What Was The Earliest/First Siren Ever Made?

[Austen_lyon123]

I'm Just So Curious Of What The Very Early Generations Of What Sirens Were Produced Way Back Then.

[Chicagosiren-hunters]

In terms of the first 'generation' of sirens, the Federal Electric Company and the Interstate Machine Products Company (Sterling) were the first to my knowledge to start making sirens, mainly for the use of mine signals and fire sirens. Federal started manufacturing sirens in the mid-1910's (IIRC) and started with the Federal Fire Siren (Model B) and the Type A, with the Type 2 (along with the other vertical Fedelcode varients) and a Coaster Siren to come later. IMPC Started with the famous M series in 1917, with the Type F, 12, and the Little Giant to come later in the late 1910's-1920's.

[freebrickproductions]

IMPC Started with the infamous M series in 1917,

How were they infamous?

[Austen_lyon123]

In terms of the first 'generation' of sirens, the Federal Electric Company and the Interstate Machine Products Company (Sterling) were the first to my knowledge to start making sirens, mainly for the use of mine signals and fire sirens. Federal started manufacturing sirens in the mid-1910's (IIRC) and started with the Federal Fire Siren (Model B) and the Type A, with the Type 2 (along with the other vertical Fedelcode varients) and a Coaster Siren to come later. IMPC Started with the infamous M series in 1917, with the Type F, 12, and the Little Giant to come later in the late 1910's-1920's.

Wow! Thanks For The Information!

[Purring Cat]

I think it was the Federal Signal Type B.

[bobcat418]

The physicist John Robinson invented the siren in 1799 and originally intended for it to be used as a musical instrument, however since it could efficiently produce a lot of sound it was later used as a basis for warning sirens. These were perforated disks that would rotate in front of each other to produce sound using air power, however the late 1800s brought electricity and with it the modern siren. Sterling's Model M and the Decot siren were the first modern sirens to be mass produced starting somewhere between 1900 and 1905, however some earlier attempts existed around the 1880s.

[Chicagosiren-hunters]

The physicist John Robinson invented the siren in 1799 and originally intended for it to be used as a musical instrument, however since it could efficiently produce a lot of sound it was later used as a basis for warning sirens. These were perforated disks that would rotate in front of each other to produce sound using air power, however the late 1800s brought electricity and with it the modern siren. Sterling's Model M and the Decot siren were the first modern sirens to be mass produced starting somewhere between 1900 and 1905, however some earlier attempts existed around the 1880s.

I totally forgot about the Decot!

How were they infamous?

My bad, I meant to say famous...darn typos!

[jacob585]

Wait but wasn't the first siren the denver siren?

[LukeH]

Federal and Dillon Box Iron Works were the first large scale manufacturers. Sterling and Decot showed up late to the party.

Dillon Box, founder and owner of Dillon Box Iron Works of Denver Colorado, designed the Denver Siren in 1913. Hendrie and Bolthoff MFG and Supply co of Denver Co distributed these sirens. It was later patented in 1915 by William Box. In 1916 Dillon Box Iron Works suffered hardship and the patent was sold. Though there are no records of who it was sold to, in 1917 Interstate Machine Products of Rochester NY began producing a similar siren with the exact same model designations. So far this has led me to believe the M series siren evolved from those pictured below.

One of these sirens stands at an abandoned fire department in Virginia. There is another on a water tower somewhere in TN.

[JasonC]

One of these sirens stands at an abandoned fire department in Virginia. There is another on a water tower somewhere in TN.

There is (or at least was) one at the Moriah VFD in Moriah NC. I last saw it about 10 years ago, I don't believe it was in use.