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"Can Lights in Action" (featured from a closeup cover photo from an Adam-12 pocket book) |
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The lights, affectionately known as "Tin Cans" - "Can Lights" & "Mickey Mouse ears" were TRIO Sales, Model #T-2 Class A-1 lamps, manufactured for the LAPD out of the Los Angeles, California up to 1979 when the LAPD changed its lighting standard to blue and red light bars. The lights were configured with a steady red lamp in the front section, and an amber bulb that had a flash attachment in the housing. Some departments ran the flashers in unison, and in a "wig-wag pattern. The LAPD being frugal, had each lamp installed with its own independent flasher, so each light flashed in a funky pattern independent of each other. Now a collector's item, the lamps are still around, and can be purchased on occasion, there are still a few left over from 20-plus years of storage. If your lucky, maybe some old cans are still lying around in surplus yards and basements of retirees. A mint set runs on average between $250.00 plus for a set of lights, including the lenses, which were red and the rear - amber.
The amber lenses are GE Model #4434 (AMBER) and GE Model # 5001 (RED) - Equivalent lenses can be purchased or ordered at most commercial vehicle auto stores as #4434A or 5001A.
For details or inquiries about obtaining restored emergency vehicle equipment vintage to the 60's and 70's or obtaining a set of the can lights, (click here). We have made many contacts, who with their history and expertise, can usually find anything you might be looking for.
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The siren driver is manufactured by Federal Signal Corporation, they are listed as Model "CP-25" and "CP-100" siren speakers. The "CP-25" speaker sounded at 58 watts peak, the CP-100 at 100 watts peak, and was run from two of Federal's siren drivers, the "Interceptor" Model #PA-20 & PA-20A. The siren consisted of the bell, the chrome housing - and the siren amplifier hidden by the cone. The cone was capped with a chrome crown (not seen here). The only difference between the two units was the tones. The PA-20 had the "alert" feature, and the PA-20A had the "hi-lo" feature in place of "alert." Martin Milner (Officer Malloy) is heard describing the unit in the very first episode and describes the PA-20A unit down to every feature. The "Interceptor" had the feature of being able to run the Motorola "Motrac" Radio system through the Interceptor's microphone. A feature seen on the close-ups of the radio in the filler shots seen in Adam-12. The other siren speaker was the "CP-100" which had no back bolt on the rear of the bell. |
| The vehicle radio (pictured left) was a Motorola Motrac or Motran Model Radio. These radios are still in use today in some reserve and specialized vehicles in the bomb squad and other specialized units. The handi-talkie is a Motorola "HT-200" Handi-Talkie used in the 1960's to 1980's. These radios were state of the art in their period and could withstand significant abuse in the field. Prior to the late 80's, LAPD Officers were not assigned portable radios, so when they left their units "Code 6" - they were out of radio range. LAPD Officers now are issued radios as standard equipment. | |
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THE HOT SHEET DESK |
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The hot sheet desk was a simple design, an aluminum or sheet metal desk fabricated with a fold down writing surface and a bolt-on paper pad - the paper pads had holes for the screws to be placed and tightened down by a horizontal plate (as seen above). The "hot sheet" was placed between two thin pieces of Plexiglas that had a small bulb lit from the rear through the paper (the switch is seen to the right in the middle of the upper deck). Cheap to make and easy to maintain. The lid folded up when not in use. They are a hard and elusive find.
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