Traffic Lights or Signals Identification

This article described the types and styles of Traffic Lights that may be confused as or sold as Dinky Toys.

Introduction

Traffic Lights were originally called Robot Traffic Signals when first introduced in the 1930s.

The following image shows a selection of the Traffic Lights that may be found on sales at Internet Auction Sites, Swap Meets etc. The set is not necessarily exhaustive and the author has some signs which are not included in this image.

This article covers those metal signs manufactured by the UK Meccano Ltd Company, Dinky Toys and other manufacturer’s signs covering British Signs.

Image

The following image shows a selection of Traffic Lights from major manufactures.

As in all the accessory identification articles the Dinky Toys signs are on the left.

Identification

Firstly, all metal Dinky Toys signs are clearly marked under, “Meccano Dinky Toys, Made in England” (47 series, pre war and early post war or 773 later post war).

If a Traffic Light is not marked under as Meccano Dinky Toys, it is NOT a Dinky Toy.

Top row from left:

Make	Notes
Dinky Toys	47 Series Traffic Light, 47a 4-face, there are also 3 face lights and 2 styles of 2-face light. Note globe on top. “Meccano Dinky Toys, Made in England” cast underneath. 1935 – 1941 and 1946 – c. 1954). These were renumbered to 773 before being superseded with the plainer finial version, below.
Dinky Toys	773 Traffic Light. Late (1956 on) examples have an all white base to match the 772 signs. “Meccano Dinky Toys, Made in England” cast underneath. 1956 – 1963.
Britains	Marked under Britains etc. Issued from c 1936, note grey base. Scarce.
Charbens	Larger scale.
Gilco (Giltoy Company)	Post war. Note smaller white base and shaped globe. Two-face lights only. Marked Gilco on one of the blank faces.
Kay	Black square base, unmarked
Kay	White square base, unmarked
Taylor and Barrett	Early version, fixed light clusters. Note hexagonal base characteristic of T&B signs.
Taylor and Barrett	Early version, movable metal light clusters. Note hexagonal base characteristic of T&B signs.
Barrett & Sons	Early version, movable plastic light clusters. Note hexagonal base characteristic of T&B and B&S signs. Note Taylor and Barrett split up post war into F G Taylor & Sons and Barrett and Sons. They carried over many items from the pre-war T&B days.

Second Row from left

Make	Notes
Unidentified	Possibly Charbens or Crescent
Unidentified	Possibly Charbens or Crescent. These are usually heavily fatigues and made from three parts.
Unidentified
Unidentified
Cherilea	Unmarked

Third Row from left

Make	Notes
John Hill & Co (Johillco)	Pre-war presumably designed before standardisation of traffic signs, unmarked. Grass base typical (missing chuck at right). This is more properly a farm series item.
John Hill & Co (Johillco)	Large scale pre-war sign in two parts, no globe. Marked “Johillco Toy England” under base. Rare, but do not fetch high prices possibly as very ugly. Note tin foil in lights.
John Hill & Co (Johillco)	Large scale pre-war sign in three parts, with globe as used on Belisha Beacon. Marked “Johillco Toy England” under base. Rare, but do not fetch high prices possibly as very ugly. Note tin foil in lights.