The Siren Board

Hey, I have kept this secret for exactly 2 years since I first discovered it (October 2, 2013). But now giving the secret out to everyone. This Model 3T is located in Glendale (Spartanburg County), South Carolina behind Glendale Fire Department. This Model 3T was removed from service almost 20 years ago because it was since replaced with a Whelen 4004 (the Whelen 4004 has stopped working last year). This siren has been sitting at the exact same spot for almost 20 years since it was removed and placed there. I know what's your question. "Why is it sitting there all the time?" It is because the county never planned on doing with it. Then this siren has been forgotten. I have tried a long time to get this one since I first discovered it. I contacted the fire department and the county Fire Marshall long time ago about it. I haven't got back with the county for a long time. Recently I went back to retake photos of it since I lost most photos of it (storage hard drive broke). But some old photos were downloaded from old Facebook messages. All the time I thought this siren is a Model 5T, but the siren experts have been telling me it's a Model 3T (and the only conformed Model 3T in existence). Since people are telling me this siren is very rare, I am now planning on trying to get it. I am going to try to contact the Spartanburg County Fire Marshall.

Here are some photos of it when I first discovered it (October 2, 2013):






Recent photos of it:
































Please note I got permission from the fire department to remove the housing to see the motor and chopper.

That's all I can say!

Wow! Very cool! That would be cool if you could bring it home someday!

That's a 4004. Cool siren!

4J25 wrote:That's a 4004. Cool siren!

That's a vortex. Look at the cabinet.

Interesting find. Never knew these existed.

uncommonsense wrote:

4J25 wrote:That's a 4004. Cool siren!

That's a vortex. Look at the cabinet.

It's an older style 4004. That county replaced the panels on some of their older sirens with type I panels. Not too sure why they would go that route instead of an FPU, but since they don't use voice on them anyway I guess it doesn't matter. It still has its original rotator that the WPS series sirens have with that round bit sticking out of the housing.

"C2 1/2"
Why can't FS keep names consistent?

So, what exactly makes this different from a 5BT? Just a 5BT with a 5 horse motor?

connerdstines wrote:So, what exactly makes this different from a 5BT? Just a 5BT with a 5 horse motor?

It has a smaller rotor than the 5T/SD-10 has. The Model 3/3T has a 14" rotor, whereas the 5/5T has an 18" rotor. The biggest giveaway besides the noticeably smaller rotor is the motor's amp draw at only 21 amps on 240VAC, especially for being single phase since they draw more current than the same size three phase motor.

DJ2226 wrote:

uncommonsense wrote:

4J25 wrote:That's a 4004. Cool siren!

That's a vortex. Look at the cabinet.

It's an older style 4004. That county replaced the panels on some of their older sirens with type I panels. Not too sure why they would go that route instead of an FPU, but since they don't use voice on them anyway I guess it doesn't matter. It still has its original rotator that the WPS series sirens have with that round bit sticking out of the housing.

The older Whelen 4004s (Vortexs) in Spartanburg County have the type I panel. The only Whelen 4004 with the old panel is the one at Chesnee Community FD Station #2.