Hall Signal Company
Encyclopedia
The Hall Signal Company was an American manufacturer of railway signaling
equipment in the 19th and 20th centuries. Hall's equipment was widely used by American railroad companies. The company's founder, Thomas S. Hall, was an inventor who developed several important devices in the history of railway signalling. The company manufactured automatic block signaling systems, disc signals (also called "banjo" signals), a rotating semaphore signal
, and the first searchlight-style signal.
The company was established in 1871 with main offices in New York City
and a factory in Meriden, Connecticut
. In 1892 it built a new, larger factory in Garwood, New Jersey
. The company reorganized in 1912 to raise capital and expand its Garwood factory. In 1925 Hall Signal Co. was purchased by Union Switch and Signal, principally for the value of its searchlight signal patents.
Railway signalling
Railway signalling is a system used to control railway traffic safely, essentially to prevent trains from colliding. Being guided by fixed rails, trains are uniquely susceptible to collision; furthermore, trains cannot stop quickly, and frequently operate at speeds that do not enable them to stop...
equipment in the 19th and 20th centuries. Hall's equipment was widely used by American railroad companies. The company's founder, Thomas S. Hall, was an inventor who developed several important devices in the history of railway signalling. The company manufactured automatic block signaling systems, disc signals (also called "banjo" signals), a rotating semaphore signal
Railway semaphore signal
One of the earliest forms of fixed railway signal is the semaphore. These signals display their different indications to train drivers by changing the angle of inclination of a pivoted 'arm'. Semaphore signals were patented in the early 1840s by Joseph James Stevens, and soon became the most...
, and the first searchlight-style signal.
The company was established in 1871 with main offices in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
and a factory in Meriden, Connecticut
Meriden, Connecticut
Meriden is a city in New Haven County, Connecticut, United States. According to 2005 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the city is 59,653.-History:...
. In 1892 it built a new, larger factory in Garwood, New Jersey
Garwood, New Jersey
Garwood is a borough in Union County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 4,226.Garwood was incorporated as a borough on March 19, 1903, from portions of Cranford Township and Westfield Town....
. The company reorganized in 1912 to raise capital and expand its Garwood factory. In 1925 Hall Signal Co. was purchased by Union Switch and Signal, principally for the value of its searchlight signal patents.