Multi Alarm Bristol, Bristol, 2011
Multi Alarm Bristol, St Nicholas Street, Bristol, Avon, BS1, England, 2011 • Horizontal and v. dirty one here.
DSSA Bath, Bristol, 2009
DSSA Bath, Town centre, Bristol, Avon, BS1, England, 2009 • Like DSA but with an extra S.
Philip Dadd Security Systems, Bristol, 2013
Philip Dadd Security Systems, Hotwell Road, Bristol, Avon, BS8, England, 2013
RJB Security Systems, Bristol, 2011
RJB Security Systems, All Saints Lane, Bristol, Avon, BS1, England, 2011
Multi Alarm GB, Bristol, 2013
Multi Alarm GB Fire and Crime Defence Systems Bristol and London, Braggs Lane, Bristol, Avon, BS2, England, 2013
KO, Bristol, 2007
KO, Town centre, Bristol, Avon, BS1, England, 2007
C & G, Camden, 2012
C & G, Maple Street, Camden, London, W1, England, 2012
BWS Security Systems, Bristol, 2011
BWS Security Systems, Victoria Street, Bristol, Avon, BS1, England, 2011
Advanced Security, Bristol, 2012
Advanced Security, Queen Street, Bristol, Avon, BS1, England, 2012
Advanced Security, Bristol, 2011
Advanced Security, Surrey Street, Bristol, Avon, BS2, England, 2011 • Previously published in the distance here.
Owl Alarms, Bristol, 2012
“Owl Alarms” burglar alarm, Bristol • Very popular alarm bird – there’s another version of this firm’s bell box here. • Spotted: Baldwin Street, Bristol, Avon, BS1, England, 2012 • Politics: […]
SGD, Bristol, 2011
“SGD” burglar alarm, Bristol • Not so much a monogram as three initials jammed together, but it’s nice. No clue what it stands for, though. • Spotted: Surrey Street, Bristol, […]
ID Fire & Security, Bristol, 2012
“ID Fire & Security” burglar alarm, Bristol • Surprise surprise, another burglar alarm from Bristol. About the one millionth on this blog. • Spotted: Union Street, Bristol, Avon, BS1, England, […]
Stroud Alarms, Bristol, 2012
“Stroud Alarms” burglar alarm, Bristol • Most of these sounders named after geographical areas seem to have incredibly generic designs. • Spotted: Queen Square, Bristol, Avon, BS1, England, 2012 • Politics: […]
Bath & West Security, Bristol, 2011
“Bath & West Security” burglar alarm, Bristol • A newer version of yesterday’s boring sounder. • Spotted: Queen’s Road, Bristol, Avon, BS8, England, 2011 • Politics: In the Liberal Democrat constituency […]
1st New Century Security, Bristol, 2011
“1st New Century Security” burglar alarm, Bristol • An appropriate name for a new year. There’s another version of this, minus the “1st”, here. • Spotted: Victoria Street, Bristol, Avon, BS1, England, […]
Chubb Alarm, Bristol, 2011
“Chubb Alarm” burglar alarm, Bristol • Sadly, I can even tell that this old wreck is the remains of a Chubb. • Spotted: Surrey Street, Bristol, Avon, BS2, England, 2011 • Politics: […]
Chubb, Bristol, 2011
“Chubb” burglar alarm, Bristol • Chubbs simply don’t stand the test of time. There are a few more here, some equally rusty. • Spotted: Surrey Street, Bristol, Avon, BS2, England, 2011 […]
Private Security Services, Bristol, 2011
“Private Security Services Freephone” burglar alarm, Bristol • Bespoke private security. Impressive! (Joke.) • Spotted: Sydney Row, Bristol, Avon, BS1, England, 2011 • Politics: In the Liberal Democrat constituency of Bristol […]
RH Alarms, Bristol, 2011
“RH Alarms” burglar alarm, Bristol • I featured a more faded version of this ages ago. Finally, one showing the name. • Spotted: St Stephens Street, Bristol, Avon, BS1, England, 2011 […]
Dudley Bower Security, Bristol, 2013
“Dudley Bower Security” burglar alarm, Bristol • I sometimes think every single person in Bristol must have their own burglar alarm company. • Spotted: Broadmead, Bristol, Avon, BS1, England, 2013 • […]
Nameless Yin & Yang alarm, Bristol, 2011
Nameless yin and yang burglar alarm, Bristol • Very odd. A yin and yang symbol with no name. Peace, man. • Spotted: Portland Square, Bristol, Avon, BS2, England, 2011 • Politics: In […]
Cannon Fire & Security, Bristol, 2013
“Cannon Fire & Security” burglar alarm, Bristol • One of Cannon’s multifarious logos, this time featuring a semi-oval, aka a “swoosh”. • Spotted: West Street, Bristol, Avon, BS2, England, 2013 […]
BAC Fire & Security, Bristol, 2011
“BAC Fire & Security” burglar alarm, Bristol • A close-up of the bell box I featured on the attractive multi-headed building here. • Spotted: St Nicholas Street, Bristol, Avon, BS1, […]
Avon Alarms, Bristol, 2011
“Avon Alarms” burglar alarm, Bristol • Featured here by dint of a pathetic scrap of black duct tape hanging from the side. Looks like they used the bellbox as a fixing point for […]
APS Automatic Protection Systems, Bristol, 2006
“APS Automatic Protection Systems” burglar alarm, Bristol • I have […]
EAS Systems, Bristol, 2006
“EAS Systems Bath” burglar alarm, Bristol • Again this doesn’t look much like an eye. But I’ve never featured one before, and it’s sort of eye-shaped, so that’s good enough. • […]
Thorn, Bristol, 2013
“Thorn” burglar alarm, Bristol • Just two stickers on this – a dog, and what looks like the Loch Ness monster (or maybe a dinosaur). • Spotted: John Street, Bristol, […]
Safeguard Alarms, Bristol, 2013
“Safeguard Alarms” burglar alarm, Bristol • Still on the semi-vintage theme, a rather ragged example which probably looks older than it is. • Spotted: Christmas Street, Bristol, Avon, England, 2013 • […]
Stand Fast Security Systems, Bristol, 2011
“Stand Fast Security Systems” burglar alarm, Bristol • Same kind of box as Lloyds yesterday, but with the very common (as in you see it a lot) name of Stand […]
Shorrock, Bristol: mossy
“Shorrock” burglar alarm, Bristol • And here’s the final, rather mossy, incarnation of the “tupperware” box, as a Shorrock. You still see quite a few of these around, so I’m […]
Securicor Alarms, Bristol: valiant
“Securicor Alarms” burglar alarm, Bristol • A superb vintage find for Christmas day, Securicor in the days when it was branded “vigilant & valiant”. Founded in 1935 as Nightwatch Services, […]
Alarm Service Group, Bristol: blurred
"Alarm Service Group" burglar alarm, Bristol • Another version of yesterday's brand, this time on a variation of the Eurobell which has a clear plastic lid. This would look OK except the logo is repeated underneath the lid, meaning it looks so blurred you can't read it properly. • Spotted: Gloucester Street, Bristol, Avon, BS2, England, 2011 • Politics: In the Liberal Democrat constituency of Bristol WestAlarm Service Group, Bristol: sad
"Alarm Service Group" burglar alarm, Bristol • Much as I like Eurobells, Alarm Service Group's nice logo looks rather sad on this one; nowhere near as impressive as when on their unusual square sounder, a custom classic featured here. • Spotted: Quay Street, Bristol, Avon, BS1, England, 2011 • Politics: In the Liberal Democrat constituency of Bristol WestAA Security Systems, Bristol: non-alcoholic
"AA Security Systems Bristol" burglar alarm, Bristol • A lovely circular monogram, probably standing for Avon Alarms rather than being sponsored by Alcoholics Anomymous or the Automobile Association. • Spotted: Princess Victoria Street, Bristol, Avon, BS8, England, 2011 • Politics: In the Liberal Democrat constituency of Bristol WestChubb, Bristol: triangularity
"Chubb" burglar alarm, Bristol • And here we have the ultimate in burglar alarm triangularity, the Chubb. I'm talking vintage Chubbs here, the kind with a sharp-edged metal box. and even a mini-triangle strobe on the top. It's a superb-looking design, but sadly they tend to go a bit rusty... • Spotted: St Nicholas Street, Bristol, Avon, BS1, England, 2011 • Politics: In the Liberal Democrat constituency of Bristol WestProtec Wells, Bristol: ziggurat
"Protec Wells" burglar alarm, Bristol • How charming, a logo in the form a steppy triangle. A typographic ziggurat, if you will. I think it refers to the tiny city of Wells, rather than claiming to protect water-harbouring holes in the ground. Although you never know in the West Country – things sometimes get a bit weird out that way, and they do have quite a lot of ancient wells. • Spotted: Town centre, Bristol, Avon, BS1, England, 2007 • Politics: In the Liberal Democrat constituency of Bristol WestAces Security System, Bristol: diamond
"Aces Security System" burglar alarm, Bristol • More of a diamond really, but composed of two clear – if somewhat awkward – typographic triangles, so just slips into the triangles category. • Spotted: Town centre, Bristol, Avon, BS1, England, 2006 • Politics: In the Liberal Democrat constituency of Bristol WestARJ Security, Bristol: aaaargh
"ARJ Security" burglar alarm, Bristol • Another A blasting off an unexplained triangular monogram – it reads as a bit close to "Aaaargh" for my liking. • Spotted: Queen Street, Bristol, Avon, BS1, England, 2012 • Politics: In the Liberal Democrat constituency of Bristol WestCerberus, Bristol: hades
"Cerberus" burglar alarm, Bristol • Weird blank arched alarm named after the three-headed guard dog to the entrance of Hades, also known as a constellation and a dark spot on Mars, amongst other astronomical things. There's a very tiny logo on there, but I can't work out what it is: it looks like a a book, a shield and a knight stumbled into the telepod machine that turned Jeff Goldblum into The Fly.• Spotted: John Street, Bristol, Avon, BS1, England, 2013 • Politics: In the Liberal Democrat constituency of Bristol WestK.I.S., Bristol: wonky
"K.I.S. Key Integrated Systems" burglar alarm, Bristol • Wonky star in background, for no apparent reason. • Spotted: Royal Oak Avenue, Bristol, Avon, BS1, England, 2012 • Politics: In the Liberal Democrat constituency of Bristol WestStar Security, Bristol: disco-tastic
"Star Security Bristol" burglar alarm, Bristol • One of my favourites, a real 1970s pop star of a bell box – just competely and utterly discotastic. • Spotted: Town centre, Bristol, Avon, BS1, England, 2006 • Politics: In the Liberal Democrat constituency of Bristol WestAdes Burglar Alarm, Bristol: red moons
"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 WestCity Security Holdings, Bristol: wrinkled
"City Security Holdings" burglar alarm, Bristol • I always thought this logo was a crescent moon, but have just realised it may also be half an eye and also a C monogram – multilayered! Sadly the labels on these City alarms haven't worn well, they all seem to end up wrinkled like this one. • Spotted: Broad Street, Bristol, Avon, BS1, England, 2011 • Politics: In the Liberal Democrat constituency of Bristol WestSSG Fire & Security, Bristol: earthy
"SSG Fire & Security" burglar alarm, Bristol • Starting today: astronomy and the heavens. So let's begin close to home, with a worryingly tilted planet earth. • Spotted: Broadmead, Bristol, Avon, BS1, England, 2013 • Politics: In the Liberal Democrat constituency of Bristol West“Shorrock” with dog sticker, Bristol: revisited
"Shorrock" burglar alarm with dog sticker, Bristol • I got obsessed with this sticker a while back, as you can read here and here. And when I went back five years later it was still there, albeit even more tattered. • Spotted: Richmond Hill, Bristol, Avon, BS8, England, 2011 • Politics: In the Liberal Democrat constituency of Bristol WestPlexnet, Bristol: computery
"Plexnet Networking and Digital Technology" burglar alarm, Bristol • I have no idea what a plexnet is, but it sounds digital and computery, so I'm including it here. • Spotted: St Nicholas Street, Bristol, Avon, BS1, England, 2011 • Politics: In the Liberal Democrat constituency of Bristol WestCMR Electrical, Bristol: tiny
"CMR Electrical Telephone Bristol" burglar alarm, Bristol • A tiny, tiny old logo with a giant telephone number. It's too small to make out here, but the logo is a wee house surrounded by a giant chain and keys. • Spotted: Small Street, Bristol, Avon, BS1, England, 2011 • Politics: In the Liberal Democrat constituency of Bristol WestSomer 2000, Bristol: anvil
"Somer 2000" burglar alarm, Bristol • A really unusual name and logo, which looks like a 1980s retro-futurist illustration of a communist-era anvil. However it may go back further than that: the Somer 2000 website informs us that the firm incorporates the vintage-sounding Sutton Transformers, whose logo this seems to be (note the S and T). The former were founded in 1995, the latter in 1975, so I'm not sure where the 2000 comes in (if it was meant to sound futuristic, they underestimated their longevity). I still think that's an anvil, with the lightning bolts shooting out – perhaps they made their transformers in a forge. • Spotted: Merchants Road, Bristol, Avon, England, 2013 • Politics: In the Liberal Democrat constituency of Bristol WestAaron Hi-Tech, Bristol: sad
"Aaron Hi-Tech" burglar alarm, Bristol • Sadly well past its hi-tech days – there are a couple more here. • Spotted: Town centre, Bristol, Avon, BS1, England, 2006 • Politics: In the Liberal Democrat constituency of Bristol WestSafety and Security, Bristol: SAS
"Safety and Security" burglar alarm, Bristol • SAS, geddit? Another one that's usurped a hexagonal – presumably ADT – sounder. • Spotted: Lower Maudlin Street, Bristol, Avon, BS1, England, 2013 • Politics: In the Liberal Democrat constituency of Bristol West“Pro-Wired”, Bristol: hookers
"Pro-Wired" burglar alarm, Bristol • Well I'd certainly hope it wasn't wired up by unprofessionals. And I won't make any jokes about drug-addled hookers... • Spotted: Braggs Lane, Bristol, Avon, BS2, England, 2013 • Politics: In the Liberal Democrat constituency of Bristol West“DPS Alarms”, Bristol: double-page spread
"DPS Alarms" burglar alarm, Bristol • So good they named it twice - that's a tiny DPS monogram above the self-same black initials. DPS is what publishers call a double-page spread, fact fans, but I somehow doubt that's the firm's name. • Spotted: Broad Street, Bristol, Avon, BS1, England, 2011 • Politics: In the Liberal Democrat constituency of Bristol West“ATA Systems”, Bristol: intricate
"ATA Systems Protegimus" burglar alarm, Bristol • Not sure if this is related to yesterday's ATA – the trestle-tabley monogram's quite similar, if somewhat ambiguous as to whether it says AA or ATA. The surrounds, however, are vastly more intricate: a heraldic array of shield, crossed swords, scary cyclops eye, what looks like a maltese cross poking out from behind, and all supported with a scroll bearing the Harry Potteresque declamation "Protegimus" (we protect). Leaving nothing to chance, then. • Spotted: Nova Scotia Place, Bristol, Avon, BS1, England, 2013 • Politics: In the Liberal Democrat constituency of Bristol West“Ape Fire & Security”, Bristol: wild
"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“Aeon”, Bristol: eternity
"Aeon Electronic Protection Systems" burglar alarm, Bristol • Now we move on to astronomical time, literally - the term "aeon" has been used to describe the period between big bangs, though to the ancient Greeks it meant simply eternity. All that and a crosshair too. • Spotted: Royal Oak Avenue, Bristol, Avon, BS1, England, 2012 • Politics: In the Liberal Democrat constituency of Bristol West“Cannon”, Bristol: big guns
"Cannon" burglar alarm, Bristol • A word, fact fans, derived from the Italian for "big tube". And basically a giant gun, so obviously shooting-related. • Spotted: All Saints Lane, Bristol, Avon, BS1, England, 2011 • Politics: In the Liberal Democrat constituency of Bristol West“Marksman”, Bristol: take aim
"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“Avon Alarms”, Bristol: gorge
"Avon Alarms" burglar alarm, Bristol • There are several River Avons in the UK, because Avon is a derivation of the ancient British word for river: thus River Avon actually means River River. This charmingly discotastic sounder refers to the lovely "Bristol Avon", which runs through Gloucestershire and Wiltshire en route to Bath and Bristol, where it cleaves the mighty Avon Gorge then heads out to sea. Avon Alarms are a familiar sight in the city, which also used to be in the county of Avon, before it got turned into a "unitary authority". • Spotted: Clifton area, Bristol, Avon, BS8, England, 2006 • Politics: In the Liberal Democrat constituency of Bristol West
Above: the Avon Gorge, BristolGhost under “Southwest Security”, Bristol: fusillade
Ghost under "Southwest Security (Bristol)" burglar alarm, Bristol • Finally, a quiet ghost amidst a veritable fusillade of screw-holes. Tomorrow: global alarms. • Spotted: Baldwin Street, Bristol, Avon, BS1, England, 2012 • Politics: In the Liberal Democrat constituency of Bristol WestGhost under “ASG Vision”, Bristol: anagrams
Ghost under "ASG Vision (on OS Resolution)" burglar alarm, Bristol • Triple acronym whammy: ADG on OSR on something that was a flat-ended oval. Maybe one of these also-Bristolian APS jobbies? In which case the total initials are ADGOSRAPS, whose anagrams include Rap Ass Dog, Spar as God and Drag Soaps. Wow, deep. • Spotted: Broad Street, Bristol, Avon, BS1, England, 2011 • Politics: In the Liberal Democrat constituency of Bristol West“Cannon Security”, Bristol: new gun
"Cannon Security" burglar alarm, Bristol • I started this weapons category with an old Cannon, so I'll end it with a new one. And tomorrow's category? It's a mystery even to me. • Spotted: Queen Street, Bristol, Avon, BS1, England, 2012 • Politics: In the Liberal Democrat constituency of Bristol West“Cannon”, Bristol: mighty weapon
"Cannon Bristol" burglar alarm, Bristol • I start today's "weapons" theme with the mighty Cannon, who seem to provide about half the burglar alarms in Bristol. Surprisingly, I've never featured them before (apart from an old one in the distance here) – and this is an even earlier example, I reckon. • Spotted: Clifton Down area, Bristol, Avon, BS8, England, 2010 • Politics: In the Liberal Democrat constituency of Bristol West“Shop 66”, Bristol: posh 99
"Shop 66" burglar alarm, Bristol • I really like this, my final "Shop" alarm – it looks like it was customised specially for the old-school electrical shop it's on (below), which is at number 66. If you turned the sounder upside-down it would almost say Posh 99, which sounds like an expensive ice-cream, or a clone of a Spice Girl: which brings us neatly on to the next theme, namely Pop Music.• Spotted: Alma Road, Bristol, Avon, BS8, England, 2011 • Politics: In the Liberal Democrat constituency of Bristol West
“Security Shop”, Bristol: self explanatory
"Security Shop" burglar alarm, Bristol • A shop that sells security, I guess. 'Nuff said. • Spotted: Queen's Road, Bristol, Avon, BS8, England, 2011 • Politics: In the Liberal Democrat constituency of Bristol West“S.G.D. Security”, Bristol: rough and ready
"S.G.D. Security" burglar alarm, Bristol • I don't know what S.G.D. stands for, but I think we can assume it's not "So Good". Sadly, I can't make out what firm their rough-and-ready heraldic punching lion has stickered over. • Spotted: Union Street, Bristol, Avon, BS1, England, 2012 • Politics: In the Liberal Democrat constituency of Bristol West“Bristol & West Security”, Bristol: criminal tattoo
"Bristol & West Security" burglar alarm, Bristol • The name looks and sounds as if it's a building society (the old fashioned non-hedge fund sort) – so maybe it was. Under Photoshop enhancement, the faded carbuncle above the name (below) resembles a Russian criminal tattoo. Phenomenally complex, it incorporates two unicorns, a massive old ship on a shield (shades of old Westward TV logo), crossed human arms clutching scales of justice and a snake (law v burglar v, geddit?), and the legend Quality in Service. They don't make 'em like that any more. • Spotted: Baldwin Street, Bristol, Avon, BS1, England, 2012 • Politics: In the Liberal Democrat constituency of Bristol West
“New Century Security”, Bristol: double whammy
"New Century Security" burglar alarm, Bristol • This is a double whammy: a shield-within-shield logo. And not just that, but a gauntlet clutching a lightning bolt, a rampant lion, a window at night (I think), a repetition of their name, and what looks like the European stars. There's even another version with "21st" above the title, just in case you thought the new century was the 18th. Talk about covering all the bases. • Spotted: Surrey Street, Bristol, Avon, BS2, England, 2011 • Politics: In the Liberal Democrat constituency of Bristol West
“Castle Security”, Bristol: chess-style
"Castle Security" burglar alarm, Bristol • Oh dear, a pair of very sad and stained old chess-style castles, with even the contact number snipped off (at least, that's what I assume the gap between them is). Probably nothing to do yesterday's Castle – it must be an extremely popular name. Yet another anonymous throwback from the enormous burglar alarm mortuary that is Bristol. • Spotted: Town centre, Bristol, Avon, BS1, England, 2006 • Politics: In the Liberal Democrat constituency of Bristol West“Aztec Solutions”, Bristol: surely a Roman?
"Aztec Solutions" burglar alarm, Bristol • The logo says "Aztec Securities" (which, if Aztec practices were actually followed, would involve ritually ripping out the still-beating hearts of felons), but the designer has surely used clip art of a Roman soldier to illustrate it. This headgear looks strongly like a legionary's plumed helmet with visor and ear guard to me, rather than a pre-Columbian feathered headdress with ear plugs. Either that or Sussex Alarms is portraying an Aztec too. • Spotted: Surrey Street, Bristol, Avon, BS2, England, 2011 • Politics: In the Liberal Democrat constituency of Bristol West
“Blue Knight”, Bristol: hearty thrust
"Blue Knight Security Systems Ltd" burglar alarm, Bristol • Knights are generally shown astride their defining factor, the warhorse – this galloping gallant appears to have speared a burglar's heart on his lance. • Spotted: Prince Street, Bristol, Avon, BS1, England, 2012 • Politics: In the Liberal Democrat constituency of Bristol West“Longcross Security”, Bristol: scribble trees
"Longcross Security" burglar alarm, Bristol • Yet more woodlands, this time in pictures rather than words. Longcross Security, founded 2001, is a big firm with a very corporate-looking website, so I guess the tree silhouettes are some branding agency's attempt at portraying longevity and stability – it's a very popular device. The firm's head office is in Ashstead, Surrey, so at least that's got part of a tree in its name. The species on the sounder all look different, but I'm not horticultural enough to know what types are represented, or if there's an ash present – maybe they're just "scribble" trees. • Spotted: Town centre, Bristol, Avon, BS1, England, 2007 • Politics: In the Liberal Democrat constituency of Bristol West“Acorn Security Alarms”, Bristol: nutty bird
"Acorn Security Alarms" burglar alarm, Bristol • This Acorn was slightly easier to track down than yesterday's, but seems just as defunct. Originally a Gloucestershire firm, its URL www.acornsecurityalarms.co.uk now redirects to Swift Fire & Security, a national company founded in 1982 – which I haven't featured yet, despite it falling within the "arbitrary birds" category. So maybe the swift is a bird that eats nuts. • Spotted: Broad Street, Bristol, Avon, BS1, England, 2011 • Politics: In the Liberal Democrat constituency of Bristol West“Shield Alarms”, Bristol: a hut made of arrows
"Shield Alarms" burglar alarm, Bristol • This is a bit strange – a shield decorated with a hut (or possibly a gate) made out of long skinny arrows. But it's from Bristol, and I've stopped being surprised by the weird sounder designs that emanate from that neck of the woods. For all I know, people in the West Country actually do live in huts made of arrows – which would presumably negate the need for burglar alarms. Although this sounder looks quite recent, of the squillions of Shield security firms on the internet, I can't find one matching this particular logo. • Spotted: Queen Square, Bristol, Avon, BS1, England, 2012 • Politics: In the Liberal Democrat constituency of Bristol West“Direct Site Services”, Bristol: proverbial V-sign
"Direct Site Services Ltd" burglar alarm, Bristol • Well, this arrow may be making the proverbial V-sign, but the logo is otherwise completely basic. I can't find any evidence that this firm still exists in an operational sense, though they're still listed at Companies House. • Spotted: Town centre, Bristol, Avon, BS1, England, 2007 • Politics: In the Liberal Democrat constituency of Bristol West“Alarm Service Group”, Bristol: constructivist classic
"Alarm Service Group" burglar alarm, Bristol • As I've never seen it used by anyone but Alarm Service Group, I must assume that this super-smart and beautifully-designed modernist sounder is proprietary to them, though they also use Eurobells. Or, I should say, once used: the firm doesn't exist any more, though there are still lots of their boxes around in Bristol, mainly in very good condition. I love the yellow-and-green colour scheme, the broad green strobe (if that's what it is) at the bottom, and the mysterious symbolism of the logo – part totalitarian throwback, part bow-tied chains. Whoever came up with this constructivist classic had a great eye for design. There's a photo of one below on a massive Soviet-style building in Bristol: a perfect match. • Spotted: Wine Street, Bristol, Avon, BS1, England, 2011 • Politics: In the Liberal Democrat constituency of Bristol West
[caption id="attachment_11029" align="alignnone" width="472" caption="A perfect match: Alarm Service Group's modernist sounder graces the Soviet-style Cafe Central in Quay Street, Bristol, 2011"]
[/caption]“Challenger”, Bristol: dull but rare
"Challenger Fortis Fidelis" burglar alarm, Bristol • OK, so this is a dull soapdishy shape. But it's the only version of this particular dull soapdishy shape I've ever found, and the logo's a bit of a classic – I always appreciate a shield and a Latin motto. Fortis et fidelis is a common heraldic phrase meaning "brave and faithful", "strong and loyal", or variations thereof; it's also a ridiculously overpriced brand of cognac. • Spotted: Small Street, Bristol, Avon, BS1, England, 2011 • Politics: In the Liberal Democrat constituency of Bristol West“Shorrock”, Bristol: mini-fan-heater
"Shorrock" burglar alarm, Bristol • Now we're on to unusual square sounders, though this kind of design may be more common abroad – I've seen several in Belgium and Italy, for a start. The classic Shorrock is a pentagon as here, so I reckon this mini-fan-heater is older, though the logo's the same. • Spotted: Surrey Street, Bristol, Avon, BS2, England, 2011 • Politics: In the Liberal Democrat constituency of Bristol West“Key Integrated Systems”, Bristol: soap dish
"Key Integrated Systems" burglar alarm, Bristol • We're moving into uncommon rectangular shapes now, which basically means boxes with fancy edges or indentations – so although rare, they're not the most exciting of enclosures. This has a ridged clear panel beneath a curved white top, and is the only example I've ever seen. It's not very recognisable however, and the best I can say about it is that it's a bit like a soap dish, or perhaps a sea slug. I can't argue with the disco-tastic logo though, which manages to incorporate an acronym, a star, locksmithery, technology, and the fact that K.I.S. were established in 1976. How on earth does Bristol support so many independent security firms? It suggests it's the crime hot-spot of the western world, though I'm sure it's not. • Spotted: Queen Charlotte Street, Bristol, Avon, BS1, England, 2012 • Politics: In the Liberal Democrat constituency of Bristol West“Avon Security”, Bristol: round-cornered triangle
"Avon Security" burglar alarm, Bristol • Avon calling: a modern take on the triangle, available with different-coloured surrounds. You don't see them that often, although it's a nice-looking design; however Avon have managed to take it downmarket with a basic, skew-wiff sticker. • Spotted: King Street, Bristol, Avon, BS1, England, 2012 • Politics: In the Liberal Democrat constituency of Bristol West“Crime Cure”, Bristol: vintage inverted pocket
"Crime Cure" burglar alarm, Bristol • This is an absolutely classic sounder, and it makes me chuckle every time I see it. I found it at eye level in downown Bristol, the city that never stops giving great burglar alarm gifts. Everything about it, from my shallow design-based point of view, is good: it's vintage metal; an unusual "inverted pocket" shape (though I have found one other); rare use of green; amusing name in bold modernist type; and a complex piece of heraldry incorporating eight popular security tropes in a tiny space, namely lions, keys, an eye, a padlock, some bars, a shield, a castle, and even a motto – "protect and deter". An internet search on "crime cure security" throws up firms in business listings all over the place, including Bristol, but as none have their own websites I'm assuming they're all defunct.• Spotted: High Street, Bristol, Avon, BS1, England, 2011 • Politics: In the Liberal Democrat constituency of Bristol West“Aaron Hi-Tec”, Bristol: now looking sadly lo-tech
"Aaron Hi-Tec" burglar alarm, Bristol • To kick off the retro-futurist theme, here's an LED font that's obviously meant to look high tech (after all, it says so in the name), but is now definitely vieux chapeau. I've recently featured an oval Aaron sounder, but this one's much older, and its decay adds still further to the retro-futurist poignancy. To be fair, the style of Aaron's LED text is a bit more modern than the seven-segment display on yesterday's Monarch, and you still see this kind of scrolling display on everything from bus stops to billboards. It's just not very high tech, that's all. • Spotted: Jubilee Street, Bristol, Avon, BS2, England, 2011 • Politics: In the Liberal Democrat constituency of Bristol West“Imperial”, Bristol: Ballardian Chinese take-away
"Imperial" burglar alarm, Bristol • Yet another Imperial, and though it looks completely different from yesterday's, I'm guessing it's the same firm in an earlier guise. It's most incongruous for a Bristol burglar alarm: a Chinese house against a big round moon, or perhaps it's a Japanese-style rising (or setting) sun of empire. To me, it can only conjure up JG Ballard's brilliant fictive memoir Empire of the Sun, based on his childhood in Japanese-occupied WWII Shanghai – and of course WWII is a popular alarm trope. But for a security device this is a very fanciful design, and one more suited to a Chinese take-away. Taking away isn't a good connotation for a burglar alarm, so I'm not surprised it got changed.• Spotted: Clifton area, Bristol, Avon, BS8, England, 2006 • Politics: In the Liberal Democrat constituency of Bristol West“Imperial Fire & Security”, Bristol: dark ruler
"Imperial Fire & Security" burglar alarm, Bristol • This is almost the same as yesterday's Imperial, but I include it because it's the first time I've come across a bell box in alternate colourways, and also black is quite unusual. Despite its corporate blandness this logo is obviously a professional design job, and was clearly thought through: the black sounder looks smart and groovy, but you'd want a white one on light-coloured walls (as long as it was cleaner than yesterday's example). • Spotted: Wapping Wharf, Bristol, Avon, BS1, England, 2011 • Politics: In the Liberal Democrat constituency of Bristol West“Imperial Fire & Security”, Bristol: royal connections
"Imperial Fire & Security" burglar alarm, Bristol • According to its website, Imperial was founded in 1997 and is based in Bristol – which seems to have an unfeasably large number of local security firms. There's nothing about the look of this that suggests royalty, unless the blue ribbon has some regal significace that escapes me. But there's no doubt that the emperor-related word "imperial" fits within this week's regal theme, as does the serendipitous Queen's Road location. • Spotted: Queen's Road, Bristol, Avon, BS8, England, 2011 • Politics: In the Liberal Democrat constituency of Bristol West“Sovereign Security”, Bristol: god bless Queen Vic
"Sovereign Security" burglar alarm, Bristol • Nestling on a fine brutalist wall is another Sovereign Security sounder, though I don't know if it's the same company as yesterday or the day before. This looks like it dates from some time between those two, yet the design's totally different – but it seems unlikely there would be two firms with the same name operating in the Bristol area. It's a much duller design, even if it finally does spell out that SSS stands for Sovereign Security Services (nothing like repeating your name twice in the space of six inches). It was found in aptly regal Victoria Street, which like half the civic projects in England was named after good Queen Vic, which means they're also named after me.• Spotted: Town centre, Bristol, Avon, BS1, England, 2006 • Politics: In the Liberal Democrat constituency of Bristol West“Sovereign Fire & Security”, Bristol: apposite address
"Sovereign Fire & Security" burglar alarm, Bristol • A much more recent bell box from yesterday's Sovereign Security, found in the appropriate surrounds of Queen Square. It's similar to the "middle period" Sovereign I published many months ago here, except with an F instead of an S in the circle, and the addition of "Fire" to the name – a trend that seems to have been creeping in with other firms too. Rather tragically, I photographed this on New Years Day, which makes it my first-ever alarm from 2012. I really should have better things to do with my time. • Spotted: Queen Square, Bristol, Avon, BS1, England, 2012 • Politics: In the Liberal Democrat constituency of Bristol West“Sovereign Security”, Bristol: not remotely regal
"Sovereign Security" burglar alarm, Bristol • I've already posted a Sovereign Security sounder under the theme of locksmithery, as the logo looks like a chain. Here's an older and much nicer one, even though it still doesn't look remotely regal.• Spotted: Town centre, Bristol, Avon, BS1, England, 2006 • Politics: In the Liberal Democrat constituency of Bristol West“Aaron”, Bristol: biblical bigwig
"Aaron Hi-Tech" burglar alarm, Bristol • Although not much feted in western Christianity, Aaron – Moses' elder brother and the first high priest of the Israelites – is a big player in Judaism and Islam, and a major saint across the lands of the Eastern Orthodox Church. He's a popular subject in gorgeous Russian icons, but in western art is rarely depicted, with the lone pinnacle being Pier Francesco Mola’s recently discovered “Aaron, Holy to the Lord” (below), painted around 1650. The magnificent old master shows a severe-faced Aaron carrying out his sacred duties on Yom Kippur, aided by nothing more hi-tech than a silver censer and a big hat – suggesting this alarm suffers from an extreme misnomer. • Spotted: Town centre, Bristol, Avon, BS1, England, 2006 • Politics: In the Liberal Democrat constituency of Bristol West
Above: Aaron, east and west. Left: an 18th-century icon from Kizhi monastery, Karelia, Russia. Right: Pier Francesco Mola's superb painting, "Aaron, Holy to the Lord", c.1650.“Advanced Integrated Systems”, Bristol: rude name
"Advanced Integrated Systems" burglar alarms, Bristol • It's somewhat hard to see, but there are two tiny black alarms on this geometrical Dutch-inspired office block, carefully aligned between the white globe lights and the roof's twin peaks, and placed in the troughs left by two earlier sounders. Sadly despite its unusual design it's a rather dull building, enlivened only by a rude but amusing graffiti play on its name, Amelia Court. Scroll down for the new, improved Anglo-Saxon version; I won't spell it out, or I'll get loads of spam from dodgy "adult" sites. • Spotted: Pipe Lane, Bristol, Avon, BS1, England, 2011 • Politics: In the Liberal Democrat constituency of Bristol West
“Ape Fire & Security”, Bristol: watchful simians
"Ape Fire & Security" burglar alarms, Bristol • I've already commented on the oddness of APE's logo, and still don't know what the unfortunate acronym stands for. Anyway, here's a pair of watchful simians hanging from yet another graceful Bristol building – the locals don't seem to have much to do except sling random sounders up all over their beautiful and historic city, which makes it a great hunting ground for me. • Spotted: St Nicholas Street, Bristol, Avon, BS1, England, 2011 • Politics: In the Liberal Democrat constituency of Bristol West
Nameless alarms, Bristol: grand establishment
Nameless burglar alarms, Bristol • This grand old Bristol building houses Thorne Security, who were founded in 1858, so are possibly as old as their establishment. I'm assuming the two mysterious black bell boxes belong to them; however Thorne don't appear to install intruder alarms as part of their extensive security activities, which is perhaps why the sounders are nameless. (They don't deal in sabres either, despite having one in their logo.) • Spotted: Wine Street, Bristol, Avon, BS1, England, 2011 • Politics: In the Liberal Democrat constituency of Bristol West
“ASG Vision”, Bristol: flamboyant tail
"ASG Vision" (over "OS Resolution") burglar alarm, Bristol • Aha - I love a sticker, and especially a violent yellow one. Bristol seems to have a particularly thriving burglar alarm ecosystem, and here, ASG Vision have effected a brutal takeover of a hapless OS Resolution box (both firms I have come across this one time only). It's included due to the "vision" reference; what the acronym ASG refers to remains opaque, but I reckon its flamboyant tail is a very abstract eye. • Spotted: Broad Street, Bristol, Avon, BS1, England, 2011 • Politics: In the Liberal Democrat constituency of Bristol West
“Focus Security Systems”, Bristol: dying star
"Focus Security Systems" burglar alarm, Bristol • The inclusion of the word "Focus" on this faded device leads me to think of this as a stylised eye, though it could equally be a dying star. Focus don't appear to have a website, and when I looked them up on Google Street View it showed a caravan... so that may be an apt metaphor. • Spotted: Town centre, Bristol, Avon, BS1, England, 2006 • Politics: In the Liberal Democrat constituency of Bristol West
Burglar Alarm Britain 