Indiana State Police Grote bar find

[kadetklapp]

So last night while working a detail I got partial payment in the form of an “old lightbar”. I recognized it immediately as a pair of Grote 7620 beacons with the wide aluminum crossbar and rear speaker housing from a mid 80s Indiana State Police car. Can anyone give me info on the siren setup that was used on these? Pics forthcoming…

 

[kadetklapp]

Pardon my horrible garage. But here it is…

 

[dmathieu]

Is that a Whelen bar mount speaker?

 

[kadetklapp]

This is what the bar would’ve looked like intact

 

[dmathieu]

Yours has a different speaker though.

 

[kadetklapp]

I assumed it was just the back half of the speaker housing

 

[dmathieu]

It is, but the mounts are totally different.

 

[kadetklapp]

Hmmm the plot thickens. What can you tell me about the siren manufacturer for this setup?

 

[dmathieu]

Speaker on yours looks Whelen, other possibly Federal CP.

 

[kadetklapp]

Anyone recall what siren was spec’d for ISP and if they used multiple manufacturers? I’m also curious who made the cross bar

 

[kadetklapp]

Speaker on yours looks Whelen, other possibly Federal CP.

You are apparently correct.

 

[kadetklapp]

Mounts have an interesting name. I’m nearly certain this is a ISP bar, based on the flat mounting feet, and wide cross bar, but the siren is perplexing, and not finding a data tag is odd.

 

[kadetklapp]

Whelen SA-1515, which certainly was NOT used by ISP. Electromechanical siren.

 

[dmathieu]

Like these

 

[kadetklapp]

I’m so confused. I’m going to have to go to the ISP museum.

 

[kadetklapp]

This photo is from the ISP Museum FB page. 1984? Dodge St. Regis I believe.

 

[JohnMarcson]

While it is very similar to the ISP bars I wouldn't be surprised if other locations in Indiana a the time copied them. This is pretty clearly a Whelen speaker, which was not a "cheap replacement", so I don't know why it would end up on a true ISP bar. It suppose it is possible they used they briefly, but I think a "local copycat" bar is more likely. Think of how many local agencies used the Ohio state patrol Whelen edge but modified small parts like the rear floods etc.

 

[Mars Light]

I found a crossbar with two GROTE 7620 and a FS speaker. At each end are Unity spotlights (directed forward) mounted. Was this configuration an option with the ISP?

 

[Mars Light]

Indiana State Police Motor Carriage Enforcement

 

[QUICKONE]

Mounts have an interesting name. I’m nearly certain this is a ISP bar, based on the flat mounting feet, and wide cross bar, but the siren is perplexing, and not finding a data tag is odd.

Not sure by the picture angle, but this mount is sometimes called a "Pillow Block"...don't ask me why..lol

Its used to mount a flat surface to a round bar.

 

[Mars Light]

Today I got the ISP Motor Carrier Enforcement GROTE crossbar.





Need a lot of elbow grease, it´s a rusty thing.

 

[W2CK]

Not sure by the picture angle, but this mount is sometimes called a "Pillow Block"...don't ask me why..lol

Its used to mount a flat surface to a round bar.

Hi,

The term 'pillow block' appears to be following a standard machine shop term for mounting a shaft bearing. That's a round shaft mounted to a flat surface.


Pic is of a bearing mounting called a pillow block., I can see why that term would have crossed over to light bar mounts.

Stan

 

[QUICKONE]

Hi,

The term 'pillow block' appears to be following a standard machine shop term for mounting a shaft bearing. That's a round shaft mounted to a flat surface.

View attachment 251140
Pic is of a bearing mounting called a pillow block., I can see why that term would have crossed over to light bar mounts.

Stan

You posted a Machinist Pillow Block.

We're talking about automotive auxiliary lighting mounts.



I guess you overlooked my signature line.

NASIG Pillow Block

Btw, great job on the Google Search. j/k

 

[W2CK]

You posted a Machinist Pillow Block.

We're talking about automotive auxiliary lighting mounts.



I guess you overlooked my signature line.

NASIG Pillow Block

Btw, great job on the Google Search. j/k

Hi,

Yep. Exactly. The question was why those mounts are often referred to as Pillow Blocks. It's a misnomer, of course. I'd call it a clamp myself. But likely that term came out of the mouth of a machinist making those in the very beginning.

On the search, I knew that Grainger would have some really nice pics of actual pillow blocks. I wasn't disappointed.

Stan