3M High Visibility Signals - Discontinuation & Legacy

Discontinuation & Legacy

3M discontinued production of the Model 131 line in 2007 as the result of fewer orders for their signals. These fewer orders were due to initial purchase price (cost of a brand new 3M signal head in 2006 was approximately $2000 for a three-section head, and the fact that the bulb lifespan was only 6,000 hours. The decrease in orders was also due to competing traffic signal manufacturer McCain Traffic Solutions based in Vista, California. In the late 1990s, McCain developed and produced a programmable traffic signal of their own. The "McCain Programmable Visibility Signal" was almost an exact copy of the 3M Model 131. Optical assemblies were almost exactly the same, with minor differences in signal housing body design. The cost of a McCain unit was substantially less, however, and municipalities began replacing 3Ms with the less-expensive McCain PV signal (despite the fact that a McCain Programmable Visibility Signal is around 10-15 pounds heavier than a 3M, and uses the same PAR46 lamp). McCain currently is the only producer of optically programmable traffic signals in the U.S.

Due to their unique design and shrinking numbers, the M-131 is highly sought after by traffic signal collectors. The resultant high demand and tight supply means they often trade hands for triple-digit figures.