The Magnetic Signal Company was an American company based in Los Angeles, California , focused on railway signalling . The company was the manufacturer of the ubiquitous "Magnetic Flagman" wigwag railroad crossing (or level crossing ) signal, seen all over California and the western states.
15-554: The company was established sometime after 1910, and received its first patent, on May 19, 1914. Its general offices and factory were located at 3355 East Slauson Avenue in Vernon , an industrial area just south of downtown Los Angeles. It was an ideal location for a company that would eventually supply over 7,000 wig-wag signals in the US and the world, because it had excellent rail access for not only shipping its products out, but also for bringing in
30-517: A new tree-lined barrier, new LED street and traffic lights and metro local bus benches. The project was officially completed in May 2017. Rapper Ermias Asghedom (1985–2019), professionally known as Nipsey Hussle , was from Los Angeles. He frequently referred to Crenshaw and Slauson Avenue in his music, and was nicknamed Neighborhood Nip for that reason. He owned the Marathon Clothing Store on
45-554: A subsidiary of American Brake Shoe until it was purchased by the Griswold Signal Company of Minneapolis , Minnesota , sometime in the late 1940s. At that time, the offices and factory on Slauson Avenue were closed down and relocated to Minneapolis. The Magnetic Signal Company was sold to the Griswold Signal Company of Minneapolis shortly after WWII . Production of new signals continued until 1949, and replacement parts until 1960. Slauson Avenue Slauson Avenue
60-866: Is a major east–west thoroughfare traversing the central part of Los Angeles County, California . It was named for the land developer and Los Angeles Board of Education member J. S. Slauson . It passes through Culver City , Ladera Heights , View Park-Windsor Hills , South Los Angeles , Huntington Park , Maywood , Commerce , Montebello , Pico Rivera , Whittier , and Santa Fe Springs . The street runs 20.9 miles (33.6 km) from McDonald Street in Culver City and to Santa Fe Springs Road, where it becomes Mulberry Drive in Whittier. Mulberry Drive ends at Scott Avenue in South Whittier . There are three major transit stations (two light rail) on Slauson Avenue. They include
75-443: Is primarily four lanes but has some six-lane sections, passes through locations in the mid-southern portion of Los Angeles County. The communities to the west include affluent areas such as Marina del Rey and Ladera Heights . Further east it passes between Crestview and Culver City and through Mid City , Arlington Heights , Pico Union , City of Commerce , Montebello , Pico Rivera , Los Nietos and Whittier . In early days
90-762: The Slauson Station of the Metro A Line and the Hyde Park Station on the Metro K Line . Slauson/I-110 Station of the Metro J Line is elevated in the median of Interstate 110 freeway. Metro Local line 108 operates on Slauson Avenue. The eastern terminus of the State Route 90, the Marina Freeway , is at Slauson Avenue. In Los Angeles, the street is south of Washington Boulevard and Vernon Avenue , but north of Gage Avenue and Florence Avenue . Slauson Avenue
105-585: The raw materials needed to manufacture its products. The Union Pacific 's old Los Angeles and Salt Lake line to the harbor ran just east of the location, and the main lines of the Southern Pacific and Santa Fe ran by just north of there as well. That probably had a great deal to do with those three railroads being some of Magnetic Signal's biggest customers. In its heyday, the Magnetic Signal Company not only manufactured wigwag signals, but also
120-529: The U.S. because of Johnny Carson 's running joke about the " Slauson Cutoff " during his "Tea-Time Movie" sketches on The Tonight Show . Washington Boulevard (Los Angeles) Washington Boulevard is an east-west arterial road in Los Angeles County, California spanning a total of 27.4 miles (44 km). Its western terminus is the Pacific Ocean just west of Pacific Avenue and straddling
135-454: The alternating-flasher type railroad signals, reflectorized "Railroad Crossing" signs, button reflectors for highway signs, traffic island beacons, curb beacons, flasher relays, automobile and bicycle reflectors, and even a "Portafount" portable drinking fountain. The company had sales offices in New York, Chicago, St. Louis, Salt Lake City, Seattle and Washington, D.C. Although it is known that
150-584: The border of the Venice Beach and Marina Peninsula neighborhoods of Los Angeles . The Boulevard extends eastbound to the city of Whittier , at Whittier Boulevard . It is south of Venice Boulevard for most of its length. At Wade Street, Washington Place is formed adjacent and parallel and lasts until just east of Sepulveda Boulevard , where it merges back into Washington Boulevard. Washington merges into Culver Boulevard briefly, but forms back into its own street at Canfield Avenue. Washington Boulevard, which
165-471: The intersection. The intersection was named Ermias “Nipsey Hussle” Asghedom Square in April 2019 to honor him. The music video for Dr. Dre 's 1993 song " Let Me Ride " was shot on location on Slauson Avenue. One of Dr. Dre's lyrics in the song also references the avenue: " The sun went down when I hit Slauson, On my way to the strip, now I'm just flossin' ". The avenue became well known to non-Angelenos around
SECTION 10
#1732856032688180-558: The reinsmen have, and they therefore make the most of it." Mayor Owen McAleer "has set aside that stretch of the highway to those drivers who delight in vying with each other off the racetrack , and policemen have been given to understand that some latitude is to be allowed horsemen there." Washington Boulevard provides bus service between Venice Beach and West LA Transit Center by Culver City Transit line 1, between West LA Transit Center and Downtown by Metro Local line 35, and east of Downtown by Montebello Transit line 50. A portion of
195-616: The signal department of the Pacific Electric Railway developed the first wigwags in 1909, under the direction of Albert Hunt , it is not known when the Magnetic Signal Company became a separate entity. What is known is that it soon became a subsidiary of the American Brake Shoe and Foundry Company of Los Angeles, which also owned National Bearing Metals Corporation and the Canadian Ramapo Iron Works. It remained
210-574: The western portion of Washington was known as the Ballona Road . The far eastern end was known as the Los Angeles and Anaheim Telegraph Road. In 1905, it boasted the headquarters of the local horse driving club , for a mile west of Western Avenue . "The road is not of the best," reported the Los Angeles Times, "and automobiles are usurping it . . . but it is the nearest approach to a speedway
225-547: Was noted for a former Bethlehem Steel mill on the 3300 block. At one time Slauson Avenue was a center for urban heavy industry in Los Angeles; the ATSF Harbor Subdivision once ran along Slauson Avenue. It is also known for the Simply Wholesome Vegetarian restaurant and Health food store , as well as the historic Jet Inn motor hotel . Portions of Slauson Avenue have been revitalized with
#687312