All FS 450D Horn Mechanisms (That I know of)

Fire Alarm General Discussion
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(Starting from the left): A Series (450), B Series (450D + VALS), C Series (450D + VALS), D Series (450D + V1971)

Quick Overviews-------

A Series: Old 50’s-60’s mechanism akin to the 350’s of the day.

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350 for example:

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B Series: Most common variant designed by FS and still used today.

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C Series: Rarer variant using a Faraday designed mechanism. This mechanism is famously used on the 2901-9833/6020 horns.

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D Series: Rare variant using a newer, redesigned C Series mechanism (Also made by Faraday). This mechanism is used on the mechanical 4903 series horns/horn-strobes.

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If anyone has any more info on these, or has a series not listed here, please let me know.

EDIT 6/17/2024 The original 450’s do infact call there mechanism the ‘A’ series. I didn’t look at the tags when I originally made this. Added close up images of each mechanism. Included that the D series is a newer version of the C series.

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Yeah I’m pretty sure that first-gen Vibratones could be considered “Series A” given how all the others are lettered. I have all of those serieses myself except Series A: the C Series in particular seems to be quite rare. From my testing it seems that B Series Vibratones are loudest (unless Series A is as I don’t own one & thus can’t test the volume).

According to NewAgeServerAlarm’s “A Rare Vibratone” video, Series D Vibratones have a lower pitch due to their mechanism differing from that of B Series Vibratones, using a circuit board rather than mechanical contacts to move the diaphragm back & forth (the circuit board causing the diaphragm to move slower thus resulting in a lower pitch).

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I did look at the tag of my 450 and yes, they are called ‘A’ Series. I can’t tell if A Series 450’s are louder because I (for some reason) never got around to buying a 6V battery to test mine.