Very First Thunderbolt Ad

[MOStormChaser]

[jradms]

image.jpeg (1.33 MiB) Viewed 7920 times

I also have this Ad which was printed in July 1952. EDIT: please see bottom post for rotated version of this pic if your viewing this on a desktop computer.

image.png (5.26 MiB) Viewed 7920 times

Federal also made this Ad which was printed in October 1952, it shows a list of 200 cities that installed Thunderbolts between February & October of 1952.

[jradms]

image.jpeg (1.34 MiB) Viewed 7915 times

[JasonC]

Federal also made this Ad which was printed in October 1952, it shows a list of 200 cities that installed Thunderbolts between February & October of 1952.

No, it shows a list of 200 cities that use Federal sirens (2,3,5,7 presumably), not Thunderbolts.

Anyway, I'm willing to bet Federal liked the curved design, but it proved to be to costly/time consuming to manufacture, so they went with the design we know.

[SuperBanshee]

I spent about an hour looking for that prototype pic on my computer yesterday. I know I saved it somewhere. If anyone has it can they please post it.
The prototype blower and rotator did look like that though I think the chopper housing was a bit rigged together. It's entirely possible that a chopper housing that looks like the one in the ad was eventually installed on that original blower and rotator.

Where did this term "Rounderbolt" come from and what is that supposed to mean? Seems like these goofy names just pop on here from nowhere.

That photo of a prototypical Thunderbolt was taken in Minneapolis in 1952 - it was taken after the Thunderbolt began production, so it is presumed Federal kept this prototype siren for testing on location. How long it lasted is anyone's guess. It's close to the artwork sketch, but not a total match. Chopper cap, horn supports, blower pipe flange, and rotator shape are different - however it does share the same rounded blower cover.
Later on, some of Federal's dealers used a normal Thunderbolt for demonstrations. It was mounted on a trailer.

"Rounderbolt" is just another juvenile nickname without any factual substance behind it.

I don't have scans of my advertisements right now, so I'll share this clipping instead.

ThunderboltDemo1979.jpg (438.22 KiB) Viewed 7888 times

[Tyler]

Btw, the term rounderbolt was for the thunderbolts that floated around that had a round fiberglass horn. So far we haven't found one and Federal doesn't have that documentation anymore but it was confirmed that federal experimented with it.

I don't know who did it but now people are calling the thunderbolts in the Ads rounderbolts which has blown the name out of proportion entirely.








Here's the post I heard it from 3 years ago:
https://airraidsirens.com/forums/viewto ... f=2&t=3200

[Stormsetter4]

I spent about an hour looking for that prototype pic on my computer yesterday. I know I saved it somewhere. If anyone has it can they please post it.
The prototype blower and rotator did look like that though I think the chopper housing was a bit rigged together. It's entirely possible that a chopper housing that looks like the one in the ad was eventually installed on that original blower and rotator.

Where did this term "Rounderbolt" come from and what is that supposed to mean? Seems like these goofy names just pop on here from nowhere.

That photo of a prototypical Thunderbolt was taken in Minneapolis in 1952 - it was taken after the Thunderbolt began production, so it is presumed Federal kept this prototype siren for testing on location. How long it lasted is anyone's guess. It's close to the artwork sketch, but not a total match. Chopper cap, horn supports, blower pipe flange, and rotator shape are different - however it does share the same rounded blower cover.
Later on, some of Federal's dealers used a normal Thunderbolt for demonstrations. It was mounted on a trailer.

"Rounderbolt" is just another juvenile nickname without any factual substance behind it.

I don't have scans of my advertisements right now, so I'll share this clipping instead.

ThunderboltDemo1979.jpg

This picture is way cool. I do believe the company that had this trailer is now called Blue Valley Public Safety, next time i'm in the area i'll stop by and ask them if they remember this, would be neat to see if it was them.

[Alburnett2T22]

wow, this topic is aging already lol

[Tyler]

wow, this topic is aging already lol

Ok? What was your reasoning to bring it up again?

[Alburnett2T22]

wow, this topic is aging already lol

Ok? What was your reasoning to bring it up again?

I thought I'd just repost the photocopied photo.