The Siren Board

Rheems1 wrote:It looks like condensation that was built up being purged just prior to them sounding, if you have a humid day they will build up the condensation pretty well.

That's exactly what it was. There's vents on the back of the speaking chamber of Diaphones which is why you see what puff of condensation. If conditions are right you can also see condensation shoot out of the projector. Here's Adam Smith's nicely restored Type B Diaphone (same as Wethersfield's) with a brass piston instead of the standard aluminum where you can see it puffing out both the rear vent and the projector (also note the lower pitch from the heavier brass piston).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GuOHKyuHikk

Also I was about 250 feet away, it took a few seconds for the sound to travel from the Diaphones to me (and the Barn Swallows sitting on the fence in front of me).

Many towns installed horns in the 1940's so the siren could be reserved for civil defense use.

Sorry for the bump, but I finally got around to recording the noon blast of the Cunningham horns atop Wethersfield CT fire company 1 today (9/29/16).
The slap like sound before the horns sound, was my phone hitting the sidewalk after I accidentally threw it when I jumped after hearing the horn tones drop, the laughing was a table of 4-5 people having lunch outside at the restaurant next door to the FD who all jumped in unison when the horns sounded (I regret not filming that ).



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fs2AmHFo8dg

3t22 wrote:Sorry for the bump, but I finally got around to recording the noon blast of the Cunningham horns atop Wethersfield CT fire company 1 today (9/29/16).
The slap like sound before the horns sound, was my phone hitting the sidewalk after I accidentally threw it when I jumped after hearing the horn tones drop, the laughing was a table of 4-5 people having lunch outside at the restaurant next door to the FD who all jumped in unison when the horns sounded (I regret not filming that ).



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fs2AmHFo8dg

That is absolutely awesome! Sounds so deep!

Did the phone crack ?

Valtonus wrote:Did the phone crack ?

To my relief, not even a scratch, and yes it landed face down (thank you OtterBox) Also I got confirmation over on the horn and whistle board, that these horns are indeed Cunninghams, which makes me feel better that I can ID Cunningham horns by site.

Also on a side note: The Cunningham horns that were atop the old Thompsonville fire station in Enfield CT have been removed from service, and not put back up at the new station just down the road. I assume the FD still has them, and have sent an email to the FD about them.