On Sat, 9 Jun 2001, Ken Follett wrote:

> http://animation.filmtv.ucla.edu/students/awinfrey/coneintro/coneintro4.htm

This is fun, but it doesn't really address the history of traffic cones.

My circa 1960-65 childhood memories (Chicago and mid-Michigan) are of a
traffic cone somewhat different from the current dayglo orange standard.
They were yellow, with a red stripe around the top end, and I think a
black stripe around the bottom.

Also used in construction zone traffic management in those days were black
iron spherical oil lamps (flame at the top) which resembled cartoon-style
bombs.

Another aspect of automobile/landscape/artifact history that I often
wonder about: the co-invention or interaction of electric railroad
signalling and traffic lights.

Still another detail: the Wayne County Road Commission (next door to us
here in Southeast Michigan) claims to have invented painted lane striping
in the early 20th century.

---
Lawrence Kestenbaum, [log in to unmask]
The Political Graveyard, http://politicalgraveyard.com
Mailing address: P.O. Box 2563, Ann Arbor MI 48106