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From left to right: Volume 1, Number 1, June 1962 ("???"); Vol. 1, No. 3, Feb. 1964 ("BSRA Bulletin"); Vol. 1, No. 5, April 1964 ("Rollsign"); and Vol. 1, No. 8 (First issue with a photo).

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HOME   /   WHAT WE DO   /   ROLLSIGN MAGAZINE

Rollsign Through the Years

by Daniel T. Lenihan, Rollsign Director
(Originally published in Rollsign, March/April 2009 Issue)
 

Rollsign began with a single sheet of mimeographed paper in June 1962. Vol. 1 No. 1 did not have a name or title at that time and William Grimes (the editor) was looking for a good title for this "newspaper." Bill talked about a new mimeograph machine the Boston Street Railway Association acquired, the need for members to write articles, and an update on Type 5 No. 5706 at the Branford Trolley Museum.

By the time Vol. 1 No. 3 came along in February 1964, Bill had given the "newspaper" a temporary name, Boston Street Railway Assoc. Bulletin. It was not until Vol. 1 No. 5 in April 1964 did Bill mention himself as Editor.

The first photo that appeared in the magazine was a photographic print that was pasted on the first page. It was a photo of ex-Dallas Railway & Terminal double-ended PCC No. 3344 taken on May 29, 1964 by Edward A. Anderson.

In November 1965, Dan Lenihan was appointed Editor. He had previously assisted Bill Grimes as Associate Editor until Bill's pressing work commitment prevented him from keeping a ten-issue per year schedule

From the beginning of the newsletter until November 1965, the price had been 10 cents. With the December 1965 issue the price was increased to 25 cents. At that time as well, Bradley H. Clarke was appointed Associate Editor and Robert Minichiello was appointed Current Events Research Manager.

In March 1966 a new Rollsign masthead based on a Type 4 rollsign and trolley hook was designed by Branford Director, Paul Harling. In May 1966 Rollsign went to offset printing for better reproduction. And, in November 1966, the BSRA Directors voted to appropriate $250.00 to cover the cost of printing 10 issues of Rollsign. In November 1967 the price of an issue of Rollsign increased from 25 to 30 cents and in April 1970 the price increased again to 50 cents.

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