Disclaimer This blog is about the graphic design of burglar alarms and has no connection with the companies featured. Most photos show vintage sounders and are not the latest products of the firms under discussion. For up-to-date info on any company, please visit their official website.
Burglar Alarm Britain
Where vigilante culture meets vernacular design
Category Archives: Militia
Wimpey Security, Southwark: reflected
Posted by on May 12, 2013
“Wimpey Security Systems Monitored Alarm” burglar alarm, Southwark • Another arrow-house, this time reflected into an angular crenellated shield. • Spotted: Glasshill Street, Southwark, London, SE1, England, 2010 • Politics: In the Liberal Democrat constituency of Bermondsey and Old Southwark
Home Security Services, Southwark: arrow-house
Posted by on May 11, 2013
“Home Security Services” burglar alarm, Southwark • Cross between a giant arrow and a house, and pretty old and faded. • Spotted: Riley Road, Southwark, London, SE1, England, 2012 • Politics: In the Liberal Democrat constituency of Bermondsey and Old Southwark
Western Technologies, Brighton: big W
Posted by on April 15, 2013
“Western Technologies Limited Armour Flash” burglar alarm, Brighton • A nice big W amidst Bridget Riley-ish op-art waves, actually found in the south east. • Spotted: Gloucester Road, Brighton, East Sussex, BN1, England, 2010 • Politics: In the Green constituency of Brighton Pavilion
Q Guard, Islington: big Q
Posted by on April 11, 2013
“Q Guard Security” burglar alarm, Islington • At last, a chance to feature the Q Guard logo with its excellent big Q. How can one not think of James Bond gadgets? • Spotted: Goswell Road, Islington, London, EC1, England, 2006 • Politics: In the Labour constituency of Islington South and Finsbury
Nu-Tron, Camden: big N
Posted by on April 9, 2013
“Nu-Tron Security Ltd.” burglar alarm, Camden • Ah, the oft-featured Nu-Tron: starring once again thanks to its excellent big N. • Spotted: Saffron Hill, Camden, London, EC1, England, 2012 • Politics: In the Labour constituency of Holborn and St. Pancras
Advanced Alarms, Oxford: big A
Posted by on March 31, 2013
“Advanced Alarms and Electrical Ltd.” burglar alarm, Oxford • Starting today: big letters. It’s a very popular trope, which means I have more than enough big letters to do practically a whole alphabet. And that’s exactly what I shall do: here’s the A. • Spotted: George Street, Oxford, Oxfordshire, OX1, England, 2012 • Politics: In the Labour constituency of Oxford East
Sonic Alarms, Cardiff: spiky
Posted by on March 25, 2013
“Sonic Alarms” burglar alarm, Cardiff • I found this on a chapel in Wales – they should have had that Vocal Vale alarm from a few days ago. It’s a multi-trope security sensation: sound, lightning, the SAS, awkward diagonal logo, double S, and a semi-unexplained acronym in the second S of SAS. Plus a spiky-headed creature if you factor in Sonic the Hedgehog. Ah, how I used to love playing Sonic the Hedgehog, especially when it got to the roller-coaster level. Not that I ever got any further. • Spotted: Harbour Drive, Cardiff Bay, Cardiff, South Glamorgan, CF99, Wales, 2012 • Politics: In the Labour constituency of Cardiff South and Penarth
Fife Alarms, Edinburgh: shrieky
Posted by on March 20, 2013
“Fife Alarms” burglar alarm, Edinburgh • Another medieval instrument, and even shriller than the clarion, a fife is a small, shrieky flute beloved of marching bands. It’s also a place in Scotland of course, which is probably what this alarm was named after. • Spotted: Howe Street, Edinburgh, EH3, Scotland, 2012 • Politics: In the Labour constituency of Edinburgh North and Leith
Clarion, Camden: shrill
Posted by on March 19, 2013
“Clarion” burglar alarm, Camden • A clarion is a medieval brass trumpet, shrill in sound and popular with cavalries. Hence the term clarion call, and its suitability for a burglar alarm. I like the Chanel-style double C logo too; there seem to be quite a lot of double initials in these sound-based alarms. Maybe the kind of person who chooses musical names also responds to melodious alliterative repetitions (hey, deep). • Spotted: Covent Garden area, Camden, London, WC2, England, 2004 • Politics: In the Labour constituency of Holborn and St Pancras
“Decorum”, Camden: genteel
Posted by on February 18, 2013
“Decorum Alarms” burglar alarm, Camden • Surely the most genteel name for a burglar alarm firm ever, and appropriate for the decorous Hampstead borders where I found it. Should belong in a posh little sub-genre with Kudos from Bath, which featured right at the start of this blog, and which has the same type of clock-radio-alike sounder. • Spotted: Finchley Road, Camden, London, NW3, England, 2007 • Politics: In the Labour constituency of Hampstead and Kilburn
“Vital Guard”, York: spirited
Posted by on February 14, 2013
“Vital Guard York” burglar alarm, York • Yesterday’s sounder boasted pro guards, today’s promises guards who are vital – suggesting an excellence both crucial and spirited. Not, I’ll wager, a combination this faded old bell box has provided for quite some time. • Spotted: Queen Street, York, Yorkshire, YO2, England, 2011 • Politics: In the Labour constituency of York Central
“Pro-Guard”, Stroud: professionalism
Posted by on February 13, 2013
“Pro-Guard Security Solutions Ltd” burglar alarm, Stroud • There are lots of guard alarms, but this starey-eyed sounder is the only one offering the added excellence of professionalism. If you wanted unprofessional guarding, maybe you’d hire a certain quadratic firm who messed up a bit during the Olympics, ha ha. • Spotted: Threadneedle Street, Stroud, Gloucestershire, GL5, England, 2012 • Politics: In the Conservative constituency of Stroud
“Management Security Services”, Lowestoft: twisted
Posted by on January 29, 2013
“Management Security Services” burglar alarm, Lowestoft • It’s a bit faded, but this MSS monogram is so tortuously twisted it looks like a piece of modern art. MSS also stands for “manuscript”, as do the initials of Midland Security Systems, who I haven’t featured yet (but will soon). • Spotted: Town centre, Lowestoft, Suffolk, NR32, England, 2007 • Politics: In the Conservative constituency of Waveney
“ATA Systems”, Bristol: intricate
Posted by on January 22, 2013
“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
“Avant Garde”, Islington: advance guard
Posted by on January 14, 2013
“Avant Garde” burglar alarm, Islington • Originally French for “advance guard”, these days avant garde means being somewhat ahead of the times. Generally the term refers to artists, but I don’t see why burglar alarms shouldn’t be included too. • Spotted: Caledonian Road, Islington, London, N1, England, 2012 • Politics: In the Labour constituency of Islington South and Finsbury
“Century”, Derby: 100 years
Posted by on January 12, 2013
“Century Alarms” burglar alarm, Derby • I already published one of these here in the Roman Britain theme, with a slightly different box. But Century also suggests time: 100 years, in fact. Hope they’re referring to longevity, and not response time. • Spotted: Town centre, Derby, Derbyshire, DE1, England, 2010 • Politics: In the Labour constituency of Derby South
“Computa Guard”, Bolton: rusty lovely
Posted by on December 26, 2012
“CG Computa Guard” burglar alarm, Bolton • I have already spoken of my love of the Computa-Guard design here, but this is a more 3-D (and possibly more recent, despite its rustiness) version of their monogram. A comment here says that CG was part of the Mayne Nichols group (who I can’t find reference to on the internet, no matter how I spell it), and that CG became Security Express Alarms in 1989-1990 – as pictured here. • Spotted: St Georges Road, Bolton, Lancashire, BL1, England, 2010 • Politics: In the Labour constituency of Bolton North East
“Expo”, Islington: gun sight
Posted by on December 22, 2012
“Expo” burglar alarm, Islington • Yet another gun-sight crosshair – very James Bond. Not, presumably, named after the Stockhausen composition for three shortwave radios. Tomorrow: monograms. • Spotted: York Way, Islington, London, N1, England, 2012 • Politics: In the Labour constituency of Islington South and Finsbury
“Wilton Alarms”, Islington: registration marks
Posted by on December 21, 2012
“Wilton Alarms” burglar alarm, Islington • This definitely looks like a gun sight’s crosshairs, though if I’m honest it also resembles the registration marks printers use to help line up their plates correctly. On the website of Wilton Alarms, the Dorking-based firm explain they’re now known as Wilton Security Systems. Luckily they still retain this logo, so I narrowly escaped confusing them with Wilton Alarm Systems of Wilton in Salisbury, whose unmistakable rapier-wielding wasp is one of my favourite sounder designs, as featured here. • Spotted: Wharfdale Road, Islington, London, N1, England, 2010 • Politics: In the Labour constituency of Islington South and Finsbury
“Trade”, Camden: crosshairs
Posted by on December 20, 2012
“Trade Security Systems Plc” burglar alarm, Camden • This is a funny old logo. It’s a bit hard to make out, as one of the colours has faded, and I’m not really sure what the design is meant to signify. However the thing it resembles most to me is the crosshairs of a gun sight, so into the “shooting” theme it goes. • Spotted: Warren Street, Camden, London, W1, England, 2012 • Politics: In the Labour constituency of Holborn and St Pancras
“Sector Guard”, Southwark: targeting
Posted by on December 19, 2012
“Sector Guard Fire & Security Systems” burglar alarm, Southwark • A successor to yesterday’s Sector Alarm, this still targets felons with crosshairs, albeit a smaller radar sweep. Inclusion of that ever-poular burglar alarm word, “Guard”, is another nod in the direction of the military. • Spotted: Blackfriars Road, Southwark, London, SE1, England, 2010 • Politics: In the Liberal Democrat constituency of Bermondsey and Old Southwark
“Sector Alarm”, Tower Hamlets: radar
Posted by on December 18, 2012
“Sector Alarm” burglar alarm, Tower Hamlets • Felons beware – there’s radar sweeping the sector, and crosshairs sighted on you. All suggesting some pretty big guns, and possibly an anti-missile facility. • Spotted: Cambridge Heath Road, Tower Hamlets, London, E2, England, 2006 • Politics: In the Labour constituency of Bethnal Green and Bow
“Contract Security”, Westminster: hitman
Posted by on December 17, 2012
“Contract Security” burglar alarm, City of Westminster • Yikes! Does this sounder mean the kind of contract that involves a hitman? It does have crosshairs, after all. Unless they’re compass points, or weird spurs. • Spotted: Eastcastle Street, City of Westminster, London, W1, England, 2012 • Politics: In the Conservative constituency of Cities of London and Westminster
“Impact Alarms”, Richmond: tenuous
Posted by on December 16, 2012
“Impact Alarms” burglar alarm, Richmond upon Thames • Somewhat tenuous in its relation to shooting, but bullets certainly do make an impact… • Spotted: Kew Green area, Richmond upon Thames, London, TW9, England, 2005 • Politics: In the Conservative constituency of Richmond Park
“Hunter”, Lambeth: art shoot
Posted by on December 15, 2012
“Hunter” burglar alarm, Lambeth • What do hunters do? They shoot things. I rest my shooting-related case. Incidentally, I found this burglar alarm on the side of one of Damian Hirst’s many studios, the one where teams of assistants used to make spot paintings for him. He’s now had the entire road closed down (thanks, Dame, now I have to make a massive detour!) while the building is turned, at vast expense, into a swanky art gallery and restaurant. So the burglar alarm is no more. • Spotted: Newport Street, Lambeth, London, SE11, England, 2011 • Politics: In the Labour constituency of Vauxhall
“Cannon”, Bristol: big guns
Posted by on December 14, 2012
“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
Posted by on December 13, 2012
“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
“Camguard”, Aylesbury: Granta
Posted by on November 30, 2012
“Camguard” burglar alarm, Aylesbury • This C in a sea claims to be guarding the River Cam, which as its name suggests runs through Cambridge, where it’s also known as the Granta. The sounder however was found in unlovely Aylesbury, which is 60 miles away and on the River Thame. • Spotted: Canal Side Terrace, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, HP21, England, 2010 • Politics: In the Conservative constituency of Aylesbury
Above: the River Cam at Clare Bridge, Cambridge. Punters ahoy!
Ghost under “A1 Security”, Norwich: lurking
Posted by on November 8, 2012
Ghost under “A1 Security Protecting the Community Norwich” burglar alarm, Norwich • Another one I’ve shown before, but not obvious in that post was the ghostly wire-sharing hexagon lurking behind it. No prizes for guessing the ex-make. • Spotted: Town centre, Norwich, Norfolk, NR1, England, 2007 • Politics: In the Liberal Democrat constituency of Norwich South
Ghost under “Arrow”, Chelsea: neat niche
Posted by on November 5, 2012
Ghost under “Arrow Security” burglar alarm, Kensington and Chelsea • I know I’ve already shown this Arrow, but in that post you couldn’t clearly see it was snuggling into the neat niche burrowed by a shield-shaped Banham (or one of their sub-brands). • Spotted: Beauchamp Place, Kensington and Chelsea, London, SW3, England, 2011 • Politics: In the Conservative constituency of Kensington
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