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385:, serving on various transportation boards and advising the government on a number of safety issues. As a member of Maryland’s Traffic Safety Commission during 1952–1980, Adler made recommendations that later resulted in the formation of a federal department of government focused on traffic safety. Adler also established his own
293:. To operate it, drivers pulled up to a red light and honked their horns to make the light change. The system, designed for use on intersections between lightly traveled and major roads, was first installed by Baltimore on February 22, 1928, at the intersection of
373:. The ability of the bulb to function at half-capacity, even when burnt out, was beneficial in keeping railroad crossing lights functioning for long periods of time. The system remained part of the Pennsylvania Central Railroad until the 1970s.
344:. He patented an external lighting system for airplanes to help pilots better see each other at night. This patent, along with 9 of his other inventions, were transferred by Adler to the U.S. government in the name of safety.
177:. In response, Adler designed a system that contained a warning light connected in parallel to the standard bells. This ensured that even if the bells failed, the light would turn on and alert the driver to an oncoming train.
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and assistant station agent. There, he began developing safety and signaling devices, where he was later asked by railroad president OH Nance to look into fixing the failing electric warning signals at
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His motto was “If they can save lives, I want everyone to have them.” Adler often donated his patents to the government free of charge so that they could be publicly used and help more people.
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and received positive reactions from other buyers. Adler contacted 600 newspapers, magazines, and engineering journals, including
Science Monthly and the
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After the success of this system, Adler was promoted within the company to signal engineer and was given resources for his own experiments and research.
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Adler left behind many inventions that were the first of their kind. He is credited with over sixty patented inventions in the field of
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to study engineering, but after continuing to struggle with academics, he dropped out 2 years later. He served briefly in the
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buried under the road 20 meters away from dangerous spots. At speeds over 24 km/h, this magnet activated a series of
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During his time at Ma&Pa, Adler kept a journal of potential invention ideas for a later date. One of such ideas—the
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396:(now BWI Marshall) and organized the connection of the airport to the city by rail to reduce traffic. The resulting
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126:. As a child he exhibited a vivid imagination. For this reason, Adler’s father encouraged him to pursue inventing.
250:. Once the car had passed over a similar second magnet, the ignition was restored, and the car would be able to
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opened in 1980; Adler died hours before the station's dedication, where he was scheduled to be honored.
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pattern when a train was approaching. This invention, called the Adler
Flashing Relay, received the
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After the success of his projects, Adler left the
Maryland and Pennsylvania Railroad to pursue
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the invention himself, Adler decided to publicize his work in hopes of finding a company to
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By the end of the 1930s, Adler’s work on traffic safety came to an end. After getting his
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On
February 4, 1929, Adler installed a pedestrian push button at the intersection of
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and nearly colliding with another plane, he decided to pursue improvements in
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305:) and still stands today. Further production of this design was picked up by
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273:, to run stories on his system. However, on December 15, 1926, his financial
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223:—became the focus of his career in the 1920s. He conceived the idea for this
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For his first solo project, he set out to design a new flashing signal for
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In 1930 Adler worked on a traffic signal based on different shapes for
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523:"The Man Who Invented Intelligent Traffic Control a Century Too Early"
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endorsement and was later adopted by over 40 railroad companies.
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in the U.S. and served as the basis for modern traffic signals.
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In the 1920s Adler worked on developing the sonically actuated
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suspended work until they could guarantee the support of the
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In 1933, Adler’s double-filament lamp was installed on the
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In 1961, Adler was appointed to the board of directors of
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Adler’s speed control system was based on the idea of car
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At age 14, he developed his first documented invention—an
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98:(June 20, 1899 – October 23, 1980) was an American
412:, some of which he transferred to the government.
389:in 1956 to help inventors in the field of safety.
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610:, an essay on Charles Adler Jr. by Charles Cohen
572:Rasmussen, Frederick N. (September 11, 1999).
227:feature on October 1, 1924, and had a working
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122:Harry Adler and Carolyn “Carrie” Frank in
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466:10.1093/anb/9780198606697.article.1302050
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246:installed in the car which cut the car’s
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164:In 1919, Adler began working for the
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168:(also known as the Ma&Pa) as a
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559:American National Biography Online
166:Maryland and Pennsylvania Railroad
140:After high school, Adler attended
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599:The Charles Adler, Jr. Collection
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394:Friendship International Airport
285:Sonically actuated traffic light
674:20th-century American inventors
669:20th-century American engineers
659:Johns Hopkins University alumni
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324:in Baltimore. It was the first
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664:Smithsonian Institution people
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221:automatic speed-control system
215:Automatic speed control system
193:American Railway Association’s
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371:Pennsylvania Central Railroad
16:American engineer (1899-1980)
381:Adler continued his work in
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206:for the company until 1957.
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460:. Oxford University Press.
454:de Syon, Guillaume (2000).
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267:Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
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574:"In traffic, he saw light"
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654:Engineers from Baltimore
348:Other notable inventions
265:it. He sold the idea to
142:Johns Hopkins University
114:Early life and education
69:Johns Hopkins University
644:Engineers from Maryland
603:Smithsonian Institution
332:Aviation Safety Signal
383:transportation safety
271:New York Evening Post
210:Well-known inventions
156:until December 1918.
148:training corps as an
133:—which he received a
108:transportation safety
89:Transportation Safety
553:de Syon, Guillaume.
365:Double-filament lamp
649:Transport engineers
620:exhibition resource
614:America on the Move
279:national government
137:for 5 years later.
124:Baltimore, Maryland
555:"Charles Adler Jr"
457:Adler, Charles, Jr
353:Colorblind signals
231:by December 1925.
175:railroad crossings
118:Adler was born to
584:on June 12, 2018.
578:The Baltimore Sun
533:on July 22, 2016.
475:978-0-19-860669-7
430:Automobile Safety
225:automobile safety
96:Charles Adler Jr.
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580:. Archived from
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398:BWI Rail Station
322:Cold Spring Lane
307:General Electric
303:Northern Parkway
299:Belvedere Avenue
131:automobile brake
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58:(1980-10-23)
639:1980 deaths
634:1899 births
481:November 7,
240:bar magnets
170:telegrapher
154:World War I
628:Categories
441:References
387:foundation
359:colorblind
295:Falls Road
252:accelerate
204:consultant
78:Inventor,
44:1899-06-20
501:ignored (
491:cite book
377:Late life
361:drivers.
297:and then-
275:investors
229:prototype
200:invention
146:U.S. Army
120:physician
419:See also
248:ignition
104:engineer
100:inventor
80:Engineer
601:at the
263:license
152:during
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404:Legacy
244:relays
189:wigwag
135:patent
301:(now
616:, a
503:help
483:2022
470:ISBN
320:and
102:and
53:Died
38:Born
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