Here are what I would consider my top 10 rarest detector finds:
-American Sensors (Dicon) SA310
-Jameson Code One CD-H1
-FireX A (461)
-Lifesaver/Fyrnetics 1255
-Lifesaver/Fyrnetics First Generation F-900D
-Lifesaver/Fyrnetics 0908
-Sears 462.57352
-BRK 1200
-Black & Decker SMK6D/M1
-BRK 1839N
I have a few rare smoke detectors/alarms. I’ll start with my 4 rare household ones:
Dicon First Response Micro 300BX
Dicon Model 300 (I have 2)
Dicon SA-4
I also have a rareish CO detector, which is a COSTAR 12RV-DB.
I have one industrial smoke detector, which is a Simplex 2098-9110 (rebranded System Sensor 2400).
The second detector in that 1981 video is a JC Penney. I have a Nortron TR88 (AC model) in my collection and it does resemble this detector however the Nortron units are much smaller. I also do believe they were only made and available in Canada.
Here’s a cool piece! A still sealed Universal from 1976! The picture on the box looks like a BRK 79DCRI!
Smokey Stover, anyone? This was made by Gateway Scientific in 1983.
“React” by Jameson. Don’t know much about these, but they look like FireXs. Made in 1982.
Another Jameson brand detector. This time it is called the “Code One”. This has an escape light and is from 1985. Likely another re-brand, probably of the First Alert SA-130 or similar.
[quote=benson41011 post_id=62358 time=1413773751 user_id=2947]
That smoke alarm is a later First Alert SA67D. It was made in the early-mid 90’s, after First Alert changed the design from the traditional style to what I like to call the “smiley face” style, as you have here.
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Actually, that is a First Alert SA67b. The SA67d series was over by the time this was made and this was just before the model number refresh. I have one of those.
[quote=Helen75 post_id=85751 time=1577664906 user_id=5742]
Here’s a cool piece! A still sealed Universal from 1976! The picture on the box looks like a BRK 79DCRI!
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The Universal SmokeSignal SS-200 was a rebrand/variant of the BRK SS-218. I saw two at a house for sale years ago.
It came years before the 79DRCI, uses a 12.6v mercury battery. They succeeded the SS-74 which was the basic model and used a 10.7v battery. These are extremely rare, none are known to exist (the house these two were in was sadly remodeled and the detectors are long gone).
Huh. They do look similar! I didn’t know that any other BRK detectors used that triangular sensor besides the ss74r. Speaking of which, take a look at this video by a youtuber I like watching, the Cassette Master.
We start off with a normal Kidde detector. Then there are 2 BRK 1769aci’s!
One of them has been converted into a speaker. Next is just an 83r, nothing special. Last is a GE home sentry 2nd gen. Then we look at some detector PCBs: the guts of the 1769aci that was turned into a speaker, a weird combo that looks like the sensor from an sa76rc on a board with a mechanical horn that BRK used, another weird BRK hybrid, and is… is that… an ss74r? Lets not jump to conclusions, as it could be something else. There are just way too many different BRK variants. I would love to find out more info about them, but I cant find much online besides here.
[quote=Helen75 post_id=85845 time=1578349981 user_id=5742]
We start off with a normal Kidde detector. Then there are 2 BRK 1769aci’s!
One of them has been converted into a speaker. Next is just an 83r, nothing special. Last is a GE home sentry 2nd gen. Then we look at some detector PCBs: the guts of the 1769aci that was turned into a speaker, a weird combo that looks like the sensor from an sa76rc on a board with a mechanical horn that BRK used, another weird BRK hybrid, and is… is that… an ss74r? Lets not jump to conclusions, as it could be something else. There are just way too many different BRK variants. I would love to find out more info about them, but I cant find much online besides here.
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The GE H.S. is actually more like 4th gen, 1st gen was the 101, 2nd would have been the 201, 3rd was the 301 and 4th is the 401C and later rectangular models.
The 2nd PCB is a very late 1970’s transitional PCB made by BRK, from the late SA76RS/77R era or early SA76RC/79R era. Horn and sensor swapped positions, round 79R-type sensor, and pulsating Kobishi squealer horn Never seen another one like it, most likely the only one known to exist at the moment. The cover and base would have been identical to the SA76RS.
The 3rd PCB is a FireX FXB-1A or a Jameson Code One/Sunbeam rebrand
The final PCB is indeed a BRK SS-74R. Only one known to exist at the moment, CassetteMaster claims he has the base and cover somewhere but it was identical to the SS-218, 79DCRI (with no test button) and Universal SmokeSignal SS-200.
Haven’t posted a find on here in a while but because this is the “rare smoke detectors” thread I thought it was appropriate.
I present the Entronic Vigilante II ES-7. Ever heard of it? Made around 1976-1977, it’s the successor to the 12.6v-powered Z-700, uses a 9v battery and also features a test button and LED. Contains a revised sensor with Americium instead of Radium and the Kobishi CLB-27 squealer horn. I knew these existed, I saw an ad in an old newspaper once. Never imagined I’d find one in the wild. You think old BRK’s and First Alerts are rare, this would never compare to those. “Rare” doesn’t even begin to describe this piece of fire protection history.
How did you manage to get your hands on it?
Ebay listing, it was being sold along with 2 modern Kidde’s (a dual-sensor PI9010 and an i9030). No idea how they got it.
Must have cost a good amount of money then if it is as rare as you say.
I just saw the video of the Entronic Vigilante
I would also like to say that a few weeks ago I got some old detectors! For Christmas, I thought that it would be nice to replace the ANCIENT smoke alarms at a relative’s house. I replaced the 2 old detectors with Kidde i9070s. I ended up with a First Alert SA76RC and a BRK 83R. The SA76RC has a later style horn, and the BRK is from 1987. The cool thing is that the SA76RC works as far as I know (Put a 9v in it; beeped for a few seconds and stopped, and beeped when I pushed the test switch), and they both came with the manuals! The BRK is a little broken, though. When I apply power, it beeps and I cant do anything to make it stop. Still pretty cool!
Also, I was at an open house last week. The house was built in 1976. As far as detectors go, there was a First Alert SA67D or whatever the one with the “false alarm” metal senor, a later gen SA150LT. There was also a Kidde with escape light, and that 1970s Kidde (it was original to the house).
[quote="Simplex 4051" post_id=85879 time=1578684489 user_id=18]
Must have cost a good amount of money then if it is as rare as you say.
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It was only about $10 for all 3 including the Entronic. The seller didn’t know what they had, could have sold it for much more.
Then I guess it really was very prosperous you were able to get all of them for a bargain!
[quote="Simplex 4051" post_id=85910 time=1578890680 user_id=18]
Then I guess it really was very prosperous you were able to get all of them for a bargain!
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True, only bought them for the Entronic. I’ll keep the Kidde’s for replacement stock though
Has anyone checked eBay in awhile? There are a few cool rare items currently.
One of those metal Fenwal/Kidde’s: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Rare-1976-Hardwired-120VAC-Fenwal-Smoke-Alarm/392599713476?hash=item5b68c436c4:g:CeIAAOSwZGNd~kJc
NIB Sears Early One 350.57045 (Fyrnetics F-900D rebrand): https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Sears-Early-One-Smoke-Alarm/372879425847?hash=item56d1588137:g:hLcAAOSw3fFd-R9I
GE Home Sentry 8201-201 (12.6v): https://www.ebay.com/itm/GE-8201-2-Vintage-Smoke-Alarm/383369699458?hash=item59429d6082:g:osMAAOSww9dd0y4v
Lot of 3 BRK 1839ACI’s: https://www.ebay.com/itm/X3-New-In-Box-BRK-1839ACWI-120V-Smoke-Detectors/233344666604?hash=item36546d0bec:g:OMAAAOSw8YtdgXo0
NIB Honeywell TC89B-1000, retail model: https://www.ebay.com/itm/VINTAGE-HONEYWELL-BATTERY-MODEL-TC890B100-SMOKE-FIRE-DETECTOR/133306837569?hash=item1f09b4ea41:g:8gkAAOSw321eIRBB:sc:USPSPriority!21286!US!-1
Hey! 'Bout those GE home sentrys. Do you know pproximately when each model came out and how long each one was made? Also, where do you guys find these old catalogs and advertisements for these detectors? Thanks!
[quote=Helen75 post_id=85963 time=1579383746 user_id=5742]
Hey! 'Bout those GE home sentrys. Do you know pproximately when each model came out and how long each one was made? Also, where do you guys find these old catalogs and advertisements for these detectors? Thanks!
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I’ll go for it:
8201-101, 8202-001, 8203-001: ~1975-76
8201-201, 8205-0, 8201-301: ~1980
8201-401C: ~1985
SMK-6 (plus other SMK series): ~1990
A few I’m not sure of. I do know the 8201-101 was the first and original Home Sentry, came out around 76 according to the ad I have. I’m not sure about the 8201-301 and 8205-0 since they have the same sensor but different horns.