December 4, 5, & 6, 2025 General Antiques & Advertising Featuring The Ray Claridge Collection
Lot #3215:
ACME TRAFFIC SIGNAL CO. LOS ANGELES “STOP & GO” SEMAPHORE SIGNAL LIGHT
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 12/6/2025
A remarkable and historically significant early 20th-century “Stop & Go” semaphore traffic signal, manufactured by the Acme Traffic Signal Company of Los Angeles, California. Produced during the 1920s, Acme was among the first companies to revolutionize urban traffic control in the American West, supplying some of the earliest electric and mechanical signals to cities across California.
This rare example represents a transitional design bridging the manual semaphore era and the fully electric three-color systems that would dominate by the 1930s. The signal features its distinctive mechanical “STOP & GO” arm on the side, paired with illuminated red “STOP” and green “GO” lenses—an innovative hybrid meant to ensure visibility in both daylight and nighttime conditions.
Constructed of cast iron and steel, the unit retains its embossed Acme foundry markings on the control box and remains in working condition. These early Acme signals once governed the bustling streets of Los Angeles before being replaced by standardized red-yellow-green systems, making surviving examples exceptionally scarce and highly sought after among collectors of early transportation and Los Angeles history.
This is not a standard shippable item and will require 3rd party shipping or pickup arrangements to be made.
Condition: (Excellent).
Item Dimensions: 16" x 12" x 109".