What is that thingie on the street lamp?

Photo credit: Craig M. Story, via Slate.

It's a Stockbridge Damper...from Wikipedia:

A Stockbridge damper is a tuned mass damper used to suppress wind-induced vibrations on slender structures such as overhead power lines^[1] and long cantilevered signs.^[2] The dumbbell-shaped device consists of two masses at the ends of a short length of cable or flexible rod, which is clamped at its middle to the main cable. The damper is designed to dissipate the energy of oscillations in the main cable to an acceptable level.^[3] Its distinctive shape gives it the nickname "dog-bone damper".^[2]

named for Doctor Stockbridge, a California engineer...


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