Destination signs.

[lou432]

Read through a 4 page  thread about destination signs and rollers butt didn't find any clear on where to order them and do they make them digital that you can program? I went to change my son this morning in my attempt to go to Syracuse. See my other thread reverse solenoid Spicer four Speed.
  But when I went to change the sign it was so dry rotted it started to shred and I couldn't say it. So I took the rollers out but now the question is where can I get new ones at hand do they make them in digital that you can program yourself for whatever you want?

[Runcutter]

Lou, contact Transign http://transignllc.com/.  I don't know if Del Fields is still involved, but they can direct you.  I had them make the rollsign for our 4107, probably 8 years ago.  If I recall, I worked with Jennifer, but that was a long time ago -- can't rely on either my memory or the same folks still being there.

The company has been in business for a long time, we used them for our destination signs when I started in the bus business 46+ years ago.  Additionally, they'd made the original sign for the 4107, in 1968.

I'd stay away from the electronics, my clients have a lot of issues with them.  Not least is programming.  You might be able to get a sign from a bus to be scrapped, but you need the programming module -- and those are proprietary to the various manufacturers.

Hopefully, Darryl in Smyrna GA will chime in here (I've forgotten his user name) -- I believe he's running a fleet and will have more current knowledge on the electronics.

Arthur

[RJ]

Lou -

I agree with Arthur about Transign, they've been the primary supplier to the bus and rail industry for years for destination sign roll curtains.

If you decide to replace with another curtain, this is a perfect opportunity to add some humor to the sign - like "Lost" "Nobody You Know" and other similar funny signs.  IIRC, their minimum order is for 25 destinations, but you can order more.  Greyhounds often had 100 on their roll curtains!

If you're thinking electronic, a "down and dirty" substitute could be one of those multi-colored signs you can pick up in the office supply section of Costco or Sam's Club.  Then you really could have fun!!

FWIW & HTH. . .

[belfert]

I have considered one of those programmable LED signs to replace my destination sign.  It looks like they sell for $50 to $100 for one large enough for a destination sign.

[DoubleEagle]

Some of the early LED signs were not too bright in daylight, they might be better now.

[LuckyChow]

Lou, contact Transign http://transignllc.com/.  I don't know if Del Fields is still involved, but they can direct you.  I had them make the rollsign for our 4107, probably 8 years ago.  If I recall, I worked with Jennifer, but that was a long time ago -- can't rely on either my memory or the same folks still being there.

The company has been in business for a long time, we used them for our destination signs when I started in the bus business 46+ years ago.  Additionally, they'd made the original sign for the 4107, in 1968.

I'd stay away from the electronics, my clients have a lot of issues with them.  Not least is programming.  You might be able to get a sign from a bus to be scrapped, but you need the programming module -- and those are proprietary to the various manufacturers.

Hopefully, Darryl in Smyrna GA will chime in here (I've forgotten his user name) -- I believe he's running a fleet and will have more current knowledge on the electronics.

Arthur

They still make the roll destination signs, but I don't have any idea how much they cost as all my fleet use electronic.  The Hanover rep told me that recently.  The three manufacturers that I know about and that you'll find in most transits are Hanover, Twin Vision, and Luminator.  Luminator bought Twin Vision recently, so that leaves two that I'm aware of. 

You don't want to buy a new electronic sign ---- they are very expensive.  This is from memory, but I think they are in the $12,000 to $18,000 range for one of the three above.  The easiest way to go electronic is to get a take out from a retired transit.  My bus came with a flip dot, but I took an LED from another retired transit and retrofitted it.  There a lot of suprising issues with these, including the bracketry to fit your bus, the right width sign for your destination glass, clearance in the header for the sign, the right controller, each sign has an electronic IP address that is setup in the programming (one controller can run multiple signs inside, curb side, rear) and the programming of the messages. 

All the signs I know about were made so that you can't program them without the right software.  Part of the sign companies business model was to get the transit system to hire them to do the programming.  However, some of the large systems wanted to do it themselves and had the software to do it.  They protect this software well, so you probably won't be able to "find" a copy.  The newer signs are simple to program as the software is easy to use and does all the work for you.  The older ones had software much harder to use.  I paid someone to program mine for me. 

[richard5933]

I know that this is an old thread, but I wanted to provide an update since we just got our destination roller curtain remade. Transign is definitely still making them, and their customer service is top rate all the way with quick turn-around time and prompt correction of a small problem. Total cost for a new sign with about  dozen destination was $468 including shipping. I think I could have done up to 15 for this price.