A Maryland Mystery

[LukeH]

Beginning around 1940, a hand full of electric sirens began to crop up around Maryland. Prime examples of thes sirens are Easton, MD, Odenton, MD, and Boonton, TWP, NJ.

Photos of Odenton, MD pictured here

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Until recently, some of us thought that these sirens may be some variation of the Federal Type B, a knock off Sterling, or some other common pre WW2 era manufacturer.

However, recently a Facebook user Christian Lindberg was able to aquire the Boonton, New Jersey unit, and posted some quality photos of the unit to the Siren Enthusiasts Facebook page. With his permission I am sharing the photos at the bottom of this post.

We now know that these sirens are quite different from any known manufacturer of the time. They are 12/12 port, and powered by 5hp Delta Electric motors.

From extensive research I have a hunch that these sirens are a product of the Baltimore Automatic Fire Alarm Company headquartered in Baltimore, Maryland. Baltimore Automatic Fire Alarm Co also seems to be atleast loosely affiliated with Black and Decker Mfg Co, also headquartered in Baltimore.



So that begs the question. Where did these sirens come from? Are they a product of the Baltimore Automatic Fire Alarm Co? Or perhaps they are a product of another little known North Eastern company. Perhaps someday soon we will know the answer.

Photos courtesy Christian Lindberg

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The siren's tag is completely illegible

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Motor Tag, Delta Electric, 5Hp.

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[ArxCyberwolf]

I'd always wondered what these things were and what they looked like underneath. Now we kinda know! I hope we can shed more light into who actually made these...

[dat612freakoftoday]

So I looked up both addresses from the pictures on google maps and looked through street view to find that the timeline didn't show those sirens throughout all views. Not to mention that those two were not even 2 miles away from each other. So just to ask, when do you think those got removed?

[LukeH]

So I looked up both addresses from the pictures on google maps and looked through street view to find that the timeline didn't show those sirens throughout all views. Not to mention that those two were not even 2 miles away from each other. So just to ask, when do you think those got removed?

Being that both buildings have been long since demolished, they likely went to the junk yard with the rest of the rubble.

[3T22_Fan1000]

I recorded Eastons unknown 12/12 port siren that I though was a normal model b, until someone commented that it was some weird ripoff model b. Real talk, I have no idea what this is but it is pretty cool. I live in odenton and I remember this siren being at the fire department

[3T22_Fan1000]

So I looked up both addresses from the pictures on google maps and looked through street view to find that the timeline didn't show those sirens throughout all views. Not to mention that those two were not even 2 miles away from each other. So just to ask, when do you think those got removed?

1st building is still there just left behind, and the 2nd building got renovated and sirens were removed

[LukeH]

So I looked up both addresses from the pictures on google maps and looked through street view to find that the timeline didn't show those sirens throughout all views. Not to mention that those two were not even 2 miles away from each other. So just to ask, when do you think those got removed?

1st building is still there just left behind, and the 2nd building got renovated and sirens were removed

Firstly I mistakenly smited you instetof applauding I'll correct that as soon as it allows, I do all of this on my smart phone

I am glad to know a building survives, I had looked around a but but didn't recognize anything in particular. I wonder if the city kept the siren, perhaps the city museum would know, if one exists.

[3T22_Fan1000]

So I looked up both addresses from the pictures on google maps and looked through street view to find that the timeline didn't show those sirens throughout all views. Not to mention that those two were not even 2 miles away from each other. So just to ask, when do you think those got removed?

1st building is still there just left behind, and the 2nd building got renovated and sirens were removed

Firstly I mistakenly smited you instetof applauding I'll correct that as soon as it allows, I do all of this on my smart phone

I am glad to know a building survives, I had looked around a but but didn't recognize anything in particular. I wonder if the city kept the siren, perhaps the city museum would know, if one exists.

Your fine

It would be cool if the city did kept the siren in a museum or something

[GuyInDelmarva]

See I knew I was right about the siren! It is a Maryland engineered siren!

[3T22_Fan1000]

I just found out that Hyattsville Maryland used to have one of these Maryland Engineered Sirens as well. The siren got removed in 2009 at the old Hyattsville Fire Station at 4332 Farragut St, Hyattsville, MD 20781.