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: Awkward diagonal logo
Zenon, Camden: noble
Posted by on June 16, 2013
“Zenon” burglar alarm, Camden • As Zenon isn’t an actual English word, I can only assume this refers to its homophone Xenon, the noble gas with symbol Xe and atomic number 54. It’s used in bright lighting and anaesthesia, both useful for felon-apprehending. • Spotted: Gayton Road, Camden, London, NW3, England, 2012 • Politics: In the Labour constituency of Hampstead and Kilburn
Cobalt, Walton-On-Thames: pigment
Posted by on June 13, 2013
“Cobalt” burglar alarm, Walton-On-Thames • Starting today: scientific sounders. Cobalt is a chemical element with symbol Co and atomic number 27, used to make blue pigment since antiquity. And a burglar alarm company. • Spotted: New Zealand Avenue, Walton-On-Thames, Surrey, KT12, England, 2002 • Politics: In the Conservative constituency of Esher and Walton
Abbey Alarm, Birchington-on-Sea: Ladyshave
Posted by on May 28, 2013
“Abbey Alarm” burglar alarm, Birchington-on-Sea • Well, an Abbey is a sort of house, for monks. On what looks like a Ladyshave. • Spotted: Town centre, Birchington-on-Sea, Kent, CT7, England, 2006 • Politics: In the Conservative constituency of Thanet North
Houseguard Security, Merton: close-up
Posted by on May 27, 2013
“Houseguard Security ” burglar alarm, Merton • I showed this ancient object in the distance a couple of years ago, so here it is close-up (and blurred). Note old phone number of G’ford (Guildford) 70000. • Spotted: St Mary’s Road, Merton, London, SW19, England, 2006 • Politics: In the Conservative constituency of Wimbledon
Safe Homes, Lowestoft: diagonal
Posted by on May 16, 2013
“Safe Homes” burglar alarm, Lowestoft • Incorporating awkward diagonal logo. • Spotted: Town centre, Lowestoft, Suffolk, NR32, England, 2007 • Politics: In the Conservative constituency of Waveney
SAS, Sheffield: on call
Posted by on May 6, 2013
“SAS” burglar alarm, Sheffield • It’s always good to end with the SAS. And look, there’s their phone number. • Spotted: Middlewood Road, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, S6, England, 2010 • Politics: In the Labour constituency of Sheffield, Brightside and Hillsborough
SPE, Islington: shortform
Posted by on May 5, 2013
“SPE” burglar alarm, Islington • Short for Special Purpose Electronics, perhaps. • Spotted: St Peter’s Street, Islington, London, N1, England, 2011 • Politics: In the Labour constituency of Islington South and Finsbury
SHS, High Wycombe: minimalistic
Posted by on May 4, 2013
“SHS” burglar alarm, High Wycombe • Blimey, minimalistic. • Spotted: Town centre, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, HP11, England, 2008 • Politics: In the Conservative constituency of Wycombe
REB, Greenwich: faded
Posted by on May 3, 2013
“REB Security Services” burglar alarm, Greenwich • I think this says REB but it’s a bit hard to tell, it’s so faded and torn. • Spotted: Crane Street, Greenwich, London, SE10, England, 2011 • Politics: In the Labour constituency of Greenwich and Woolwich
MFS, Bristol: circles
Posted by on May 2, 2013
“MFS” burglar alarm, Bristol • One of Bristol’s never-ending array of burglar alarms. I always like letters in circles. • Spotted: The Arcade, Horsefair, Bristol, Avon, BS1, England, 2013 • Politics: In the Liberal Democrat constituency of Bristol West
MCSS, Southwark: stencilled
Posted by on May 1, 2013
“MCSS” burglar alarm, Southwark • Randomly stencilled, army-style – that’s hard core old-school. • Spotted: Bermondsey Street, Southwark, London, SE1, England, 2012 • Politics: In the Liberal Democrat constituency of Bermondsey and Old Southwark
LPA, Emsworth: blurry
Posted by on April 30, 2013
“LPA” burglar alarm, Emsworth • Blurry and crap on all levels. • Spotted: North Street, Emsworth, Hampshire, PO10, England, 2003 • Politics: In the Conservative constituency of Havant
JA, Bath: worst
Posted by on April 29, 2013
“JA” burglar alarm, Bath • Officially the worst sounder design I have ever found. • Spotted: Belvedere, Lansdown Road, Bath, Avon, BA1, England, 2011 • Politics: In the Liberal Democrat constituency of Bath
IXP Alarm, York: bubbly
Posted by on April 28, 2013
“IXP Alarm” burglar alarm, York • As opposed to UXB or ISP, on a strange bubbly label. • Spotted: Bootham, York, Yorkshire, YO3, England, 2011 • Politics: In the Labour constituency of York Central
DSA, Lewisham: confusing
Posted by on April 27, 2013
“DSA” burglar alarm, Lewisham • Confusing typography: looks like DIA but probably says DSA. Graphic design 101 says not to use all upper-case script for this very reason. Apologies for blurriness, this was a very early burglar alarm shot. • Spotted: Deptford High Street, Lewisham, London, SE8, England, 2002 • Politics: In the Labour constituency of Lewisham Deptford
CSS, Islington: Canadian
Posted by on April 26, 2013
“CSS” burglar alarm, Islington • Ah yes, the good old Canadian Space Society. • Spotted: Wharfdale Road, Islington, London, N1, England, 2010 • Politics: In the Labour constituency of Islington South and Finsbury
County Intruder Alarms, Stroud: popular
Posted by on April 25, 2013
“County Intruder Alarms” burglar alarm, Stroud • Yet another CIA alarm – a popular name. See also Christie Intruder Alarms and Cirencester Intruder Alarms. • Spotted: London Road, Stroud, Gloucestershire, GL5, England, 2012 • Politics: In the Conservative constituency of Stroud
BTA, Westminster: conglomerate
Posted by on April 24, 2013
“BTA” burglar alarm, City of Westminster • I think BTA was actually a massive conglomerate of some kind. • Spotted: Rochester Row, City of Westminster, London, SW1, England, 2005 • Politics: In the Conservative constituency of Cities of London and Westminster
ADA, Manchester: old lady
Posted by on April 23, 2013
“ADA” burglar alarm, Manchester • Old lady’s name on burglar alarm shocker. And the start of the “Awkward Diagonal Logo” theme. • Spotted: Victoria Station, Victoria Station Approach, Manchester, Lancashire, M3, England, 2010 • Politics: In the Labour constituency of Manchester Central
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
“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
“Expert”, Milton Keynes: trainer
Posted by on February 7, 2013
“Expert” burglar alarm, Milton Keynes • Now we move from alarms boasting sheer excellence into those claiming prowess in the field of business, with a superb sounder that looks like the Adidas stripes, minus one, off an old-school trainer. • Spotted: Midsummer Boulevard, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, MK9, England, 2010 • Politics: In the Conservative constituency of Milton Keynes North
“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
“Pro-Guard”, Tower Hamlets: swishy
Posted by on October 8, 2012
“Pro-Guard” burglar alarm, Tower Hamlets • It’s a bit hard to read, but the tiny label at the bottom says “Pro-Guard”. It’s in a swishy 1940s font called “Brush Script” which was in fact popular in the 1970s – and as it looks like it was drawn in Rotring pen, it could well have been created in that decade. But time has passed, and all it’s guarding now is a a superannuated industrial building in a crumbly stump of road amputated by the Olympics site. At least it’s better than that horrible 2012 Olympics logo. • Spotted: White Post Lane, Tower Hamlets, London, E9, England, 2011 • Politics: In the Labour constituency of Bethnal Green and Bow
“Guardian Alarms”, Lambeth: sarf London
Posted by on October 4, 2012
“Guardian Alarms” burglar alarm, Lambeth • An elderly sounder from a 1980-founded firm that’s still going strong in sunny Sarf London, and using the same charming monogram to this day. I know this for a fact, because some friends have one of Guardian’s more recent bell boxes on their very nice house. • Spotted: Kennington Road, Lambeth, London, SE11, England, 2005 • Politics: In the Labour constituency of Vauxhall
“TRB”, Southwark: right-on
Posted by on September 26, 2012
“TRB” burglar alarm, Southwark • I rather like this logo, which looks like an American football logo off a 1980s bomber jacket. Unfortunately it also shares an acronym with smug post-punk rocksters The Tom Robinson Band, also known as TRB. Remember them? They were known for singalong right-on-athons such as “2-4-6-8 Motorway” and “Glad To Be Gay” (which Tom Robinson presumably wasn’t, as he eventually married a woman). I always hated them, and even now just thinking about their stupid nursery rhyme anthems annoys me. Bah. • Spotted: Farnham Place, Southwark, London, SE1, England, 2010 • Politics: In the Liberal Democrat constituency of Bermondsey and Old Southwark
TRB aka the incredibly annoying Tom Robinson Band
“C & C Security Systems”, Greenwich: sweaty
Posted by on September 18, 2012
“C & C Security Systems” burglar alarm, Greenwich • Another cheesy but classic disco group: C+C Music Factory, famed for the much-sampled 1990 house hit “Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now)”. The sounder even uses a plus sign instead of an ampersand, just like the group. • Spotted: Woolwich Road, Greenwich, London, SE7, England, 2004 • Politics: In the Labour constituency of Greenwich and Woolwich
C&C, the music factory version
“Shop 66″, Bristol: posh 99
Posted by on September 12, 2012
“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
“PJ Alarms”, Chichester: zzzzzzz
Posted by on August 29, 2012
“PJ Alarms We Protect Security Systems” burglar alarm, Chichester • PJ as in pyjamas? Zzzzzzz. • Spotted: Town centre, Chichester, West Sussex, PO19, England, 2009 • Politics: In the Conservative constituency of Chichester
“Westminster”, Chelsea: wrong borough
Posted by on August 25, 2012
“Westminster Security Systems Ltd” burglar alarm, Kensington and Chelsea • Oi! You’re in the wrong borough! Even looking at the close-up (below), I can’t quite work out what’s going on here – two pit-bulls holding up a drunken soldier, or something. • Spotted: Godfrey Street, Kensington and Chelsea, London, SW3, England, 2010 • Politics: In the Conservative constituency of Chelsea and Fulham
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