Town & Country Lighted Blinking Billboard

[CBQ Fan]

I ran across one of these in my stash of miscellaneous stuff.  Not even sure where I bought it or how long I have had it.  Anyways it says 12-14 volts.  I assume this is dc?  Anyone know for sure?

[peteski]

Well, model RR accessories are usually designed for 14-16V AC (the accessory terminals of a typical power pack).

If the lights are incandescent light bulbs, they will work with AC or DC.  If they are LEDs, they will also work with AC or DC, but if those are white LEDs without any sort of protection diode in the circuit, the reverse polarity part of the AC power might exceed their maximum reverse voltage.  Probably unlikely, but it would be better to power LEDs using a DC power, or adding a protection diode.  Using DC, LEDs are polarity sensitive.

[CBQ Fan]

Thank you Peteski. This thing looks ancient but the company still sells the products online so who knows. I will give it a shot and see what it does.

[garethashenden]

If they still sell online you could ask them for clarification.

[CBQ Fan]

I had that thought also but I have found answers her are usually faster! 

[CBQ Fan]

I finally got around to hooking this up to a power source. AC works just fine. One single blinking bulb in the middle. Very Lionel toyish look!  But it works! 

[peteski]

I finally got around to hooking this up to a power source. AC works just fine. One single blinking bulb in the middle. Very Lionel toyish look!  But it works!

Sounds like an item that would be at home at @wm3798 layout. 

[CBQ Fan]

Sounds like an item that would be at home at @wm3798 layout. 

You know it would fit right in!

[wm3798]

For some reason I can't see your pictures.
Lee

[peteski]

Pictures?  I don't think there are any pictures. I haven't seen any since the start of this thread.  Going by description only.

One single blinking bulb in the middle. Very Lionel toyish look!

[CBQ Fan]

Here is a picture.

[CBQ Fan]

No matter what orientation I hold my iPad the pictures always post upside down.

[peteski]

Gotta love Apple products.  They march to a beat of a different orientation drummer. 

The ad features an aircraft with 4 jet engines like a Boeing 707, which weren't around until the late '50s or early '60.

[thomasjmdavis]

The ad features an aircraft with 4 jet engines like a Boeing 707, which weren't around until the late '50s or early '60.

That's ok.  That version of the REA logo is also 1960s.

[cfritschle]

The ad features an aircraft with 4 jet engines like a Boeing 707, which weren't around until the late '50s or early '60.

The Boeing 707 began regular service on October 26, 1958.  The blue USPS 7 cent airmail stamp with the 4-engine jet outline on it was also released in 1958. 

I know this is a semi-worthless bit of trivia, but it seems like everyone was trying to latch on to the new technology back then.