transit signaling and rail-highway grade crossing active warning systems....
and the name discontinued, countless Griswold Company signals of the standard variety still stand guard at crossings throughout North America.