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Soundwaves

2006

Anglian, Thetford, 2006

“Anglian Burglar Alarms” burglar alarm, Thetford • Actually I’ve never been to Thetford, a friend took this photo. I’m reliably informed it’s boring.  • Spotted: Town centre, Thetford, Norfolk, IP24, […]

2 initials

AM Security Group, Brighton, 2010

“AM Security Group” burglar alarm, Brighton • I always like these fairly rare “arched” boxes (which no doubt the cognoscenti will tell me are useless), there’s a rectangular AM Security […]

2014

Just Security, Shrewsbury, 2014

“Just Security” burglar alarm, Shrewsbury • And let’s hope the judge is just… • Spotted: High Street, Shrewsbury, Shropshire, SY1, England, 2014 • Politics: In the Conservative constituency of Shrewsbury and […]

2013

Tocsin, South Shields, 2013

“Tocsin” burglar alarm, South Shields • Toxin, geddit? Although the logo looks like an orange. • Spotted: St Hilda Street, South Shields, South Tyneside, NE33, England, 2013 • Politics: In the […]

2014

MPA Fire and Security, Bradford, 2014

“MPA Fire and Security” burglar alarm, Bradford • Swirly! • Spotted: Ivegate, Bradford, West Yorkshire, BD1, England, 2014 • Politics: In the Labour constituency of Bradford West

2010

Protection One, City of Westminster, 2010

“Protection One” burglar alarm, City of Westminster • Looks like someone shot it, but I daresay there’s a more prosaic explanation. • Spotted: Great Titchfield Street, City of Westminster, London, […]

2013

Clear Sound Alarms, Coventry, 2013

“Clear Sound Alarms” burglar alarm, Coventry • I always like sounders with pictures of bells on! I expect this is the same firm as the older, un-illustrated Clear Sound of […]

2010

British Security Technologies, Camden, 2010

“British Security Technologies” burglar alarm, Camden • Portrays the sound of a heartbeat, maybe. • Spotted: Great Russell Street, Camden, London, WC1, England, 2010 • Politics: In the Labour constituency of […]

2006

ESS, Tower Hamlets, 2006

“ESS Essex Security Services Ltd” burglar alarm, Tower Hamlets • Essex Security Services have the benefit of regularly changing their logo and thus featuring many times on this blog. These, […]

2008

APE, Frome, 2008

“APE Bristol” burglar alarm, Frome • More informative version of the simian soundwaves also featured here. • Spotted: Town centre, Frome, Somerset, BA11, England, 2008 • Politics: In the Liberal Democrat […]

2006

Protection One, Hackney, 2006

“Protection One” burglar alarm, Hackney • Looks a bit similar to the Sonitrol logo of a few days ago. • Spotted: Rivington Street, Hackney, London, E2, England, 2006 • Politics: In […]

2012

Frank Alarms, City of Westminster, 2012

“Frank Alarms The Security Specialists” burglar alarm, City of Westminster • Roof with radio waves. Beam me up, Scotty! • Spotted: Great Portland Street, City of Westminster, London, W1, England, 2012 […]

2010

Sonitrol, Hackney, 2010

“Sonitrol” burglar alarm, Hackney • And a newer Sonitrol, which appears to combine soundwaves with the moon on an ADT-style bellbox. • Spotted: Willow Street, Hackney, London, EC2, England, 2010 • […]

2004

Intruder Alert, Tower Hamlets, 2004

“Intruder Alert” burglar alarm, Tower Hamlets • Look, there are soundwaves around the dot on the “i”. Under all the poo. • Spotted: White Church Lane, Tower Hamlets, London, E1, England, […]

2011

Intruder Security Services, Camden, 2011

“Intruder Security Services” burglar alarm, Camden • May be death rays rather than soundwaves. • Spotted: Gower Street, Camden, London, WC1, England, 2011 • Politics: In the Labour constituency of Holborn […]

2004

Javes Security Services, Herne Bay, 2004

“Javes Security Services” burglar alarm, Herne Bay • Ooh, jagged soundwaves. Extra-loud! • Spotted: High Street, Herne Bay, Kent, CT6, England, 2004 • Politics: In the Conservative constituency of Thanet North

2005

KMC Alarm, Hull, 2005

“KMC Alarm” burglar alarm, Kingston upon Hull • Definitely soundwaves, though who knows what KMC stands for. • Spotted: Town centre, Kingston upon Hull, East Yorkshire, HU1, England, 2005 • Politics: […]

1970s disco

Filmark, Glasgow, 2008

“Filmark” burglar alarm, Glasgow • This one’s really striking. Possibly not soundwaves, as it looks more like a Dr Who-style time tunnel. • Spotted: Central Station area, Glasgow, Lanarkshire, G1, Scotland, […]

2 initials

D&L Security Systems, Birmingham, 2005

“D&L Security Systems” burglar alarm, Birmingham • More soundwaves. Blimey, I photographed this one years ago. • Spotted: Theatre Approach, Birmingham, West Midlands, B5, England, 2005 • Politics: In the Labour […]

2010

Security By Design, Southwark, 2010

“Security By Design” burglar alarm, Southwark • There’s quite a lot of sound-themed alarms I’ve not featured yet, so I’m going to do a catch-up on them. This one, for […]

1970s disco

Crime Stop, Birmingham: avatar

Crime Stop Protected "Crime Stop Protected" burglar alarm, Birmingham • Used as my avatar yet I've never previously published this round version. So here it is, in all its shadowy intruder-like glory. • Spotted: Meriden Street, Birmingham, West Midlands, B5, England, 2005 • Politics: In the Labour constituency of Birmingham Ladywood

2012

Apollo Alarms, Lambeth: sunrays

Apollo Alarms "Apollo Alarms" burglar alarm, Lambeth • Found near the Archbishop of Canterbury's gaff at Lambeth Palace, this features un-Christian Apollo, favourite Greek god of burglar alarms. So maybe that triangle of radiating waves is meant to be sunrays, rather than the more usual soundwaves.• Spotted: Lambeth Road, Lambeth, London, SE1, England, 2012 • Politics: In the Labour constituency of Vauxhall

2010

Padley, Brighton: blaring

Padley Security "Padley Security" burglar alarm, Brighton • This is a bit odd, as the name seems to have nothing to do with the sun. Maybe the image is meant to be a blaring bell, or a flashing light. Or maybe it's just a celebration of the sunniness of Brighton. • Spotted: Queens Road, Brighton, East Sussex, BN1, England, 2010 • Politics: In the Conservative constituency of Brighton Kemptown

1970s disco

Ades Burglar Alarm, Bristol: red moons

Ades Burglar Alarm "Ades Burglar Alarm" burglar alarm, Bristol • I really like this weird old 1970s disco-style logo I found in Bristol, home of one squillion burglar alarm firms. It's probably meant to be soundwaves emanating from a bell, but looks more like a lot of crescent moons surrounding a planet, so I'm including it in the astronomy category too. The colour of the box may be significant: Ades is an unusual surname thought to derive from the Hebrew for "red". • Spotted: Gloucester Street, Bristol, Avon, BS2, England, 2011 • Politics: In the Liberal Democrat constituency of Bristol West

2 initials

B.D. Security, Fulham: barking

BD ChelseaHarbour Hamm&Ful nr SW10 0XD 6118_800 "B.D. Security" burglar alarm, Hammersmith and Fulham • I have long been waiting to show this excellent cartoon logo, in which which I think B.D. stands for 'barking dog'. There weren't any guard dogs in earshot when I photographed it, though; maybe the firm is based in Barking. • Spotted: Chelsea Harbour, Hammersmith and Fulham, London, SW10, England, 2011 • Politics: In the Conservative constituency of Chelsea and Fulham

2012

Alarm Vision, Cardiff: spiky

Alarm Vision "Alarm Vision" burglar alarm, Cardiff • This is great. I love the way the Welsh feel driven to put red dragons on everything – and how can you not like a tiny mythical creature poncing around in a spiky monogram-cum-waveform? • Spotted: Quay Street, Cardiff, South Glamorgan, CF10, Wales, 2012 • Politics: In the Liberal Democrat constituency of Cardiff Central

1970s disco

Scan, Merton: bubble lettering

Scan Alarms "Scan Alarms" burglar alarm, Merton • Dig that crazy bubble lettering – not the world's most sophisticated rendition of the concept of scanning, to be sure. • Spotted: Merton High Street, Merton, London, SW19, England, 2010 • Politics: In the Conservative constituency of Wimbledon

1970s disco

ACS, Westminster: scary

ACS "ACS" burglar alarm, City of Westminster • Wow, these are impressive all-encircling waveforms, like something from a scary 1950s sci-fi movie. Bring on the theremin music! • Spotted: Duke of York Street, City of Westminster, London, SW1, England, 2012 • Politics: In the Conservative constituency of Cities of London and Westminster

2010

Matrix, Aylesbury: waveforms

Matrix Fire & Security "Matrix Fire & Security" burglar alarm, Aylesbury • Now for a few sounders which demonstrate their techiness via the medium of waveforms, which here appear to emit from a worryingly low-tech megaphone. • Spotted: Cambridge Street, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, England, 2010 • Politics: In the Conservative constituency of Aylesbury

2 initials

AC Controls, Cambridge: alternating

AC Controls "AC Controls" burglar alarm, Cambridge • AC as in alternating current, to judge by the waveform. • Spotted: Regent Street, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, England, 2010 • Politics: In the Liberal Democrat constituency of South Cambridgeshire

2010

British Security Technologies, Islington: heartbeat

British Security Technologies "British Security Technologies" burglar alarm, Islington • Looks more like a heartbeat monitor (a dirty one). • Spotted: York Way, Islington, London, N1, England, 2010 • Politics: In the Labour constituency of Islington South and Finsbury

2010

“Class A”, Derby: hard drugs

Class A Alarms "Class A Alarms" burglar alarm, Derby • A baroque paean to classiness, somewhat undermined by its unfortunate reference to hard drugs. • Spotted: Town centre, Derby, Derbyshire, DE1, England, 2010 • Politics: In the Labour constituency of Derby South

2011

“Ape Fire & Security”, Bristol: wild

Ape Fire & Security "Ape Fire & Security" burglar alarm, Bristol • Ah, APE – not only a wild animal emitting soundwaves, but an unexplained hand-drawn monogram in the shape of a circle. Many boxes ticked. • Spotted: Victoria Street, Bristol, Avon, BS1, England, 2011 • Politics: In the Liberal Democrat constituency of Bristol West

2010

“Ides”, Glasgow: fateful day

IDES Intruder Detection and Electrical Services "IDES Intruder Detection and Electrical Services" burglar alarm, Glasgow • The Ides was part of the fantastically complex early Roman calendar system, as in Julius Caesar's fateful assassination date, the Ides of March (aka March 15, 44 BC). Probably a coincidence, as this is an acronym for the firm's unwieldy full name, but enough to get it in the "Time" category. • Spotted: Merchant City area, Glasgow, Lanarkshire, G1, Scotland, 2010 • Politics: In the Labour constituency of Glasgow Central

2011

“Marksman”, Bristol: take aim

Marksman Security Ltd "Marksman Security Ltd" burglar alarm, Bristol • Today I start a brief and brutal run of shooting-related sounder designs, both deliberate and coincidental. The word "marksman" is a fairly unambiguous reference to firearms, as are the target-like soundwaves (if that's what they are)... so, take aim! • Spotted: Broad Street, Bristol, Avon, BS1, England, 2011 • Politics: In the Liberal Democrat constituency of Bristol West

2007

“Roding”, Tower Hamlets: wasteland

"Roding Security Services" burglar alarm, Tower Hamlets • Another river-cum-creek, the Roding weaves through Essex before reaching the Thames via Barking Creek and Creekmouth, crossing a strange industrial wasteland that's been the subject of both literature (Iain Sinclair's psychogeographic ramblings) and art (Jock McFadyen's vast bleak paintings). But what's that in comparison to being immortalised on a burglar alarm? • Spotted: Brick Lane, Tower Hamlets, London, E1, England, 2007 • Politics: In the Labour constituency of Bethnal Green and Bow Above: the River Roding, just before reaching the Thames at Barking

2012

“Cherwell”, Oxford: apocalyptic

"Cherwell Fire and Security" burglar alarm, Oxford • I love this: a "W" made of fire, leaping apocalyptically from a pool of soundwaves. Pronounced "Churwell", the Cherwell is one of Oxford's two famous rivers, and also lends its name to a venerable student newspaper (these days, a website). The other famous river? That's tomorrow. • Spotted: High Street, Oxford, Oxfordshire, OX1, England, 2012 • Politics: In the Labour constituency of Oxford East Above: punt rollers (to help foppish punters avoid the weir) on the Cherwell at Oxford

2 initials

Ghost under “GC”, Chelsea: comeuppance

Ghost under "GC Fire & Security" burglar alarm, Kensington and Chelsea • And now mighty Chubb gets its comeuppance, with just two measly corners peeking out from beneath a somewhat less venerable brand (albeit one boasting soundwaves – always a good point). • Spotted: Beauchamp Place, Kensington and Chelsea, London, SW3, England, 2011 • Politics: In the Conservative constituency of Kensington

2 initials

“Watchman Alarms”, Edinburgh: not plural

"Watchman Alarms" burglar alarm, Edinburgh • Another waveform in a circle, like Guardwell the other day – only not as retro. Luckily the name isn't plural, so I don't have to go on about the also retro Watchmen graphic novels. • Spotted: Charlotte Square, Edinburgh, Scotland, EH2, 2012 • Politics: In the Labour constituency of Edinburgh North and Leith

2007

“Guardwell Ltd”, Camden: self-explanatory

"Guardwell Ltd" burglar alarm, Camden • A name that falls into the "does what it says on the can" category – I doubt there are any firms called Guardbad. Note also the nice retrofuturist "GW" monogram, suggesting a waveform in a circle. One from a motherlode I found in the Kilburn High Road several years ago – if I ever run out of burglar alarms all I have to do is pay another visit, as there must be enough dodgy old bell boxes above the shops there to last at least another year. • Spotted: Kilburn High Road, Camden, London, NW6, England, 2007 • Politics: In the Labour constituency of Hampstead and Kilburn

2011

“Abba”, Lambeth: Swedish disco

"Abba" burglar alarm, Lambeth • Oh yes, an ancient Abba alarm with soundwaves in the background. Named after a Swedish group formed in Stockholm in 1972, or possibly a north London electrical shop I ran across recently, also called Abba. • Spotted: Brayburne Avenue, Lambeth, London SW4, England, 2011 • Politics: In the Labour constituency of Vauxhall The other Abba
“Abba”, Lambeth: Swedish disco

2004

“AM Security Group”, Brighton: swelling sides

"AM Security Group" burglar alarm, Brighton • Not a super-rare case style, but unusual and striking nevertheless with its swelling sides. You see these mounted horizontally too, and with the right design and colourway such boxes can look stylish – though this isn't one of them. The busy logo manages to cram in references to time, a bit of a key at the end of the 'M', and radiating from the 'A' is a spiky circle that suggests a bandsaw or a gun sight, but is probably meant to be soundwaves. • Spotted: Old Steine, Brighton, East Sussex, BN1, England, 2004 • Politics: In the Conservative constituency of Brighton Kemptown

1970s disco

“ESS”, Tower Hamlets: bottom-lopped shield

"ESS" burglar alarm, Tower Hamlets • Here's a rarely-seen shape that's very similar to Banham's proprietary shield, but with the crucial difference of having its bottom lopped off. Although ESS is an unexplained acronym, l happen to know that this psychedelic soundwave design belongs to Essex Security Services, who seem to regularly update their logo and sounders – not to be confused with ESS (Electronic & Security Services) in Northern Ireland, or ESS-Security Ltd of Leeds. Not the most exclusive set of initials, clearly. • Spotted: Brick Lane, Tower Hamlets, London, E1, England, 2006 • Politics: In the Labour constituency of Bethnal Green and Bow

2010

“Friedland”, Newham: solar-powered pouch

"Friedland" burglar alarm, Newham • I can only describe this as a "pouch". It looks a bit like a paper shredder, but I think the grille on top is a solar panel. Web research shows that Friedland is a division of Honeywell, whose name occasionally crops up on vintage alarms, and who still boast the same logo. • Spotted: Marshgate Lane, Newham, London, E15, England, 2010 • Politics: In the Labour constituency of West Ham

2011

“Golden Security Systems”, Brent: dull but gilded

"Golden Security Systems" burglar alarm, Brent • After 318 entries, my first burglar alarm from the borough of Brent – which shows I don't often venture into deepest North London. Gold is an appropriate element for the Totteridge & Whetstone area, home to some of London's most expensive property – although given that Whetstone looks to me no more attractive than Streatham, just a typical dull and dusty, traffic-snarled suburb, Totteridge is clearly the more gilded end. This golden oldie is affixed to Whetstone's small and snorey parish church, St John The Apostle (below), and incorporates a naive monogram with what I take to be sound waves, thus cramming three classic security themes onto one superannuated bell box. • Spotted: St John the Apostle Church, High Street, Whetstone, Brent, London, N20, England, 2011 • Politics: In the Conservative constituency of Chipping Barnet

2011

“APS”, Bristol: tangled metaphor

"APS" burglar alarm, Bristol • A tangled visual metaphor, for sure: a one-eyed arrow-shaped house, with another arrow for a nose, joined by a dotted line (or a very ill-advised facial tattoo) to some soundwaves coming from its single ear, which presumably represents this sounder. The typography is equally complex, with four different fonts, and even the box is an unusual shape and colour – the few other examples I've found have blue sides, whereas these are green. It's all very neatly laid out, and gives the impression that every detail was agonised over – all told, a most unusual sounder design. • Spotted: Corn Street, Bristol, Avon, BS1, England, 2011 • Politics: In the Liberal Democrat constituency of Bristol West

2011

“APE”, Bristol: hairy hominid plus cheeky fly

"APE Fire & Security" burglar alarm, Bristol • Starting today: a bonkers burglar alarm bestiary. Animals are one of the most popular themes for security firms' logos, and they're not always fierce, with at least 50 per cent ranging from from cuddly to crazy. I'll be posting, in alphabetical order, all the creatures I've found so far, excluding birds and dogs, which are so numerous they get their own categories. Thus I start with Ape (plus cheeky house fly), which combines several top security tropes in one minimalistic design: soundwaves, naive monogram, unexplained acronym, and an unfortunate connotation, as presumably it's not really meant to suggest a large hairy hominid. Given the soundwaves I'd guess it stands for something techy like Audio Protection Enterprises, and the pre-dtp logo suggests it's a long-standing firm. (Googles Ape Fire & Security). Yes, this firm is the first thing that turns up, established 1977 and still going strong with an up-to-date website. But as to what Ape – or as their blurb has it, A.P.E. – stands for, there is no mention.• Spotted: St Nicholas Street, Bristol, Avon, BS1, England, 2011 • Politics: In the Liberal Democrat constituency of Bristol West Above: a real ape (Photo by Matthias Trautsch)

1970s disco

“Detecta Link”, Lowestoft: Detecta Dull

Detecta Link burglar alarm, Lowestoft, 2007"Detecta Link Fire & Security Systems" burglar alarm • To catch a thief requires detection, and detection is by its very nature painstaking and procedural, but do alarms featuring a detection theme have to be so dull? The answer, it seems, is yes: and this snorey object is one of the more interesting ones, because at least it's a bit 1970s, and features sound waves. (In general, concentric circles or arcs seem to represent sound, rather than light.) There are duller to come. • Spotted: Town centre, Lowestoft, Suffolk, NR32, England, 2007 • Politics: In the Conservative constituency of Waveney Detecta Link burglar alarm, Lowestoft, 2007