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Circa 1919. "Traffic officer at 14th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue." Before stoplights in the District of Columbia, there was the "Go-Go" traffic sign equipped with umbrella and rearview mirror. The Willard Hotel and U.S. Treasury play supporting roles in this Harris & Ewing glass negative. View full size.
Standing on the wood will help his joints, especially if he has 8 hours of duty a day at that post.
[It would also keep his feet warm. The ground is a heat sink. - Dave]
Apparently the fashion was started by men and required a 'platform' heel.
Somehow I think traffic might have flowed better with this guy at the intersection than it does today.
It's easy to see how the mirrored platform was the direct predecessor to early street embedded treadle actuated automated traffic light control systems. Subsequent developments however seem bent on removing any resemblance to the original, with things like ultrasonic, street imbedded induction loop, pedestrian demand button and who knows what other kind of sensor/actuators.
When one stands in one place too long one can become flat footed.
"Looking good, my man, looking good."
on the pole, who's the fairest gendarme of them ole?
A hard working family man long since replaced by a few million electrons.
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