I thought the 8201-401c came out earlier than 1985. That video from 1981 has one and I have seen them in houses circa '82.
Also, fun facts:
-There were 2 versions of the Sears 246.57077. Many had sa76rs boards, but the ones with round sensors had Norelco circuit boards.
-The Amway 8375 and 8310 (i think thats the model) were rebrands of the Teledyne-Waterpik d-1. The 8375 was an 8310 with test buttons.
-The First Alert sa76rc was released in 1979. (I am moving into a 1979 house with 2 Brk 769’s and an sa76rc.) About late 1982 they changed the design to use the more modern sensor. (I have one from 1983 from a relatives house.)
-In late 1983 or early 1984 they stopped making the sa76rc and started more mass producing the sa80fc. They were making them before, but now they were producing a many more; this continued until about mid-1985, soon after they released the sa67/83r. During that time, it was sold as a “lower end” model.
-The Brk 769 was released in 1976 and was sold alongside the sa76rs. In 1981 after they introduced the sa76rc, the 769 got changed into the 1769, and they made those until late 1983.
-The 1839aci was Brk’s only hardwired alarm until the 86rac. It was just their “standard” hardwired alarm at the time. It was released in 1985, and was a hardwired version of the sa67/83r with a mechanical buzzer. It too went through the same changes as the sa67/83r, and early versions had “false alarm” sensors.
-All Brk hardwired alarms up until the 86rac had 60hz mechanical buzzers. After the 86rac was released, Brk decided to change, and the revised and updated 1839n was released in about 1988.
-The reddish horns used in the early First Alert sa120’s and some rare mystery alarms were used circa late 1978. --The sa120 was Brk’s first mass produced alarm with a piezo horn. In 1978 Brk decided to make an escape light alarm, and decided to use the new-fangled piezo buzzer. They only made those with the reddish horn because there was no need for a piezo horn in anything else at the time.
Also, fun facts:
-There were 2 versions of the Sears 246.57077. Many had sa76rs boards, but the ones with round sensors had Norelco circuit boards.
-The Amway 8375 and 8310 (i think thats the model) were rebrands of the Teledyne-Waterpik d-1. The 8375 was an 8310 with test buttons.
-The First Alert sa76rc was released in 1979. (I am moving into a 1979 house with 2 Brk 769’s and an sa76rc.) About late 1982 they changed the design to use the more modern sensor. (I have one from 1983 from a relatives house.)
-In late 1983 or early 1984 they stopped making the sa76rc and started more mass producing the sa80fc. They were making them before, but now they were producing a many more; this continued until about mid-1985, soon after they released the sa67/83r. During that time, it was sold as a “lower end” model.
-The Brk 769 was released in 1976 and was sold alongside the sa76rs. In 1981 after they introduced the sa76rc, the 769 got changed into the 1769, and they made those until late 1983.
-The 1839aci was Brk’s only hardwired alarm until the 86rac. It was just their “standard” hardwired alarm at the time. It was released in 1985, and was a hardwired version of the sa67/83r with a mechanical buzzer. It too went through the same changes as the sa67/83r, and early versions had “false alarm” sensors.
-All Brk hardwired alarms up until the 86rac had 60hz mechanical buzzers. After the 86rac was released, Brk decided to change, and the revised and updated 1839n was released in about 1988.
-The reddish horns used in the early First Alert sa120’s and some rare mystery alarms were used circa late 1978. --The sa120 was Brk’s first mass produced alarm with a piezo horn. In 1978 Brk decided to make an escape light alarm, and decided to use the new-fangled piezo buzzer. They only made those with the reddish horn because there was no need for a piezo horn in anything else at the time.
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-Norelco Smokey units were made by Cerberus Pyrotronics, as were the original Sunbeam Centurions. Sears rebranded these at the same time they rebranded the BRK units.
-The Teledyne Water-Pik D-1 is a rebranded SmokeGard 800A believe it or not, so the Amway models could be considered rebrands of either.
-SA76RC was released sometime in the early 80’s, I’m not exactly sure when. Nathaniel has a catalog of BRK models from the very early 80’s which introduces the 79R (beta version of the 76RC) and all the other piezo models. BRK produced a transitional 77R board in the very late 70’s/early 80’s (once again not sure) with the squealer horn, newer 79R round sensor, and the position of the horn and sensor swapped. I have no idea why they produced this version. Could be they were using old leftover horns that they needed to use up before starting on the piezo horn production.
-BRK also had the 1839N, 1839WN, 1839N12R, etc. The ones with the test button in the middle that had the continuous piezo.
-The red/rust horn is believed to have come first, though it’s never been seen in a 79R or others. Color was changed to beige not long after the release apparently, but they kept the three slots design for a while and changed to the three small holes in the mid 80’s a few years before the SA67D came out.
Interesting! Still pretty sure the RC came out in 1979. Soon, I will have 2 of them, the early version and late version. I also wanted to share another fact I found.
Brk alarms with r after the model number were battery power, and the ac meant hardwired. The 86rac has both because it was hardwired with battery backup. The letter i meant interconnect.
I might have owned one of the Probe Christmas tree alarms. I got one in the box at a thrift shop a couple years back. It was gold, about the size of a softball, had vents on the bottom, and used a round metal sensor. I think the box said 1988. Unfortunately, I ended up taking it apart.
BRK produced a transitional 77R board in the very late 70’s/early 80’s (once again not sure) with the squealer horn, newer 79R round sensor, and the position of the horn and sensor swapped. I have no idea why they produced this version. Could be they were using old leftover horns that they needed to use up before starting on the piezo horn production.
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I think you mean the one from that video by the Cassette master. I collect and repair vintage tape players, radios, and other stuff too, so I might have better luck if I try contacting him about it. Wish me luck!
It is a picture from October 1979. Look at the smokes on that display. there is also a rectangle detector that looks more like an alarm clock radio. (could be a combo of a radio and smoke detector). It is towards the very bottom of the display.
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Hey. I think I might know about that clock radio smoke detector. Its kind of a long story.
For years I had always wanted an old school 1970s flip clock, but was never able to find one. Last year I looked on eBay for one and in the process of doing that I came across something cool.
It was an AirCastle clock/radio/smoke detector with a blue vacuum-fluorescent display. I had only known about AirCastle from a shango066 tube radio video. Anyway, 1979 seemed about right datewise.
This was months ago, and the listing has since gone down. But no-one had bought it when it ended. I know the seller so I will try and contact him to see if he still has it. If he does, I might just have to buy it. It will depend on if my dad will let me.
Also, my name isnt Helen. It is just a random name I chose because it sounded nice. You guys can call me Timmy.
Okay, this is really interesting. On google patents, I found a patent for an alarm similar to the ss-218 Benson took pictures of. It was patented in 1971. It says its a fire detector, but it works by detecting humidity. Basically, its a humidity alarm. I noticed its sensor looked like the one in the ss-218 picture, with a triangle with three post-type things on each corner. On Reddit, I found someone with another ss-218 that had the ss74r sensor-triangular stamped sheet metal bent together. So, were there two ss-218 style alarms, one detecting smoke and another detecting humidity? Did they switch at some point? Were there 2 models? This is interesting.
Okay, just watched Tubby’s video on his Universal ss-200. And guess what, folks, yet ANOTHER sensor variant. His Universal has a hexagonal diamond-shaped thing with metal brackets on the side as the sensor. WHAT THE HECK???
I know the ss-74r has a proper ionizing sensor because the CassetteMaster’s ss74r has a radium 226 sensor. So, I an going to assume that all of those style sensors are ionizing. Tubby said in the comments that his Universal has radium. So what is up with the design change and why does the one in Benson’s photo have that humidity style sensor? This is an interesting rabbit hole I have fallen into.
I have this smoke detector, it’s a DS (Detection Systems) smoke detector. I got it from the disposal center in my town, and it’s a photo smoke detector.
Hey guys I finally signed up for an ebay account!! missj_73 finally has moved up in the world…just kidding but I am nearly 47 so does that make me an old timer…we shall see. I placed a bid on a vintage 1978 Honeywell battery model cd200a smoke and fire detector. I shall know within a day or two if I got it…I will keep you all posted but I can say Im excited!!! Again new to ebay so one can only try!
I ended up with another detector today! I was at a friends house, and i mentioned hardwired smoke detectors to his dad. This lead to that, and suddenly, a BRK 1839acwi! I dont think it is any different than an 1839aci. It has the conical-shaped mechanical buzzer and the “false alarm” sensor. It makes sense, though, because the house was built in 1985. They powered it up and it worked! They also gave me the base. I would add pictures but dont know how. Also, good luck on the Honeywell alarm. Timmy73
Wow sounds like an interesting find, if you can manage to get youtube videos I would love to see, I have been able to post youtube video links here but pics are a bit trickier. Thanks Im keeping watch on ebay on it so far Im the only one. again its a first time but this is a detector that was manufactured when I was in kindergarten…still new in box, sealed with all the original hardware including the 9 volt battery (no longer in use but still collector worthy). Got my fingers crossed I should know Monday night!!!
Thanks, it will be the second vintage battery powered detector, the first being the First Alert SA76RS (1977) which as most as of you know I got via this forum. In total if I get this one that makes it five…fingers and thumbs are both crossed on this one but remember its a first time…still Im staying positive.
Soon I am going to make a video on all of my vintage alarms. I didn’t exactly intend to start a collection, but at this point, I have a fairly nice one, so why stop! The main reason I am on here is because of all the fascinating history and information on these alarms. In a couple weeks I will get 2 Brk 769AC-iis (not AC-is)made in 1979, a First Alert sa76rc made in 1979, and an ESL 445t made in 1986. They will go great with my FireX fxw-1 from 1981, my First Alert sa76rc made in 1983, Brk 83r made in 1987, and the Brk 1839acwi built in 1985 I got earlier today. Er, yesterday.
