"1-4-3" - the 1894 Origins in Massachusetts
In 1894, Capt. F. A. Mahan, an engineer with the Lighthouse Board, suggested a new system for lighthouse characteristics. Under the new plan, every lighthouse in the nation would be given a unique numerical flash.
As a trial, on May 1, 1894, Minot’s Ledge Light in Massachusetts was given a new 12-panel rotating Fresnel lens and a distinctive 1-4-3 flash - a single flash followed by an interval of three seconds, four flashes separated by one second, another interval of three seconds, followed by three flashes again separated by one second.
Someone decided that 1-4-3 stood for “I Love You,” and Minot’s Ledge Light was soon popularly referred to as the “I Love You Light,” an appellation that inspired Mr. Rogers many songs and poems.
"1-4-3" - our Beloved Mr. Rogers Neighborhood
In the week of "Go Stop Go" on Mr. Rogers Neighborhood, the numbers on King Friday and Handyman Negri's helmets are 1-4-3. 1-4-3 was Fred Rogers’ numerical way of saying "I Love You".
This concept was first demonstrated on the show "Transformations," #1696-1700, from 1996, in which Daniel Stripèd Tiger demonstrates this to his friends. Though this is the first time 1-4-3 had been explained, it had been used subtly in many episodes.
On Mr. Rogers Neighborhood “Transformations", 1-4-3 is used to mean "I Love You". 1 meaning I for 1 letter, 4 meaning LOVE for the 4 letters, and 3 meaning YOU for the 3 letters. Reportedly, Fred, maintained his weight at exactly 143 pounds for the last thirty years of his life, and always associated the number, 1-4-3, with "I Love You".
The show was in production from 02/19/68 to 02/20/76, and again from 08/27/79 to 08/31/01. The Pittsburg studio, where the series was taped, was renamed "The Fred Rogers Studio", in honor of Rogers himself. Fred Rogers 03/20/28 - 02/27/03, thank you for your legacy.