insane-crazy good luck with a railroad crossing light

Photo #1 is an item that arrived in a box on my step today, courtesy of an online seller. It is the 'front door' (only) assembly of a single railroad crossing warning light -- the ones found in pairs blinking back and forth at a grade crossing to warn of an approaching train. Specifically, it is a vintage cast iron example as made by WESTERN RAILROAD SUPPLY COMPANY, and it is typical of those that would have been 'in service' thereabouts the 1960's or before, having more likely been made in the 1940's or before. Photo #2 shows it shortly after it arrived, when Lucy helped me disassemble it -- happily the three machine screws holding it together *came out* easily?!

NOTE the 'ring' part at the right of pic 2, and the position of that part in pic 1, especially as relative to the 1" or so hole in the black sheet metal background around the light lens itself. Note also how it is missing a piece -- it is supposed to be a complete circle. (which holds everything together, but that doesn't matter here)

NOW look at photo #3, which shows the front of another (almost) complete WRRS light of the exact same model that's been a part of my collections for over 30yrs. This one is actually the very first RxR light I ever got, when I was a teenager, and it came to me then missing *all* of its original internal parts. In years since I've managed to procure those parts, in addition to a *second* complete light just like it, plus all the various proper cast iron elbows and hardware with which to bolt everything together to a pole. (for my backyard patio RxR crossing, coming soon!)

PAY PARTICULAR NOTICE to that very same 'broken ring' part (and its relative location) on both lights. See anything kinda cool about them...??

Photo 4 shows it -- the two *broken* pieces, from both completely different lights obtained from different places over years worth of time -- are a NEAR PERFECT MATCH TO EACH OTHER??!!!! <WOW><WOW><WOW>

I have literally been trolling for one 'complete' example of one of those stupid little cast iron rings forEVER -- they are apparently about as unobtainium as railroad light parts can get -- they still exist of course, but as portions of further complete examples instead of 'spare parts'.

So instead of a replacement 'intact' one, I just found the **perfect missing piece** for the one I already had?

Whodathunk THAT could ever possibly happen??? (clue: not me...)

<happydance>