vintage electro-mechanical CROUSE-HINDS traffic signal controller (timer)

One can't own a collection of traffic signal lights without also owning a collection of traffic signal light CONTROLS...?? <LOL>

This one was manufactured by the CROUSE-HINDS Company of Syracuse, NY., a firm that made an extraordinary variety of electrical equipment (and then some) for a crazy wide assortment of mostly industrial and civic uses, which kinda remains in business today as a part of EATON. (Google them if you're interested) In their day, C-H was an industry leader in traffic control equipment.

Of the many various traffic signal controllers that C-H produced over time, this one is from their PCE-1000 Series probably made in the 1960's. I don't now know exactly how old it is nor where it served, but it was most likely someplace in the State of Ohio. (I say based on the fellow collector I got it from) The yellow cast aluminum box that holds the mechanics was originally fastened to the side of a traffic light pole and operated an intersection consisting of a simple two-movement traffic pattern (we call them 'phases') with only "main street" and "side street" vehicle traffic that alternates in turn. This exact controller has ample space and provision for additional switching equipment inside if its requirements would have been more complex or if its intersection would have been interconnected with others.

This controller also shows its vintage due to the myriad of motors, relays, solenoids, switches, and wiring that actually make it *go* (pic #4 shows everything opened up) all of which together make a most enjoyable (and distinctive) *noise* as it operates -- noise that would never be noticed out 'in the wild' on a streetcorner unless one was standing right next to it and maybe not then if you weren't paying attention. In the house it's a different matter, but I like all that kinda stuff along with the blinkielights . . . <giggle>