Yes, there were some early Gateway models that had a continuous piezo
Oh okay and I was wrong about never hearing piezos when I was really young but it was because I wasn’t sure if it was a piezo or not because it didn’t pulse. Again we are here to learn. My parents had a square shaped Sunbeam unit in the crawl space of their old house. It was not a Sunbeam centurion, it was actually called a Sunbeam smoke sensor and the alarm was from about 1982-83. The name “Sunbeam” appeared in raised lettering on the cover of the unit and the test button was clear and also flashed every thirty seconds when the unit had a properly working battery in it. This alarm also was smaller than many units of that time period. You may know the alarm Im talking about. Im pretty sure Fire Alarm Fan would know what it looks like. There was a round Dicon unit around the same time of this one and I believe it did a continuous piezo as well. The Dicon resembled the unit and had the same kind of test button.
Surprisingly I’ve never heard of a square Sunbeam, must have been a Canadian only unit. I remember there was a B&D alarm on YT someone had that was rectangular, had a Dicon-style sensor, had a round hole for the horn’s output on the cover and did a 3 KHz continuous signal. I do know there were square Dicon units, they looked like the 300. One appeared on Silent Alarms (seen at 13:31 in package, didn’t see it installed with the other units.) There were also several on an episode of https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJQExI3RBjc&index=176&list=PL91B9B77C5AEC2F6A the Red Green Show’s Handyman Corner. Saw one in person in at RV when we were RV browsing with my older sister’s family at an RV super-lot in Indiana. I definitely am on the lookout for one.
I was re watching the Silent Alarms segment on YT. I also had this episode taped on VHS around 2000 the year I do believe this is from and I saw the Dicon alarm and Im thinking that the Sunbeam unit was a rebranded Dicon 300. You don’t get a long glimpse of it though. I do believe you are right that it was a Canadian only unit. Im trying to find the episode of Red Green with the Dicon alarms. That show was also Canadian as well. I also found this article online from 1979 that shows what the Sunbeam smoke sensor looked like. I didn’t think it was around that early. My Dad installed one in our old house in the crawl space around 1982-83. Unlike the Dicon 200 and Sears early one that were original to the house when we moved there in the summer of 1981. Im going to try to post the article. The pic of the alarm might be sketchy but you can still clearly see what it looked it but I think that and the Sunbeam were one in the same. Hope you are able to view it. Im also still on the lookout for the Dicon 200 and the Sears Early One.
tps://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1946&dat=19791108&id=woY1AAAAIBAJ&sjid=paQFAAAAIBAJ&pg=5350,4013124&hl=en
Im reposting the link but hopefully this time you will be able to see it.
Thanks for posting the episode of Red Green Handymans Corner. Didn’t realize I just had to click on that link. Yep those definitely resemble the Sunbeam unit. Again Im thinking the units are one in the same.
And here’s a rare modern one:
a FireX model A
it’s tiny: compaired to my 4518
It’s 9 volt only and does 4/6. It is a bit finicky, At 1st it sounded weak, but after a few good smacks it sounded properly.
I’m definitely gonna bid on this
http://m.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-1978-Honeywell-Battery-model-CD200A-Smoke-Fire-Detector-/152185437167?nav=SEARCH
Quite intersting collection of smoke detectors. I too would like to upload few I have got with me
Would love to see the smoke detectors you have Carol. I have an interest in the older 1970’s units. The ones that squealed when they went off. These were a big childhood fear of mine. Still don’t like the sound today and I’m 43 but they definitely got your attention. I have just a small collection of one vintage bell from the 1960’s and a Nortron AC smoke detector from the late 1970’s. Hoping to get alot more as time goes on. My regret was not taking the old ones from my parents old house. One sears, two Dicons, and a Westclox smoke signal. All 1970’s units.
Hi Carol!
The forum is currently experiencing issues with the photo uploading/attachments feature. We’d love to have you share your collection, so please take a look at this topic for instructions on posting pictures in the meanwhile: https://forums.thefirepanel.com/t/correctly-posting-images-to-tfp-attachments-workaround/2255/5
If you experience any issues with posting your photos, feel free to contact me; for any other trouble with the forum, drop a message to any of the moderator/administration staff. Thanks for joining and welcome!
Another gem, and 2 semi-rare ones:
2 Jameson Code One 2000 0125s from 1989. Nothing too special about them, both do 4/6. The gem, a Sears 246.57077 from 1977. Clearly it’s just a modified SA76RS with the classic Sears front vents. Seems smaller than the real deal though.
As you can see, the test button was removed, but the contact remained intact, and is still fully functional. Why they didn’t just leave the test button as is and include it on the cover like an actual SA76RS is beyond me. Sounds like an SA76RS as expected.
I’m still looking for an actual SA76RS. Seems like they almost never show up on eBay.
Neat Sears unit. Looks like both a combination of a Sears and a First Alert with the style of the vents on the cover. Although this does look smaller than the traditional Sears units of the same era. Was there supposed to be a test button on these units originally? Like you said it looks like there is a place for one as I can also see but it was left out. Looks like a rare unit and it must have the same raucious high pitched squeal too. You will have to make a video as well.
Seems like there’s been an influx of Sears Early One’s on the bay lately:
NiB 439.57301 (Cerberus rebrand) http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-NEW-OLD-STOCK-Sears-Early-One-Ceiling-Fire-Alarm-Smoke-Detector-in-Box-/112100547030?hash=item1a19b699d6:g:~dsAAOSw9NdXtghz
a bit pricy, but another NiB 246.57077 from the same seller I got mine from: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Sears-Early-One-Smoke-Fire-Detector-Model-246-57077-NOS-New-Old-Stock/311677023718?_trksid=p2045573.c100033.m2042&_trkparms=aid%3D111001%26algo%3DREC.SEED%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D38530%26meid%3D75a39d03367542a5b5af4a488ba1cd25%26pid%3D100033%26rk%3D3%26rkt%3D8%26sd%3D112100547030
…and there’s this Gateway rebrand that just appeared on ebay as well:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-NEW-OLD-STOCK-Sears-Early-One-Ceiling-Fire-Alarm-Smoke-Detector-in-Box-/152218619559?hash=item2370efcea7:g:52kAAOSw65FXvz4M
…AND there’s this outrageously-priced unit which looks to be an SS74R rebrand. What’s interesting is that I think I see the round sensor in there instead of the coffin shaped sensor:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Sears-Early-One-Smoke-Detector-and-Fire-Alarm-/131918704625?hash=item1eb6f7aff1:g:kaoAAOSwV0RXviHW
Sears Early Ones definitely seem to be popular on ebay lately!
That’s the Cerberus rebrand minus the test button, with the First Alert style cover, which would explain why the box has the 439.57301 style cover on it. Maybe Cerberus made some components for First Alert early on before the made their own.
I apologize for double posting, but 2 things I wanted to share:
1, for anyone looking for a GE 8201, there’s a relatively inexpensive 8201-001 on the bay right now if anyone is looking for one. It’s the 12.6 volt version with the old style sensor and DeltAlarm
http://www.ebay.com/itm/1970S-Vintage-Smoke-Alarm-General-Electric-MODEL-8201-/191967215947?hash=item2cb223414b:g:y34AAOSw-kdX06NI
And I made an updated smoke alarm video. this is part 1 of 2, maybe 3. Most rare, a few common. In this video are the bulk of my 9 volt smokes I had yet to feature.
EXTREMELY, Absurdly expensive HB-0933! :shock: :evil:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/VINTAGE-1976-NORELCO-SMOKEY-SMOKE-AND-FIRE-ALARM-Rare-Sell-As-Collectible-/162201892690?hash=item25c3fc7752:g:~ikAAOSwTA9X2JaG&autorefresh=true
I was just about to post that. I know we’ve seen some outrageously priced vintage alarms, but this one takes the cake. Makes me wonder what the seller is smoking.
I can guarantee that somebody will buy it.