vision386 Posted February 15, 2014 Share Posted February 15, 2014 I know we have a lot of Firemen and fire equipment buffs here on BMT,i had a question regarding something I saw Wednesday.I was leaving a delivery in Maryland wed.afternoon and a fire engine came up behind me (lights and siren) so I pulled over to let them by,when I looked in the mirror,this truck had a BLINDING spinning 3 lense strobe-type light on it,that would just about give you a seizure! I just wondered what the pupose of this is? visibility? (it works if so!) or is it a regional thing? I don't remember seeing anything like this before,and was just curious about it...................................Mark Quote Mack Truck literate. Computer illiterate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bbob61 Posted February 15, 2014 Share Posted February 15, 2014 Awesome, a strobe type replacement for the original Roto-ray - cool! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RFCDrum Posted February 15, 2014 Share Posted February 15, 2014 Spring Valley NY has a pumper with one of those on it is weird. I also saw one in Randolf NJ too on an all wheel drive Pierce pumper. Rob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry T Posted February 15, 2014 Share Posted February 15, 2014 I believe they are a regional thing mostly along the east coast area much like Power Call Sirens. We have began seeing the Roto Ray Lights here in the midwest a little bit. Like maybe 1 in 15 departments and only on 1 of that departments truck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2stacksuperdog Posted February 15, 2014 Share Posted February 15, 2014 Never seen one in person Quote Matt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Solution Mack458 Posted February 15, 2014 Solution Share Posted February 15, 2014 The name is Roto Ray and was big back in the 50's. They seem to have been making a comeback in the last few years and now offer LED lights. I think the company is a small Mom and Pop operation, or was years ago. Yes they are unusual and effective. While most are mounted in the center, the Washington Fire Co. in Conshohocken, Pa. had one ALF engine that the light was mounted on the drivers side. I have a friend that has a retired truck and places a green bulb in the fixture at Christmas. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
General Ike Posted February 15, 2014 Share Posted February 15, 2014 They were a mid Atlantic quirk years ago but have been gaining popularity elsewhere. I was at a FF funeral today in Orlando and the rescue wagon had one. City of Winter Park uses them on all frontline suppression apparatus too. Quote Ed Smith1957 B85F 1242 "The General Ike" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joemac Posted February 16, 2014 Share Posted February 16, 2014 The last department I was with has three front line rigs with Roto-Rays mounted in the center of each nose. If you don't see them coming at you, it's time to remove the blindfold.Yes, they were very popular back in the fifties and sixties, then they seemed, "dated" and fell out of favor for a while. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loadstar Posted February 16, 2014 Share Posted February 16, 2014 The town I live in got a new engine last year and it has one mounted on the front like the picture above. It certainly makes you look twice when you see it....Put a blue light in there and you'll get even more attention. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1958 F.W.D. Posted February 16, 2014 Share Posted February 16, 2014 Many of us in the (modern) fire service call them "wastes of money." 1 Quote TWO STROKES ARE FOR GARDEN TOOLS Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hatcity Posted February 16, 2014 Share Posted February 16, 2014 BS!!!If you didn't want to keep the FWD original, you would have two on it Quote Success is only a stones throw away.................................................................for a Palestinian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kmeitz Posted February 16, 2014 Share Posted February 16, 2014 Here are 2 classic Mack's from Mack Trucktoberfest 2013. Both trucks are originally from eastern PA. 1 Quote Keith http://www.flickr.com/photos/40978025@N04/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
609albert Posted February 16, 2014 Share Posted February 16, 2014 the orginal Roto Rays rotated much slower than the new verisons ,my fire dept .has one on the new ladder tower ,was a $22OO.OPTION and they do get the driving public Attension. Also back before even the Roto Ray lights ,their was the Exhaust whistle ( a device placed in the exhaust pipe before the muffler ) I have one on my 54LS85 MACK and it really screams when operated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fxfymn Posted February 16, 2014 Share Posted February 16, 2014 A long and interesting history accompanies the Roto-Ray light. Originally from Ohio, the light was quite popular in many places around the US for a long time. The City of Detroit was a big user for example along with many east coast departments.The older, original lights were called "Buckeye" Roto-Rays after the manufacturer's full name derived from Ohio's nick name. It was a small family owned business that eventually ceased operations as the family members passed on. A friend and former co-worker, Richard Slepetz of Herndon, VA bought the patents, name, etc. from the family and resurrected the company a few years ago.He is making the lights, literally out of his garage, and has turned it into quite a success. He is a fellow antique truck collector and has a very nice mid fifties GMC/American pumper that he has totally restored. The truck was one of the first he rode on as a career firefighter with Fairfax County.The Pa. Pump Primer's newsletter had a great article on Roto-Rays a few years ago. Maybe someone who is a PPP member can find it and put it on here.The the old Buckeye lights can command upwards of $1000.00 if they are in good condition and they can be hard to find. Here is a picture of my 1952 Type 75A with the factory equipped Roto-Ray light I found for it. 1 Quote Money, sex, and fire; everybody thinks everyone else is getting more than they are! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1958 F.W.D. Posted February 16, 2014 Share Posted February 16, 2014 BS!!!If you didn't want to keep the FWD original, you would have two on itThere's only one problem- the FWD never had one on it to begin with!!!!!!! Quote TWO STROKES ARE FOR GARDEN TOOLS Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlie Hatfield Posted February 18, 2014 Share Posted February 18, 2014 In the antique fire truck hobby, they are revered and you are a lucky person if you own one or acquire one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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