LOS ANGELES
October 1, 1929: Certification of private lights: "Los Angeles, Calif.---The Richfield Oil Co. of California is operating a unit of four 24-inch beacons, 8,000,000 candlepower each, revolving on common center at six rotations per minute, elevation of main beam above horizon 2 1/2 degrees, located at Sixth and Flower Streets, latitude 34 degree 03" 03", longitude 118 degree 15' 22"; altitude 285 feet. Two beacons are equipped with blue lenses and two with amber lenses, spaced alternatively. A 24-inch directional projector of 8,000,000 candlepower points to the Western Air Express Field at Alhambra, 8 1/2 miles east northeast." (Air Commerce Bulletin, Vol. 1, No.7)
October 20, 1929: "Although just 350 feet above the sidewalk, the new Richfield beacon atop the Richfield Building at Sixth and Flower, will be the highest aviation guide in the city, in spite of the fact that the City Hall beacon is 435 feet above ground level.
This apparent inconsistency is due to the wide difference in ground elevation of the sites of the two structures. The corner of Sixth and Flower is higher than the City Hall site, consequently the Richfield beacon will reach farther into the sky than that of its taller community neighbor.
In constructing the new light tower, Consolidated Steel Corporation, which was awarded the the contract by the P.J. Walker Company, builders, was faced with special engineering problems. The superstructure of the Richfield Building first had to be reinforced with heavier steel to support the added 70,000-pound weight, after which the 125-foot tower itself had to be constructed in such a way that wind resistance would be cut to a minimum. Although fragile in appearance, because of its great height, the structure possesses a strength commensurate with that of the most solid portions of the massive building which it crowns." (The Los Angeles Times)
August 22, 1955: "Los Angeles' tallest electric sign, the 146-foot Richfield tower, is getting a 'face-lift' that will make it one of the most modern and colorful lighting displays in the western states, Richfield Oil corp. announced today." (Lodi News-Sentinel)