JakeSiren wrote: ↑Wed Nov 24, 2021 2:14 pm
kb8vul wrote: ↑Mon Nov 01, 2021 4:59 am
SuperBanshee836335 wrote: ↑Sun Sep 05, 2021 5:31 pm
I have some advice for getting sirens:
1: Look for abandoned, broken, or inactive sirens (best places are city halls and fire departments; ask them how long it has been inactive for, then ask them if you can get it once they have removed the siren).
2: Ask fire departments/city halls if they once had a siren that is now in storage, and same as said before, ask them if you can have it.
You were on the right track until you said 'ask then if you can have it"
DO NOT ASK FOR FREE SIRENS... Offer them money for it, and they MAY just give it to you, but always make a REASONABLE cash offer.
Asking for free crap is frankly insulting to whoever you are speaking to.
And be in a position to make the purchase when you make the offer.
As far as what to offer. Somewhere between 200 and 500 dollars is a fair number for most abandoned sirens. And it's a number that will get their attention typically.
Now what may happen is the siren will be put on gov deals at that point and you will need to bid on it. And that is gonna be what ever price it brings.
I own a 2T, it was free. Just ask if it's being sold, then how much. Also, why would a broken siren that can't be fixed be for money except for just display??
First off it's a government asset, meaning they can't just give it away working or not. Second offering reasonable money for it shows commitment to getting it.
And be prepared to get it down from where ever it is IF they sell or give it to you. Do not expect it to not only be free but for them to remove it for you as well.
Getting 200 to 1000 pounds of siren off a pole or a roof is no easy feat. And YOu need to know what you are doing here or you open yourself up for some serious liability.
If someone built up a specific platform in a building to support a heavy roof mounted siren and craned it into place that doesn't mean the whole roof will support that weight. You may well try to move the thing and it punch through the roof. And if it's an old building, it may have been able to support it at one point but not any longer. Your free siren could cost you the 30K replacement of some commercial building roof.
So you need to be prepared to PAY for the removal. A crane ain't cheap, but it's the only safe way of removing any mounted siren. And no crane operator is gonna allow some kid to climb up a pole and try hooking up a siren or anything else to be lifted... you are going to need professionals for this.. and again, not cheap.
You are far better off in the long run to save up your money and then contact West Shore or another siren company and see what they have in the bone yard they will sell you.
And don't think that 200 bucks is gonna get you a fully operational single phase siren of ANY kind. You are gonna need about a grand, a trailer and truck to go get it and someone to drive the truck if you can't. And don't be bothering these people until you have money in hand. They are running a business and don't have a bunch of time for tire kickers and telephone calls about what they have in their bone yard.