fire alarm brands 100 years from now.

I’m sure there will be plenty of different brands from the present then, but do you think any of the current brands will still be around?

Hhmmm…good question, I’ve never thought about that. I think most of them will still be around, unless any of them are bought out by a company with bad management. For example, I’ve heard that the exit sign/emergency light company Sure-Lites made quality products in America, until their parent company sold them to Cooper, then their products were made in China, and the quality worsened. If you have ever heard of a company advertise “since 18**”, you will know that companies can last a long time when under good management.

I think Simplex should still be around by then, because larger applications need someone to handle the fire alarm system during installation, and maintenance.

Tough to say. Unfortunately, companies that have stood the test of time previously are closing now more than ever. I wouldn’t be surprised if none of today’s fire alarm companies exist 100 years from now. I imagine that fire detection and notification will be absorbed into “smart” building controls systems in the not-so-distant future, meaning that one system will seamlessly operate all controllable aspects of a building. Then, I predict that building materials themselves will become smart and fire-proof, kind of like how every surface of the Enterprise in Star Trek: TNG seems to be innately loaded with complex sensors and multi-purpose interfaces. I see the need for aftermarket surface-mount detection and notification systems (as well as aftermarket surface-mount anything) vanishing at some point. Whether or not today’s companies will last depends on if they can adapt their focus as the future unfolds.

That has got me thinking: What were the fire alarm manufacturers of the past that went out of business?

Autocall was absorbed into SimplexGrinnell around 2001 after being bought by Wormald, then Thorn, then Grinnell.

Couch was bought by Faraday in the late 70’s and finally closed in 1985.

Standard Electric Time was bought by Faraday in the late 70’s and discontinued their fire alarm division in the early 80’s.

Holtzer-Cabot closed in the early 70’s.

Pyrotector was bought out by Honeywell in the 90’s and seemed to fizzle out after then.

Many other small companies such as Auth Electric, Acme, Benjamin Electric, Samson, Ellenco, and Firemark just disappeared.

Many more brands have simply become a name and stopped manufacturing most of their product line in-house, such as Faraday and all the Honeywell-owned companies.

Interesting, but what do you mean by “in-house”?

I’m more interested in the companies that made horns then got discontinued. I know that Faraday can’t make anything because of a Wheelock lawsuit, which I found insane because their products didn’t even look alike.

I may be wrong, but I think the lawsuit had to do with patent infringement over strobe synchronization technology. I agree that it wasn’t a very fair settlement though.

Many companies used to design and manufacture all products “in-house”, meaning that they did it all themselves. Now, all of Faraday’s products are manufactured at the Siemens plant, and I believe the overlapping product lines of all Honeywell-owned companies are designed and manufactured at System Sensor’s plant.

What’s worse, is that when Faraday eventually can make horns again, the U-HNH probably will be gone for good. And with that goes the classic sound of the -9219 and Gentex GMS…

ya i do have to say that was an unfair lawsuit but what can we do about it now

Honeywell manufactures their pull stations and FACPs at the Northford location. By “overlapping product lines,” do you mean notification appliances?

Sources: Visited Fire-Lite, saw factory

That’s cool! Did you just walk through the doors, and ask to see things being made?

you one lucky guy

Actually, we had to schedule an appointment. The VP showed us the facility. Each Honeywell subsidiary (Fire-Lite, Notifier, Silent Knight, Gamewell-FCI) has a part of the building. Here, the devices are tested. I remember a testing room covered, wall to wall, with panels, pull stations, and smoke detectors. You could actually watch the devices poll in a line!

The panels are individually tested by Honeywell employees. They take a panel into their cubicle and hook alarms up to it.

The factory: I was not allowed in the factory because I am under 18. However, I could see from a distance the products being manufactured.

I can’t remember much, because it was about a year ago. However, you can schedule an appointment for a tour! :smiley:

how do you do that im intrested

First, keep in mind the location is in Connecticut. If you live far away, you may be out of luck.
Second, you will have to e-mail the vice president and ask for a tour.

If they cannot fit you in, do not feel offended. It gets really busy there! :slight_smile:

ok well i live in IL so maby some time when we go to CO then i will set it up how far is it from denvor CO

CO is the abbreviation for Colorado, not for Conneticuit. Denver is the capital of Colorado, and Fire-Lite is located in Conneticuit. They are two completely different places.

oh wow i miss read Conneticuit thinking it was Colorado. I guess i deserve that if i am reading fast. lol

I like how they power everything up to test it prior to shipping, I wouldn’t expect that. I also like how everything is manufactured in America, providing more jobs. I think it is funny how employees bring the panels to the cubicles and connect alarms to them. I can only imagine all of the noises coming from that area. I wonder if they use a power cord to power the panel, and just unplug it whenever wiring it up.