General Traffic Equipment

Background

General Traffic Equipment (also commonly known as G.T.E.) is an American, family-owned signal equipment company that was established in 1978. Since then, the company has provided its own line of signals, equipment, and signal controllers to various states in the country. The company's president is Raymond G. Staffon. Originally, General Traffic Equipment's headquarters was based in Yonkers, New York; however, several years ago, the company relocated to the city of Newburgh in New York, in which is the current location. In general, all products of General Traffic Equipment are manufactured on premises and are properly packaged and sent to the company's customers. One of the company's largest customers to date is the city of New York.

Vehicular Signals

Along the lines of vehicular signals, General Traffic Equipment has several models to choose from. Both aluminum and polycarbonate, not to mention, in regards to size, 8 and 12 inch. Most of what has been manufactured could be viewed in service throughout the city of New York today, and many of these heads have been in service for over ten years. These are typically 8" vehicular signals, and two variations of this size are known to exist on the streets. The first version uses practically an identical aluminum housing that is similar to the model TE-19408 from Marbelite, in which was manufactured from the mid 1960s until the late 1970s. Incandescent signal indications were originally in use, and then L.E.D. signal indications appeared in later years. It is believed that a set of incandescent signal indications are no longer optional if such a head is ordered. As of present day, this first variation is still manufactured and installed on the streets of New York City.

The back of an 8" aluminum vehicular signal housing from G.T.E. From lower Manhattan in New York City. Picture taken by Steven Gembara.

It was not until in recent years that the second kind of 8" head was introduced by the company, and its housing is polycarbonate. Furthermore, the housing resembles that of an 8" Eagle Mark IV housing, in which the back feels smooth, not to mention appears round. General Traffic Equipment does not offer incandescent signal indications for this version, and tunnel visors are typically used for the head. Though cutaway and fully circular visors are considered as options.

An example of a cluster of 8" polycarbonate vehicular signals from G.T.E. At the corner of Luten Av. and Eyelandt St. Staten Island in New York City. Picture taken by Steven Gembara.

In continuation of several vehicular signal models offered by General Traffic Equipment, 12" heads are produced as well. A version made of aluminum and polycarbonate exist, and each kind is common to see in some states, like New Jersey and New York, for example. The back of each housing is round in appearance, and this appears similar to that of a 12" Eagle/Siemens vehicular signal.

To meet various municipalities' needs, General Traffic Equipment offers several different colors for its vehicular signals aside from the rather ordinary factory yellow, such as dark olive green, black, and gray. The company could also take special requests.

Two-section 12" traffic signal from G.T.E. From Staten Island in New York City. Courtesy of Google Map.