Minnalarms Salvage - School No. 1
Last December, I was given an extraordinary opportunity from my local construction company to salvage some vintage bells from an old school in my area. It was demolished in January 2024.
This school was built in 1954, with a cafetorium, shop, music room, and multiple classrooms. An addition was built in 1971, with a large gymnasium, locker rooms, two art classrooms, and a pool.
The 2021-2022 school year would be the building’s last, as the school district had become a one-building district, effectively replacing all three of its older facilities at once. One being demolished before I could get to it, and one being turned into apartments, as far as I know.
(Although this building is now gone, some images have been censored or cropped to respect privacy. No, I will not reveal where this building was.)
March 13, 2023 - Exploring the School
I went up to the school to check out the building, as an auction was being held there. I knew this would be my best chance to find out what devices I wanted to salvage before demolition, and documented every unique device I could find.
The fire alarm system was a Silent Knight 5207 system, with Wheelock AS horn strobes, Silent Knight PS-SATK pull stations, and ESL 711U + System Sensor I3 smoke detectors, along with Chemetronics 603 heat detectors. Connected to the panel was an Altronix AL600UL-ADA power supply.
As for the time signaling system, it was a mix of IBM and Simplex bells.
1954 Building:
- IBM RVF 4015 4" bells - Hallway, one in boiler room
- IBM RVF 4015 6" bell - Cafetorium
- IBM RVG 10" bells - Exterior
1971 Addition:
- Simplex 4017-42 4" bells - Hallway, one in locker room, one in art classroom
- Simplex 4017-62 6" bell - Gymnasium
- Simplex RVG 4018-3A 8" bell - Pool
- Simplex RVG 10" bell - One on exterior
There was also an American Time & Signal 1005 bell in one of the locker rooms, presumably to replace one damaged by rowdy students.
I also found remnants of a 1970s Edwards fire alarm system, presumably installed when the 1971 addition was built.
Edwards 870/871 Flush-Mount Horn
Edwards 241 Heat Detector
Here are the remains of the Edwards FACP, in the boiler room. It was likely gutted out when the 5207 was installed. Unfortunately, the tag was destroyed, so I don’t know what it was…
December 2-3, 2023 - Salvage
After a few calls with the local construction company, I found out that they finally got the contract to work on demolishing the building, and I was given permission to go inside the following weekend and salvage what I wanted.
Unfortunately, when I got there, the asbestos abatement team had already begun work in the building, and I lost out on two of the bells… Not only that, scrappers completely destroyed the fire alarm system, gutting out the FACP, Wheelock AS’s, and the annunciator. However, the pull stations were left intact.
If the scrappers didn’t get to the 5207, it could’ve been my first panel.
I was able to find an empty shell of an AS on the floor… Not a terrible loss, as I’m more into the vintage stuff, but c’mon!
In the janitor’s office, where the panel was, I was able to find some smoke detector boxes, a Chemetronics 603 heat detector with the base, and an ESL 711U smoke detector head with a dust cover on it. I also took the key from the FACP, which works on the pull station.
You can see these items in my collection list HERE. (Scroll down to the School Salvage Collection.)
Luckily, the rest of the building was open for me, and the bells were left intact. Though, they may have been the scrappers’ next target… I got there just in time for those.
Bonus Photos
Here are some pics of what the building looked like, including other interesting stuff I found.
These interesting panels were sadly lost, as the front office was being abated… They were likely scrapped, anyway, but I didn’t get there in time.
I know the Simplex 2350 is a master clock panel, but the IBM one… I’m not sure. I never got to look inside it.
Before and After
(December 2023)
(January 2024)
So that’s how it happened. I wish I had better luck with the fire alarms, as that was my biggest priority besides the bells. This was only my first building, though, and I have my eye on a few other buildings that might be demolished sometime in the future, so who knows?
Special Thanks to…
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My father, and my uncle, for their assistance.
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The school district, for supporting my efforts.
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The construction company, for giving me this awesome opportunity.
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The Fire Panel, for inspiring me to do this, and giving people like me a place to share in this niche hobby.
