VTG 1930-40s GLASS CAT'S EYE MARBLE REFLECTOR Panel Evans Product Co Detroit, MI
SET OF 4 PANELS
Sold as is.
These are vintage Evans Products Company cast metal and glass marble reflector panels, often referred to as a "cat's eye" reflector.
Based in Detroit, Michigan (and later expanding to Plymouth, MI), the Evans Products Company was a prolific manufacturer during the mid-20th century, widely known for automotive parts, railway equipment, and early road safety infrastructure.
Key Details & Historical Purpose:
• Function: These heavy-duty panels served as early retroreflective signage elements during the 1930s and 1940s, long before modern reflective vinyl sheeting (like 3M Scotchlite) was invented.
• Applications: They were commonly mounted onto large wooden or embossed metal highway warning signs, railroad crossing gates, bridge abutments, or the rear of large commercial trucks and trailers.
• Design: The thick glass marbles (or "jewels") are specifically shaped to act as retroreflectors, gathering light from approaching vehicle headlights and bouncing it directly back toward the driver's eyes to maximize nighttime visibility.
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