I was wondering if anyone here knew about these old Gamewell fire alarm systems? I know Gamewell is famous for their city-wide fire alarm box systems, but I’m not sure when they began doing building fire alarm systems. I know one of their earliest building systems was the FlexAlarm series:
I believe the FlexAlarm series lasted from the 1950s until some time in the 1970s or 1980s. There were initially AC-only zoned systems (I think a coded version may have existed, but I am not sure), but later in the series’ life they made a DC version. I don’t think they had built-in trouble signals; they just used external trouble bells or chimes. Here are a couple of FlexAlarm panels:
(Four-zone AC FlexAlarm system, cira 1963.)
(Eight-zone DC FlexAlarm system, cira 1971.)
Early FlexAlarm systems used miniature versions of their classic street boxes for the pull stations:
Then in 1961 or 1962, they introduced their “Century” series of pull stations, which continued to be made until their unfortunate demise a while back.
As for signals, I’ve seen them use Federal Signal, Faraday and Benjamin horns, bells and whatnot.
In fact, I know this because the schools I attended for elementary (grades 1-6) and junior high both had Gamewell FlexAlarm systems (though the junior high is scheduled to upgrade next summer.)
Any comments?