Hi,
I removed the fully functional Luminator brand destination sign set from my 1994 TMC "RTS" bus. This uses the energy efficient flip type characters, not LEDs. I have the front, side and rear signs, plus the control panel. I would particularly like advice on where to sell it. Is there a forum for city transit districts?
I know nobody here would want it, and I will not sell it to anyone here to avoid breaking the rules. I presume this unit cost thousands when new, and must be worth something to city bus fleets that need to service their old units. If there is any charitable organization I can donate it to, that would be ideal, as I don't want to fool around with it for months ... I just want it out of here. But I would like the deduction if it is perhaps worth something.
I tried and tried to get Luminator to help me program it to display my own messages, but they ignored me when they found out I was a private citizen.
Any thoughts?
Thanks
You can list it in the Classifieds on my RTS board if you want. Most people who go there are taking them out as you did, but you never know. It's free and I know of at least one person who works for a major transit company who visits there.
URL is in sig.
Another thought is to contact the folks at the Pacific Bus Museum, their website is http://www.pacbus.org (http://www.pacbus.org). I haven't been involved with them, so have no direct knowledge - but most museums need parts (and don't forget the tax benefits of donating.) Your profile shows you in San Francisco, so the location should be convenient.
Now, another thought - also discussed here before. Keep the destination signs, there may be a way to reprogram them. ( I had a new sign printed for my 4107, including the destination WRONG BUS - it caused a lot of chuckles when I had the bus worked on at a local charter operator).
Yes, programming is an issue. One of my transit system clients bought buses through another system's options - but didn't get its own programming equipment. Their sign manufacturer wanted an extreme amount of money for reprogramming. For us, making friends in a transit system's maintenance department may be worthwhile - and someone at PBM may know someone.
It's also well worth clicking on http://www.pacbus.org/flash/detroit.swf (http://www.pacbus.org/flash/detroit.swf). This has been posted here, before. I just wish there was some way to get this as a ringtone for my Treo 650.
Arthur