[PRCo] Werather signals

[Bob Rathke]

The Grant Building has the Morse Code signal.  I believe it was installed
when the building opened in the 1930's, probably as an aviation beacon.

The top of the Gulf Building originally had white lights.  Around 1960 the
white lights were replaced with orange and blue lights (horizotnal tube
lamps, alternating colors) and it became the weather signal.  The weather
signal was inactive after the energy crunch in the 1970's, but the white
lights were turned back on in recent years..

There was/is also a orange/blue weather signal on the old Equitable Gas Co.
building on the Blvd. of the Allies near Grant St.  It was in the shape of a
large flame and its colors were coordinated with the Gulf  Bldg. so that
they both showed the same weather signal.

I took a photo showing the Equitable signal in the 1960's, and I also have a
scan of a card explaining the operation of the Gulf Building signal.  Let me
know off-list if you'd like to see these items.

Bob 3/26/05

-----------------------------.
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "James B. Holland" <PRCoPCC at P-R-Co.com>
To: <pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org>
Sent: Saturday, March 26, 2005 4:28 AM
Subject: [PRCo] Re: Elevator dispatchers, Now Morse code


> Thought that was the Gulf Building.       Or did the Gulf broadcast the
> expected weather conditions?
>
>
> Jim
>
>
>
> robert netzlof wrote:
>
> > --- Bob Rathke <bobrathke at comcast.net> wrote:
> >
> >> The Grant Building...
> >> - A plaque on the wall that explained the signal light on the top of
> >> the building that spelled "Pittsburgh" in Morse Code. Does it still
> >> do that?
> >
> >
> > It has been 7 or 8 years since I was in a position to observe, but at
> > that time, yes, the Grant Building still blinked out "Pittsburgh" in
> > Morse Code.
> >
> > Bob Netzlof
>
>
>