Post and tell me different/rare colors and variations of fire alarms, exit Signs and emergency lights.
Thanks 
Variants… I’ve got a good example off hand, it’s not really an American fire alarm device but rather an European one… So I guess that’ll make things a bit more exotic.
Here goes.
I have these older Merlin Gerin sounders, and there’s a couple of variations (two Merlin Gerin and approximately 5 Nugelec variations):
This is the first and second known variant, the only difference being the terminal block that is grey on the 90’s ones and green on the 80’s versions:
The first Nugelec variation is the voice capable version, from there, there is two subvariants, one that makes a “chime”, and the other one with a newer message and no chime. I only have the chime version.
How to tell them apart? The chime version has “sirène a message parlé” written on it and has a deeper sounding voice message. The newer version has “Sirène a message enregistré” written on it.
Picture of my broken SMP Nugelec siren:
From there, there is the non-voice versions… I know of about 4 (note that the "mark n thing is purely conjectural):
- The older “mark 1” version with the curved N “Nugelec Alarme” logo
- The “mark 2” with the stylized “AN” Nugelec logo (I have one on the way)
- the “mark 3” version with the “triangle N” Nugelec logo
- And finally, the “mark 4” version, which has the grey/orange sticker as found on the Nugelec SME siren I sent earlier. On these, the shell has a blue-grey tint.
There is also a low power version of these sounders, both in Merlin Gerin and Nugelec alike… The Merlin Gerin version has only one variant, and for the Nugelec, so far only two versions are known, one with the older Nugelec curved N logo, and another one with the stylized triangular N logo. I only have an old ebay listing picture showing the 2nd Nugelec variant:
That I think would be quite difficult & time-consuming to do given just how many different makes & models of devices exist & how many colors a lot are available in (not to mention all their possible variants).
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Just do ones you have/know, that I may not know
I’ve got a few for you.
Federal Signal Hammertone Silver/Grey
Found on all grey horns manufactured by Federal Signal (e.g. Simplex 4040/41, Federal Signal 350/450, etc.)
Federal Signal Aluminum Finish
A rather uncommon finish, only seen on Federal Signal’s products so far. Basically bare aluminum, which is likely what the 4" horns are made of
IBM/Simplex Wrinkle Grey & Red
Found on fire alarm control panels, and Simplex 4045-12 chimes (grey only), popular finish c.1960s-1970s
Faraday/Simplex Smooth Red Finish
Found on fire alarm horns manufactured by Faraday (e.g. Simplex 4050/51, Faraday 5410, 5420, 5430, etc.)
Faraday/Simplex Smooth Metallic Grey/Beige Finish
Ditto, but grey/beige variants, most-often for non-fire alarm use
Faraday/Simplex Spartex Red/Grey/White
Textured finish found on mid/late 70s → early 80s horns manufactured by Faraday (e.g. Simplex 2901-9833/34, Faraday 5970 (grey), etc. White seems to be super rare)
Photos:
OSFA
Old EBay listings
Spartex White 4050 Post: GothYoda's Collection
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amazing alarms, I love that vib horn
So that’s the name of the color of my 4040s. Always loved the color. Now I know
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Where/how do you find out these color names? (especially given the age of some of these devices)
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You can get different variations in projectors on many old horns. My 4040s have two variations. The Federal PR and PR2.
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Most of these aren’t the “official” color names, just what I could find researching them.
I actually found out what some of these finishes were from lurking around TFP.
Wrinkle Finish: Rare Fire Alarms - #61 by wiley209 (found on an official Gamewell catalog page)
Hammertone: My Faraday 6" Unipact Bell pics
As for spartex, it was shown on the box labels of some of Simplex’s late-70’s → early-80’s products. For example, this NIB 10" gong, cat. 624-505. SIMPLEX FIRE ALARM 10" BELL GONG 624-505 for sale online | eBay
Very interesting, the Simplex 4017 bells in grey were a lighter grey color with a red logo or a “candy apple red” with a white logo.
Their earlier 4016 bells made by Autocall were either hammertone grey or black finish.
The almost metallic beige on the 4090 types was really nice as well.
Ed Burnett