From the Oswego Palladium of Oswego, NY
Wednesday, April 12, 1871

   Locomotive Signal Head Light - A Valuable Invention - W. G. Gilbert, son of the Engineer-in-Chief of the New York & Oswego Midland Railroad, and Thomas J. Wheaton, Engineer of the same road, residents of Oswego, have invented a very valuable improvement and taken out a patent thereon. It is a locomotive signal head-light, simple in its construction and in its practical application.

   It consists of a series of glasses of different colors - white, red, green, etc. - which can be thrown into position so as to cast any shade to the front, in the "twinkling of an eye", by a simple lever attachment which rests at the hand of the engineer. The combination of colored glasses can be readily attached to any of the present head-lights, and requiring no other change to place the improvement in immediate use.

   In company with several persons last evening we were permitted to witness the operation of the invention. The light was placed at a remote end of a long room, showing a white light. At the signal of a whistle from the other extreme of the room a red light was instanly shown. At another signal a half red and half white light was presented. Then green, blue, etc.

   The utility and value of this invention will be readily appreciated by all who are conversant with railroad operations and signals a white light or flag is the signal of safety, and red of danger. But these signals must be placed in the hands of a man who must run forward to show them, and then their power is so feeble that they can be seen only a short distance. This improvement has all the power of the locomotive head-light, can be seen a distance of miles, and can be shown by the engineer instantly without moving from his place.

   With the catatrophe at New Hamburg Bridge, for instance, might have been averted by showing the oil train danger signal to the approaching train a mile or two off. The owners of this valuable improvement are the inventors, above named, and John H. Oliphant, of this city, and it will immediately be brought to the attention of the railroad men of this country.