old ELECTRO-MATIC model 804-D TRAFFIC-ACTUATED DISPATCHER

I guess since I just showed my 'new' cabinet, I might as well also show one of my Electro-Matic controllers -- this is the most likely candidate to eventually end up in that cabinet. :-) Branded ELECTRO-MATIC by Automatic Signal Division of Eastern Industries, Inc., the polished and stamped nameplate behind the glass front shows it to be Model 804D and features the name filled in red lettering with their TRAFFIC ACTUATED "winged tire" logo at each end. [as an admitted E-M collector, I need to get that fabulous logo printed on a T-shirt?!]

Automatic Signal pioneered the development of traffic light control technology which was able to detect and react to actual vehicles in traffic (via a rather wide variety of slightly ahead of its time engineering) thus they were fond of using the term "dispatcher" instead of "controller" for their machines. This particular one is a small model and was built to operate what is known as a 'two phase' intersection, just a simple cross street with opposing reds and greens in either direction. One street would be considered the 'main' street and the other the 'cross' street, the Dispatcher would 'rest' with the main street having the green lights until detecting a vehicle pull up to a red light on the cross street, at which point it would initiate the change cycle to allow it to pass, then return to its former state.

The two banks of uniform black (bakelite, no doubt) knobs adjust the precise functions and durations of all the various time cycles. Their presence is evidence that this was one of the earlier production machines, as later ones were eventually furnished with knobsets using color coded knobs to help make their functions more obvious. Pic 3 shows them better along with the rectangular multi-pin connector on the underside that would receive the plug from the wiring harness in the cabinet itself.

Behind the glass front and nameplate are the parts of these things that immediately captured my interest in them from the very first time I ever saw one myself. This is where all the electromechanical magic happens in all its raucous clicky-clacky-whiz-bang splendor -- all that stuff in there *moves*!! ;-) Right behind the nameplate is a multi-row series of leaf switches all worked by cams on a horizontal axle between them, the pairs of multi pole relays beneath and to the right side react to the cam switches and 'input' detector switches (coming in via the cabinet) to determine 'output' signals to the lights at any given moment, and a solenoid driven ratchet mechanism to the left side actuates the camswitch axle when it needs to move. In operation, the machine produces a FABULOUS noise of a few mostly subtle relay clicks punctuated by a regular and LOUD "ker-CHUNK" of the solenoid, all in repeating patterns of course.

Physically it is a little over 11" wide, 12" tall, and 9" deep, likely weighing in the ~75lb range -- it is a *solid* piece of machinery for its size! Pic 4 shows my made up assemblage of a wiring harness and terminal strips that have allowed me to use the machine without the full cabinet's worth of peripherals it first came with -- no matter how old it truly is (I don't know, probably 1940's if not a little older) it remains perfectly functional in every respect I have ever been able to determine. :-) :-) :-)