Suggestions for the newbie hobbyist...

[paul_c]

Any way, just to get started in the hobby, pretty much every vol fire company has at least one siren in the town, many of the island towns have multiple because they use them for flood warning as well. Many test at noon. You could go out and try and get some videos or pictures of them going off, people on here like that.

yes, planning on improving some of the NJ maps of sirens in my area (even if most of them are at fire stations)

[theroofable]

Let me know when you do that, I could give some info on the sirens in this county.

[paul_c]

Let me know when you do that, I could give some info on the sirens in this county.

I was going to forward to the VASirens guy, he seems to have a bunch of thorough maps... but I'll give you a heads up

[Mitch]

Yeah you are pretty much limited to a Model 2 with those requirements. Since you are in Jersey take a drive and look at fire stations to see if they have any fire sirens that aren't used anymore. Model 2's don't come up for sale that often, and if they are on ebay it's going to be an outrageous price. Last I heard a new Model 2 was around $2000, so I don't know why on earth somebody would pay more a used one, even if it is refurbished.

Do this, you would be surprised on how many have old ones lying around. They may even give it for free. Look around, some could still be on the roof or a pole that were replaced by newer ones.

And on the topic of used ones, there is currently one on ebay for 3300 bucks that "restored". You could get a new one for roughly a grand less, that doesn't have chips in the paint or old wiring.

I'd actually like to chime in on this... As much as it isn't my business what "sales strategy" people might use to make a buck off those not as knowledgeable, IMHO it makes us all look and feel dishonest. The people it usually hurts are poor municipalities looking for a siren that isn't $25k a pop, but doesn't know better. Corey isn't the only person doing it, either. It also artificially raises prices involved with partaking in the hobby of restoring sirens. I bought a Model 2 in perfectly fine condition from a member for $400 last year, it already had the field and armature laminated in epoxy. Getting the brushes, commutator, and caps all freshened up cost $75 at a local motor shop. Played with it a little, and sold the thing for maybe $450 plus shipping. That's how it should be, no paint job on a Model 2 is worth $2,000. The Carter hand crank I'm selling is a mere $100 above cost (purchase/overseas postage plus parts/paint), which bills out my time working on it at around minimum wage. There are some extremely strange things going on in this community ever since it started growing by leaps and bounds the last couple years... Call me a jerk, or a busybody, but these are just my own observations and opinions. If you're offended by them, that's your problem, not mine.

[FSThunderboltfan1000]

Mitch I could not have said it any better. What also perturbs is is when people buy up all the sirens at a high price and sell them at a huge price back on eBay with no restoration done to them. People are trying to get a good deal on sirens and a couple people hijack the price on it and the next week we see it on their eBay account with more than a 100% mark up on it. Because of that most of the siren enthusiasts that are not as well off as others do not have the chance to own a siren. If it was Jeb buying all the sirens I would be fine with it because he would put them back up in service but that is not the case they are just going to sit in someone's garage for the most part. I am just talking of what I have been seeing on the board and ebay lately. That is just my $0.02.

[Mitch]

Really, Corey? Your response to me is sending a $5 offer on eBay for my Carter siren because you "can play cheap too"? Your maturity level sure does shine...

[Bryan]

This thread has been locked before it heads down hill anymore. I'm disappointed that we can't keep what should be a very informative post on track. Yes there are people who have been asking WAY too high of prices for sirens that are not truly or thoroughly restored. I would like the original poster to re-make this post and I want everyone to keep on topic. This post had the potential to be very very helpful but instead it got off into name calling and people being upset about others having a difference of opinion.