While on vacation recently, I was lucky to find and buy this vintage wind-up heat detector from an antique store. It’s a Gardsman model, manufactured in Canada by Consumers Engineering Co. As with other wind-up detectors of its kind, the alarm rings whenever the heat reaches a certain temperature in the room. I looked up the patent number 351127 and found a match on a Canadian government patents database, which shows these alarms were first manufactured circa 1935. The patent expired in the 1950s.
I have one exactly like that, mine doesn’t work properly however due to the gong support being bent. I never thought to look up the patent number.
Just before the end of National Fire Alarm Day, I thought I would share some of my latest buys:
Consider these sampler pictures for now; in the coming days, I will share some more photos plus information on several of these devices. There’s some really neat stuff in store.
Is that a gamewell ms-95
You sure got lucky on that lot purchase! Those vintage devices you got also came in brand new as well
Spot on! It’s not often I find pull stations for sale, so this was a nice addition.
Yep! They’re pretty expensive, mine is key reset
Westclox, while primarily known for time clocks, did make this smoke detector that was designed to be carried on the go away from home. It comes with all its original packaging and inserts, including the battery. Despite its age, it still worked when I tested it with a fresh battery. The carrying bag looks nice, too.
As part of the fire alarm lot I bought last month, I got an Amseco motor bell, a 2nd-generation Edwards Integrity horn, and this unique “Reflex Horn” from Korea. Sadly, I wasn’t successful in getting the latter unit to work despite my best efforts, but it is an interesting piece that I may consider parting with in the future. The bell and horn do work, though.
Nice! Sad the Reflex Horn dosent work
The color code for this device may be different from what is used in the United States since it was manufactured overseas, so that may help explain why I cannot get it to work. I’d rather not try finicking with it, either, so that I don’t cause an electrical short.
Here’s a rare Gamewell-branded Wheelock LSM-24 strobe I bought as part of that fire alarm lot. It also comes with its original packaging and mounts.
I also got two of these standalone Wheelock strobes that I presume would be attached to a 7000 series device or used by themselves. Unfortunately, at least one of these did not work when I tried powering it. Any history on these would be appreciated.
I also got this Wheelock WM1T-24 strobe as part of the lot.
More to come!
The devices continue! Here’s my Wheelock LS1M-24 strobe.
Next is my Wheelock WMT-24 strobe with its original box and inserts. I did have a picture of the serial tag on the back, but it got corrupted while I was moving the image over.
I also picked up this Wheelock HS2W-24–something that is not common to find nowadays!
To cap things off, I also got this Gamewell-branded bell mount and these Wheelock trim plates.
Are you becoming a gamewell fan like me?
This will be the last set of pictures from the fire alarm lot, plus a few extra of my Westclox device.
First up is this Gamewell-branded Wheelock ET-1010-WS-24 speaker/strobe, with a “Union Made” sticker for a nice touch.
I also have this Gamewell 67842 speaker, which was originally made by Atlas Sound as the PP-4056. I don’t when these were first rebranded by Gamewell, but the patent dates back to September 1978.
To close out the lot, I have this Gamewell MS-91 pull station, manufactured in 2001.
Lastly, I have some leftover pictures of the Westclox device I posted some time ago.
Sound clips coming soon!
Not sure I ever knew Gamewell rebranded that particular model: the speaker on the back is unique too.
I can only find two search results for “PP-4056”, & one of them is of a Pyrotronics rebrand, so as far as I know the name of that series of speakers is actually the “Voice/Tone” or “VT-series” according to Atlas Sound’s website.
Gamewell really made Centuries (as well as addressable Centuries) for that long huh? Wow…(though the dates on the module’s label are not the DOM: I believe the actual one is stamped on the inside label: June 6th, 2003. It’s also an MS-95 rather than an MS-91 according to both labels)
Amseco motor bell:
Edwards Integrity horn (continuous and temporal codings):
Westclox smoke detector:
This has to be rare.
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Do you know which panels that it works on?
Gamewell identiflex and E3 ( if it’s set on Apollo Xp-95 protocol)