General Information

Serial #

N/A

Part Number

1

Total Parts

1

AKA

N/A

Patents

N/A

General Description

Metal body and glass panel below handle.

Dimensions

Note: These reflect the general size for storage and are not necessarily representative of the object's true dimensions.

Length

42.9 cm

Width

27.1 cm

Height

13.0 cm

Thickness

N/A

Weight

N/A

Diameter

N/A

Volume

N/A

Lexicon

Group

Fire Fighting

Category

Alarms

Sub-Category

N/A

Manufacturer

AKA

Northern Electric

Country

United States of America

State/Province

Unknown

City

Unknown

Context

Country

Unknown

State/Province

Unknown

Period

Unknown

Canada

Type of device made and used in Canada to alert fire fighters in a fire department, of the presence of a fire in the neighbourhood where the alarm box is situated.

Function

To rapidly transmit an alarm of fire to a fire fighting force.

Technical

The first practical fire alarm system was developed in Boston in1852, by Dr. William Channing and Moses Farmer. It worked on the principal of telegraphy: a signal was sent long distances over wires, by electric transmission. "In the first boxes, a notched code wheel was turned by a crank handle in the front of the box. Then, it evolved with a spring-driven, clockwork-type mechanism which drove the code wheel when activated by a lever." Boxes were put on a pedestal or telephone pole at a street corner. Early boxes were locked with keys which were given to the citizens and policemen who had the responsibility of pulling the lever in the event of a fire. In 1875 a model was made that did not need a key. In 1922, the quick-action door was put on the market. There are two main components that make up this kind of fire alarm system: the telegraph mechanism, located on a street corner, and the alarm apparatus (gongs and indicators), located inside a fire department's Headquarters. One-way communication between the telegraph and alarm system was made possible by linking both boxes with aerial and/or ground-level wires. Central station equipment would receive the signal, revealing the location of the fire, and would proceed to notify the firehouse nearest to the fire by transmitting another signal to their alarm box.

Area Notes

Unknown

Details

Markings

Mfr. logo (raised): "[image of clenched fist and lightning bolts]" - Instructions on handle (in raised lettering): "TO OPEN/ PAT. APPL'D FOR/ PULL HANDLE" - Instructions below lever (in raised lettering): "FOR FIRE/ PULL LEVER" - Mfr. insignia (raised): "Northern Electric - Gamewell" - Markings on reverse of exterior box door: "MADE IN USA" - Markings on interior box door: "PULL/ LEVER/ DOWN ONCE/ LET GO"

Missing

Key to open interior box door.

Finish

Painted red.

Decoration

Raised relief and lettering on front door and upper pediment.