ARCHIVED: Mystery Sirens (2008-3/2021)

[fedsigtbolt]

Tornados, sever storms, hurricanes, fires. It basicaly depends on your location.

[500AT]

When I was in Monroe County today, I came across these sirens that i've never seen before.

The Ida siren is a Whelen 2000R. These sirens were never that popular around here, but Ida bought it to replace their SD-10. Sadly, I liked their SD-10 much better than their Whelen.

The siren at Exeter Twp. is an old WS Darley product. I believe it's an a Federal Model 5, but in a unique housing. Moreover, the flood lights under the siren are indeed used for deicing purposes.

[cauberallies]

That's a horrible pic. You can't even tell if it's a siren or not.

It is most definitely a siren. It is behind the Sinking Valley VFD outside Altoona, PA. I don't have a digital camera other than my cell phone, so that was about the best I could do. I will borrow a camera one of these days and get better pictures.

I have never heard it, but according to friends that live near it, it's single tone. It looks like a stack of plates, covered in rust. In my 10+ years as a siren enthusiast, I have never seen another siren of this type, in pictures or in person.

[Oldiesmann]

Drove up to Hamilton today to get a closer look at a siren I that I couldn't get a clear view of from Live Maps (Google doesn't have a street view of this area). This is what I found...

[pyramid head]

Looks like a half version of the HOR, very neat! I see news things every now and then on here, makes me wonder exactly how much we don't know.

[carexpertandy]

Drove up to Hamilton today to get a closer look at a siren I that I couldn't get a clear view of from Live Maps (Google doesn't have a street view of this area). This is what I found...

Is that supposed to have 2 horns, or only 1? Most HORs have 2.

[Oldiesmann]

It looks like it's only supposed to have one horn. If you look at the full-sized version of the photo, the only other thing under the housing besides the rotors is the motor. No room for other rotors or horns.

[CTsirenhunter]

There is a two-horned version of that siren on top of a fire station in Newton, MA. I believe it's on the Siren Archive. H.O.R. sirens are a particular favorite of mine, in terms of both appearance and sound.

Ah, here it is!

[Oldiesmann]

Yeah, that one does appear to be similar. Maybe this one did have two horns at one time?

I'll send an email to the Butler County EMA and see if he can give me any more info about it (or pass the message on to someone who can). Unfortunately, I don't know anyone who lives in Hamilton, nor do I know who's in charge of siren maintenance in Butler County.

[carexpertandy]

It looks like it's only supposed to have one horn. If you look at the full-sized version of the photo, the only other thing under the housing besides the rotors is the motor. No room for other rotors or horns.

I guess you're right. I see the rotors that produce the sound for the horn shown, but I don't see any on the other side that would produce sound out of a second horn.