Peerless Manufacturing Corporation

[ToledoRailfan]

I think I found some information on this mysterious manufacturer, I barely read any of this but it could be interesting.
https://books.google.com/books?id=3oTmA ... ad&f=false

[freebrickproductions]

It seems that Peerless Manufacturing, based on the design of the lights, was the predecessor to Transport Products Corp., especially since I've seen a few cantilevers with the "Peerless Manufacturing Corp." label on them.

[ToledoRailfan]

It seems that Peerless Manufacturing, based on the design of the lights, was the predecessor to Transport Products Corp., especially since I've seen a few cantilevers with the "Peerless Manufacturing Corp." label on them.

I noticed that too with the lights, especially after I went to that one crossing that had Transport Products Corp. lights along with Safetran lights. They do resemble each other and I wonder if it is more than a coincidence. I wonder if anyone has actually found those lights in service? That signal seems to be the only known signal with these lights.

[freebrickproductions]

It seems that Peerless Manufacturing, based on the design of the lights, was the predecessor to Transport Products Corp., especially since I've seen a few cantilevers with the "Peerless Manufacturing Corp." label on them.

I noticed that too with the lights, especially after I went to that one crossing that had Transport Products Corp. lights along with Safetran lights. They do resemble each other and I wonder if it is more than a coincidence. I wonder if anyone has actually found those lights in service? That signal seems to be the only known signal with these lights.

This crossing in Birmingham, AL might have some?
http://rxrsignals.com/Alabama/Birmingham/16_1/
Unfortunately, the lights are too far up to get a good look at them, but the cantilever is from Peerless Manufacturing Corp.

[ToledoRailfan]

It seems that Peerless Manufacturing, based on the design of the lights, was the predecessor to Transport Products Corp., especially since I've seen a few cantilevers with the "Peerless Manufacturing Corp." label on them.

I noticed that too with the lights, especially after I went to that one crossing that had Transport Products Corp. lights along with Safetran lights. They do resemble each other and I wonder if it is more than a coincidence. I wonder if anyone has actually found those lights in service? That signal seems to be the only known signal with these lights.

This crossing in Birmingham, AL might have some?
http://rxrsignals.com/Alabama/Birmingham/16_1/
Unfortunately, the lights are too far up to get a good look at them, but the cantilever is from Peerless Manufacturing Corp.

Ah, the famous strange crossing.

[ZachL]

Wasn't Transport a predecessor to RACO?

[freebrickproductions]

Wasn't Transport a predecessor to RACO?

Yes. From what I understand, they merged with Griswold to form RACO.

[WCR]

New to the forums, but have worked in the rail industry for some time now. Hopefully this helps shed some light on the Peerless Manufacturing Corporation.
Peerless started as the Peerless Manufacturing Company in Louisville, KY in 1884. It operated at 15th Street and Ormsby Avenue until 1980 when it went out of business due to fraud. (https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/109706408/).
(http://digital.library.louisville.edu/c ... gns/id/240)

During the early 1900’s, it made many of the products (E-1 Flasher Relay, signal assemblies, parkway outlets, etc) but also made many fire protection and heating system related items
(http://www.thejumpingfrog.com/?page=sho ... id=1309710)

On June 15, 1933, the Peerless Manufacturing Company and the Louisville Switch and Signal Company were consolidated and reorganized as the Peerless Manufacturing Corporation (https://books.google.com/books?id=CZfmA ... 22&f=false) at which time it also started selling crossbucks and misc tools.

On May 16, 1946, the president of Peerless, F. W. Carter sold most of the intellectual property relating to railroads under a stock option held by H. R. Wilson. This was about the same time that the Power Gates Company president, Milton Smith worked with Mr. Wilson to eventually bring Peerless and Power Gates under one umbrella known Transport Products Corporation. (https://www.leagle.com/decision/195687825cstc8531782)

Peerless moved on from railroads, went back to its roots making build heating systems (furnaces, gas heaters, stoves etc.) http://americanhistory.si.edu/collectio ... AHTL_29647

In 1962, Transport Products Corporation was purchased by Griswold Signaling
In 1964, Griswold was purchased by RACO
In 1971, RACO and Marquardt Industrial Products Corporation (MIPCO) merged to become Safetran Systems.

Later on, the Hawker Siddeley group bought 40% of Safetran and in turn Hawker Siddeley was bought by British Tyre and Rubber (BTR) which bought the rest of Safetran.

Even later still, Siebe Plc and BTR merged to form Invensys Rail, and in turn Invensys was bought by Siemens in 2012.

[freebrickproductions]

New to the forums, but have worked in the rail industry for some time now. Hopefully this helps shed some light on the Peerless Manufacturing Corporation.
Peerless started as the Peerless Manufacturing Company in Louisville, KY in 1884. It operated at 15th Street and Ormsby Avenue until 1980 when it went out of business due to fraud. (https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/109706408/).
(http://digital.library.louisville.edu/c ... gns/id/240)

During the early 1900’s, it made many of the products (E-1 Flasher Relay, signal assemblies, parkway outlets, etc) but also made many fire protection and heating system related items
(http://www.thejumpingfrog.com/?page=sho ... id=1309710)

On June 15, 1933, the Peerless Manufacturing Company and the Louisville Switch and Signal Company were consolidated and reorganized as the Peerless Manufacturing Corporation (https://books.google.com/books?id=CZfmA ... 22&f=false) at which time it also started selling crossbucks and misc tools.

On May 16, 1946, the president of Peerless, F. W. Carter sold most of the intellectual property relating to railroads under a stock option held by H. R. Wilson. This was about the same time that the Power Gates Company president, Milton Smith worked with Mr. Wilson to eventually bring Peerless and Power Gates under one umbrella known Transport Products Corporation. (https://www.leagle.com/decision/195687825cstc8531782)

Peerless moved on from railroads, went back to its roots making build heating systems (furnaces, gas heaters, stoves etc.) http://americanhistory.si.edu/collectio ... AHTL_29647

In 1962, Transport Products Corporation was purchased by Griswold Signaling
In 1964, Griswold was purchased by RACO
In 1971, RACO and Marquardt Industrial Products Corporation (MIPCO) merged to become Safetran Systems.

Later on, the Hawker Siddeley group bought 40% of Safetran and in turn Hawker Siddeley was bought by British Tyre and Rubber (BTR) which bought the rest of Safetran.

Even later still, Siebe Plc and BTR merged to form Invensys Rail, and in turn Invensys was bought by Siemens in 2012.

Thanks for that information! Nice to get some actual dates on the history of Safetran as well, though I hadn't realized they were around in the early 70s, as I had been thinking mid-70s for when they came into existence as "Safetran". It appears that in 2011 was when Invensys Rail decided to replace Safetran's branding with that of their own, with Siemens doing the same thing to Invensys Rail in 2014.

[ZachL]

Speaking of Safetran, is their name still used by Siemens on light heads?