When was the first Thunderbolt installed?

[LukeH]

Hmm...that may be the reason why the inside of the projector on the famous "jail bar thunderbolt" looked black to me but I don't know It could have been the shadow.

Here's what it looks like:

image removed

I noticed that siren was black on the inside of the horn when I was there. Maybe it was a "Bumblebolt" at one time?

Many of the first sirens were re painted at one time or another. Paint doesn't hold up to well over 50 years as seen in this photo:

[Tyler]

Hmm...that may be the reason why the inside of the projector on the famous "jail bar thunderbolt" looked black to me but I don't know It could have been the shadow.

Here's what it looks like:

image removed

I noticed that siren was black on the inside of the horn when I was there. Maybe it was a "Bumblebolt" at one time?

Many of the first sirens were re painted at one time or another. Paint doesn't hold up to well over 50 years as seen in this photo:

It won't last unless it's led paint. Led paint will last for a very very long time as this bumblebolt in Denver explains (had to make a link because the pic is huge ):
http://i.imgur.com/xLdh7.jpg