My Federal signal 28H

[Henry455]

I recently restored this one I bought off the Bay, it looked in worse shape than Jpaynes's but with a rebuilt motor, a little bead blasting and a little paint, almost as good as new.


I do not think the C series and 66/28 series were considered for the volunteer. They did have a volunteer series but smaller sirens and $35.00 and under. You can see them in this 1963 catalog page:

The 28 sold for $75.00 which was a pretty good chunk of change in 1963.

[JPayne9207]

Where did you find this beast, Ebay? I like it for some reason, even though I am a low tone person myself.

I actually bought it at a garage sale in Louisiana from an old woman selling off her late husbands collection.

[JasonC]

I do not think the C series and 66/28 series were considered for the volunteer. They did have a volunteer series but smaller sirens and $35.00 and under. You can see them in this 1963 catalog

That's what I meant. I didn't even look at what Robert was referring to I figured he was talking about the faceplate on the V series and not the 28.


Anyways, not sure why the grills on the 28's are shaped like that, but I'm sure its just for style and looks.

[Robert Gift]

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What I like about this siren is that there are no "finger guards" in the stator ports.
The only way it could be improved is to remove that unneeded faceplate.

[Jim Z]

Is that a starter motor, or did Federal Signal have motors specially built?

it's similar in that it's a "12 volt" series-wound motor, though I'm not sure that the specific motor they use is identical to any one automotive starter. for one, the band covering the brush/commutator end wouln't be sufficient protection from the elements when slung under an engine.

That said, I wager it's something that Federal has/had made specifically for them, the same type motor was used on a lot of their DC sirens. The Q and the 76/77/78 use the same motor.

[JPayne9207]

Is that a starter motor, or did Federal Signal have motors specially built?

it's similar in that it's a "12 volt" series-wound motor, though I'm not sure that the specific motor they use is identical to any one automotive starter. for one, the band covering the brush/commutator end wouln't be sufficient protection from the elements when slung under an engine.

That said, I wager it's something that Federal has/had made specifically for them, the same type motor was used on a lot of their DC sirens. The Q and the 76/77/78 use the same motor.

The motors casing is very similar to a early model GM starter, but the internal windings are completely different. Starters are made for high torque/low rpm at up to 400+ amps. Their unbalanced armatures are made with thick copper windings which aren't very long & can only be run for a limited amount of time because they heat up fast from their rubust amp usage. This siren motor is made for high rpm (not torque) & it's copper windings are fine(lower amperage), long & it spins roughly about 5 times faster than a starter once it gets going. It can run for an extended time because it is balanced & low amp (low heat). I can actually hold the chopper with my hand, connect it to power & it won't turn. If I tried to do that with a starter motor, I would probably break my wrist & lose a few fingers.

[Robert Gift]

Is that a starter motor, or did Federal Signal have motors specially built?

it's similar in that it's a "12 volt" series-wound motor, though I'm not sure that the specific motor they use is identical to any one automotive starter. for one, the band covering the brush/commutator end wouln't be sufficient protection from the elements when slung under an engine.

That said, I wager it's something that Federal has/had made specifically for them, the same type motor was used on a lot of their DC sirens. The Q and the 76/77/78 use the same motor.

The motors casing is very similar to a early model GM starter, but the internal windings are completely different. Starters are made for high torque/low rpm at up to 400+ amps. Their unbalanced armatures are made with thick copper windings which aren't very long & can only be run for a limited amount of time because they heat up fast from their rubust amp usage. This siren motor is made for high rpm (not torque) & it's copper windings are fine(lower amperage), long & it spins roughly about 5 times faster than a starter once it gets going. It can run for an extended time because it is balanced & low amp (low heat). I can actually hold the chopper with my hand, connect it to power & it won't turn. If I tried to do that with a starter motor, I would probably break my wrist & lose a few fingers.

Interesting.
Thanks for the information.