The first truss rod mast arms that did not have guy wires were used in the mid 1950s. They have been the standard way to suspend signals in New Jersey, whether vertical or horizontal, since that time. Today, they are still widely used in new installations, although tubular mast arms are equally common. Most new NJ installations today use a combination of truss and tubular masts.

These 1950s GE “Streamline” clusters in River Vale were favorites of fellow-collector Steven Conboy, who grew up in the area.  In 2020, Steven alertly nabbed one of the heads from this intersection when he spotted it for sale on eBay. I was able to make the pickup and send it along to him; the first time I ever handled one of these very cool (and very lightweight) lights.

A new installation of LFE-Automatic signals, still wrapped in burlap, are about to be activated at Riverview and N. Winifred Drive in Totowa in 1970.  I remember passing this corner many times in the ’70s.  The building in the background contained a Thomas’s English Muffins thrift store back then.  The 8″ signals facing Winifred are still there, I believe, but the 12″ arrow clusters facing Riverview Drive were, sadly, replaced by plastic 12″ doghouse style signals.