H.O.R. Si-Rex Comes Home

[Westgate Thunderbolt]

Around three months ago a large group of sirens was shipped from the Maricopa County, Arizona Department of Emergency Management yard to an auction venue. In the large mix of sirens was this dual tone 7:10 port ratio H.O.R. Si-Rex perched on top of this Thunderbolt blower cover. From that day I had my mind set to get that siren. On Saturday, November 9th I purchased a set of siren louvers at auction that just so happened to be for that H.O.R.

For about three months it sat until it finally went up for auction Saturday, January 8th. This siren was being auctioned with one Federal Sign and Signal Thunderbolt in the same lot. There was a lot of hard bidding for the Thunderbolts that day and in the auction the previous month. I knew that lot was going to bring big money. There were several bidders that were only interested in the blowers off of the Thunderbolts. At the previous auction I had spoke with one of competing bidders. He had told me to work with him on the next auction so that we were not bidding each other up. On the day of this auction I had told him that I was interested in this siren on this particular lot. He was only interested in the Thunderbolt for the blower, so it seemed that it would be best if we worked together on this one. He said he would do the bidding and I could purchase the siren from him later. He bid the lot up to $800.00 for both the H.O.R. and the Thunderbolt. At the end of the auction he told me he bid more than he wanted to, but he would sell the H.O.R. to me for $400.00. I agreed.

After three months if waiting the H.O.R. came home with me. I pick this siren up on Saturday, January 18th.

Here it is perched on the Thunderbolt: http://m.flickr.com/photos/58979889@N06 ... /lightbox/

Here are the louvers at my friends house:
http://m.flickr.com/photos/58979889@N06 ... /lightbox/

Here is the siren in the back of my truck: http://m.flickr.com/photos/58979889@N06 ... /lightbox/

Here are the siren and motor data plates: http://m.flickr.com/photos/58979889@N06 ... /lightbox/

I have a picture of the siren in the emergency management yard, but I will have to dig it up.

[Daniel]

This is interesting! HOR must have operated in Arizona at one time after leaving New York. Perhaps Harry O. Ricci (H.O.R.) sold the company.

[SirenMadness]

Wow, a SuperSirex and a 7/10 vertical! Westgate, you are my idol!

[Siren_Dude]

Very cool!

[Urbanexplorer]

I can't see the photos, but it sounds interesting. Not too many of those left.

[TommyBNSF]

That's awesome you were able to get a 7/10 port! That has one of the best sounds I've heard on a siren, and it's unfortunate that very few 7/10 port sirens were ever made.

[LukeH]

I am VERY happy somebody scooped this up. congratulations!

[holler]

Talk about one of a kind, glad you saved it from the scrapper.

[Daniel]

Some of these had a four-louvred cover in the style of a Model 5.

[Brendan W]

Awesome!

Is there a photo of one with the louvers on it?