Locations of existing Prototype General Signals Type-1 Electronic Bells

[The BC Railfan]

These bells are the prototype version of the General Signals Electronic Bell. They were made around the early 1990s and are very rare to find. These bells were most commonly found on the KCS Railway. These bells have a different housing design, use 2nd Generation WCH Mechanical Bell bases and they have a slightly lower tone than the regular General Signals Type-1 Electronic Bells but they ring at the same rate. For example, here's one on Terminal Boulevard in Prince George, BC: https://www.google.com/maps/@53.8758595 ... 312!8i6656

[UPking]

BUMP: https://www.google.com/maps/@30.4365041 ... urce=apiv3 Found one on a gateless install in Baton Rouge, LA! Appears to be owned by KCS!

[UPking]

I hate to double post, but I just hit the jackpot on this line!

https://www.google.com/maps/@31.1525734 ... urce=apiv3

https://www.google.com/maps/@31.1434024 ... urce=apiv3

https://www.google.com/maps/@31.1458125 ... urce=apiv3

https://www.google.com/maps/@31.1426781 ... urce=apiv3

https://www.google.com/maps/@31.2297938 ... urce=apiv3

[pluey200]

Winchester VA

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.1720731 ... 312!8i6656

[freebrickproductions]

Winchester VA

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.1720731 ... 312!8i6656

Looks like a normal one, just with a bunch of electrical tape around the base.

[PlyingKibbles89]

Found this one in Oklahoma!
https://www.google.com/maps/@36.9992779 ... 6656?hl=en

[freebrickproductions]

Found this one in Oklahoma!
https://www.google.com/maps/@36.9992779 ... 6656?hl=en

Close, but that's not really one either. That's just a standard General Signals e-bell mounted on a 5 inch adapter. Based on how the 1st Gen WCH mechanical bell on the far side's mounted, there was probably another 1st Gen WCH mechanical bell there originally with a 4 inch base. Here's a crossing with one on the site, if you want to see how an actual one looks compared to the one(s) you've posted so far:
http://www.rxrsignals.com/Kentucky/A-K/ ... /Morehead/

[chris96]

Wow, great finds! I didn't even realize these existed! Does anyone know what year these started popping up in? If they were installed in the early 90's, they've held up very well. It's interesting that the sound they make seems to be a data compressed version of the regular Type 1 tone (which makes sense considering they were running on older technology). I'd say it's the exact same audio file, but at a lower sampling rate. When the sample rate of a digital audio file is lowered significantly, the high frequencies are reduced, resulting in the perceived "deeper tone" you're hearing. If you compare the sound of the prototype version to the common Type 1, the only noticeable difference (at least to my ears) is the lack of high frequency content. The common production version of the Type 1 uses a AD9652 DAC (Digital to Analog Converter) from Analog Devices Inc which is a surprisingly advanced chip that is also used in devices like CD players. It also has a fairly large EEPROM chip for data storage. This explains why audio could be stored in much higher quality in the Type 1.

[freebrickproductions]

Wow, great finds! I didn't even realize these existed! Does anyone know what year these started popping up in? If they were installed in the early 90's, they've held up very well. It's interesting that the sound they make seems to be a data compressed version of the regular Type 1 tone (which makes sense considering they were running on older technology). I'd say it's the exact same audio file, but at a lower sampling rate. When the sample rate of a digital audio file is lowered significantly, the high frequencies are reduced, resulting in the perceived "deeper tone" you're hearing. If you compare the sound of the prototype version to the common Type 1, the only noticeable difference (at least to my ears) is the lack of high frequency content. The common production version of the Type 1 uses a AD9652 DAC (Digital to Analog Converter) from Analog Devices Inc which is a surprisingly advanced chip that is also used in devices like CD players. It also has a fairly large EEPROM chip for data storage. This explains why audio could be stored in much higher quality in the Type 1.

These would've been some of General Signal's first ones, starting production all the way back in 1992 (without a doubt).

[chris96]

Wow, great finds! I didn't even realize these existed! Does anyone know what year these started popping up in? If they were installed in the early 90's, they've held up very well. It's interesting that the sound they make seems to be a data compressed version of the regular Type 1 tone (which makes sense considering they were running on older technology). I'd say it's the exact same audio file, but at a lower sampling rate. When the sample rate of a digital audio file is lowered significantly, the high frequencies are reduced, resulting in the perceived "deeper tone" you're hearing. If you compare the sound of the prototype version to the common Type 1, the only noticeable difference (at least to my ears) is the lack of high frequency content. The common production version of the Type 1 uses a AD9652 DAC (Digital to Analog Converter) from Analog Devices Inc which is a surprisingly advanced chip that is also used in devices like CD players. It also has a fairly large EEPROM chip for data storage. This explains why audio could be stored in much higher quality in the Type 1.

These would've been some of General Signal's first ones, starting production all the way back in 1992 (without a doubt).

Wow, that long ago? Do you know if these older versions suffered from the water leakage issues the Type 1 faced? I'm guessing maybe not if they've lasted this long.