Western-Cullen-Hayes

Western-Cullen-Hayes, Inc. was originally organized in 1855 as the American Signal Company. The product line was primarily devoted to the areas of signals and communications for the railroads. In 1889, it successfully developed and marketed the first automatic highway crossing bell warning device. This device was activated by the locomotive passing... over, and closing a relay, which in turn activated the bell mechanism. In 1895 the Company name was changed to the Railroad Supply Company. Early in 1903, this company purchased the Chicago Railroad Signal and Supply Company. In 1910 the Railroad Supply Company purchased the L.S. Brach Manufacturing Company, which was designing a "wave light" device intended to visually simulate a railroad watchman waving a red lantern at a crossing. This device was successfully installed in 1912. In 1912 the Railroad Supply Company also purchased the Bryant Zinc Company, which was developing a so-called "Autowag" or "Wig-Wag" warning signal. This device was installed in 1914. Modernized adaptations of that unit are still in use today. In 1932 the Company changed it's name to the Western Railroad Supply Company. On June 26, 1936 the Company installed the first "Model 10" Automatic Grade Crossing Warning Barrier device. In 1953, the Company, then a major supplier of railroad signal and warning devices, was purchased by J. Patrick Lannon and the Company became a Division of Western Industries, Inc. The Company was again purchased in 1968, this time by the Federal Signal Corporation, which specialized in all types of signal equipment. In 1970 Federal Signal Corporation purchased the Hayes Track Appliance Co. of Richmond, Indiana. A family owned Company, which specialized in manufacturing and selling maintenance of way products including derails, bumping posts, wheel stops, and related accessory items. The two companies combined into one division, known as the Western-Cullen Division of the Federal Signal Corporation. These operations were purchased in 1977 by a group of investors from ...Read More