Home Parking Meters

Home Parking Meters In Los Angeles a little red "expired" flag snaps into view on the executive's desk, warning the visiting salesman that his pitch time is over. Another red flag goes up in a Chicago teen-ager's room, warning her that she has tied up the family telephone long enough. In the guest bathroom of another Chicago home, the flag reminds a partygoer that others may be waiting. In each case the red metallic flag is enclosed in a device that looks suspiciously like a parking meter. Actually, it is.

Reconditioned and repainted in such unbureaucratic colors as pink, yellow and purple, old parking meters are being sold in increasing numbers for use in offices and homes as timing devices, coin banks or simply the latest examples of pop sculpture.

Many of the meters are revitalized in a tiny shop in Van Nuys, Calif., by Donald Bromiley. 25. Lately he has been filling orders from small head shops and boutiques as well as from large enterprises like the May Co. and Neiman-Marcus (which sells a floor-stand model for $75, a table version for $51). Starting his business in 1970 when he bought two meters from a junkyard for $1.50 each, Bromiley has reconditioned and sold 1,200 of them, most purchased from municipalities like San Fernando (for $4 each) and Beverly Hills ($3.50 each). Bromiley's profit margin may soon be sharply reduced. Says Ronald Weaver, purchasing agent for Beverly Hills: "Next time we sell old meters, I expect we'll get a better price."

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