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: Classical
Securus, Lowestoft: Big S
Posted by on April 13, 2013
“Securus Alarm” burglar alarm, Lowestoft • Great old sounder with a big S and a clever name: as well as sounding like ”Secure Us”, Securus is also Latin for fearless, or untroubled (I shall overlook its other meaning of careless or negligent). • Spotted: Town centre, Lowestoft, Suffolk, NR32, England, 2007 • Politics: In the Conservative constituency of Waveney
“Optima”, Herne Bay: fontastic
Posted by on March 3, 2013
“Optima Alarms” burglar alarm, Herne Bay • Presumably this is meant to suggest more Latin, ie optimus, from which we derive optimal or optimum – all words for best. Optima however is a typeface, though not the one used on this sounder. • Spotted: High Street, Herne Bay, Kent, CT6, England, 2004 • Politics: In the Conservative constituency of Thanet North
“Ultra”, Liverpool: verily
Posted by on March 2, 2013
“Ultra” burglar alarm, Liverpool • More Latin, though this just means very very very very. Which is, verily, quite an avant-garde name for a burglar alarm. • Spotted: Stanley Dock area, Liverpool, Merseyside, L3, England, 2008 • Politics: In the Labour constituency of Liverpool Riverside
“Apex”, Bath: tippy-top
Posted by on March 1, 2013
“Apex Alarms” burglar alarm, Bath • From Greek to Latin excellence with an alarm called Apex, meaning the very tippy-top. • Spotted: Bartlett Street, Bath, Avon, BA1, England, 2011 • Politics: In the Liberal Democrat constituency of Bath
“Alpha”, Manchester: Phoenecian
Posted by on February 28, 2013
“Alpha” burglar alarm, Manchester • Ancient Greek for “A”, deriving from the Phoenecian for “ox” – and since those days, ie quite a long time ago, used to describe something very good. • Spotted: Deansgate area, Manchester, Lancashire, M1, England, 2009 • Politics: In the Labour constituency of Manchester Central
“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
“Status”, Stratford-upon-Avon: Mr Boasty
Posted by on February 1, 2013
“Status Alarms Coventry” burglar alarm, Stratford-upon-Avon • Starting today is the essentially boasty theme of excellence – whether a self-proclaimed quality of the burglar alarm firm, or conferred by the bell box upon the client. In this case it’s the latter: with this sounder, you will gain status. I once saw one on a Prince of Wales pub, which is an ideal site. You can also get light bulbs (the old fashioned energy-gulping kind) called Status, which – like a burglar alarm – is either on or off, I guess. • Spotted: Cook’s Alley, Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, CV37, England, 2012 • Politics: In the Conservative constituency of Stratford-on-Avon
“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
“Aeon”, Bristol: eternity
Posted by on January 13, 2013
“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
“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
“Ides”, Glasgow: fateful day
Posted by on January 10, 2013
“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
“CPM”, Hackney: wordplay
Posted by on January 7, 2013
“CPM” burglar alarm, Hackney • Not sure if this rather minimal logo is meant to be a clever play on ”post meridiem“, as in “see you in the evening”, but I shall give it the benefit of the doubt. • Spotted: Curtain Road, Hackney, London, EC2, England, 2010 • Politics: In the Labour constituency of Hackney South and Shoreditch
“AM”, Cambridge: shorthand
Posted by on January 6, 2013
“AM Alarm Maintenance” burglar alarm, Cambridge • An abbreviation for Alarm Maintenance, but handily for my “Time” theme, also shorthand for “ante meridiem“. I’m also enjoying the sounder’s black letter font and the frankly horrible colour scheme of the wall it’s affixed to. • Spotted: Hills Road, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, CB2, England, 2010 • Politics: In the Liberal Democrat constituency of South Cambridgeshire
“AM 2 PM”, Derby: half-time
Posted by on January 5, 2013
“AM 2 PM Security Derby” burglar alarm, Derby • From the morning to the evening – but what about vice versa? • Spotted: Town centre, Derby, Derbyshire, DE1, England, 2010 • Politics: In the Labour constituency of Derby South
“Delta”, Hackney: creek
Posted by on December 10, 2012
“Delta Security” burglar alarm, Hackney • According to useless Yahoo Answers, there are no river deltas in Britain, because there’s not a vast enough area of flat land. But I’ve found one: the Wandle Delta. Admittedly it’s just an forgotten little industrial creek off the Thames, but hey – we can’t all be the Mississippi. In fact there are plans to smarten it up with posh housing, but I rather like how it looks now – must go and explore it before it’s too late. Amazing the things you learn researching burglar alarms! • Spotted: Chatsworth Road, Hackney, London, E5, England, 2011 • Politics: In the Labour constituency of Hackney North and Stoke Newington
Above: a great pic of the Wandle Delta by Tom Bolton – see more on Flickr here
“AllguarDelta Security”, Derby: dead bear
Posted by on September 30, 2012
“AllguarDelta Security” burglar alarm, Derby • Those bearskin hats actually are made of brown bear, all the way from Canada. Apparently the Army has tried to find a synthetic substitute, without any success. I suggest: macramé. • Spotted: Town centre, Derby, Derbyshire, DE1, England, 2010 • Politics: In the Labour constituency of Derby South
“Mono”, Manchester: lo-fi electronica
Posted by on September 21, 2012
“Mono” burglar alarm, Manchester • Mono: not just a type of lo-fi single-channel sound associated with the quintessential early 45rpm pop records, but a little-known British electronica duo who had a 1990s hit with the James Bondy-sounding “Life in Mono” (apparently – I certainly don’t remember it, so maybe it was just in the US). • Spotted: Deansgate area, Manchester, Lancashire, M1, England, 2009 • Politics: In the Labour constituency of Manchester Central
The unmemorable and not-very-good (in my opinion) band Mono
“Amco”, Camden: military badge
Posted by on September 7, 2012
“Amco” burglar alarm, Camden • I suppose AMCO stands for Alarm Monitoring Co. But what of the Harry Potterish legend “Superna petamus”, which doesn’t, as the petals in the middle would suggest, mean “always flowering”? Well, the slightly different “Superna Petimus” means “We seek higher things”, and is the motto of RAF Cranwell, where RAF officers are trained. This spelling, I think, means “let us seek higher things”, and though AMCO’s logo doesn’t look like RAF Cranwell’s coat of arms, it does resemble a British military badge. So endeth a super-category started several weeks ago, namely militia. And now, as Monty Python famously said, for something completely different… • Spotted: Goodge Place, Camden, London, W1, England, 2010 • Politics: In the Labour constituency of Holborn and St Pancras
“Nexus Security”, Tower Hamlets: connected
Posted by on August 14, 2012
“Nexus Security” burglar alarm, Tower Hamlets • I quote from the University of Wikipedia: “Nexus is a connection, usually where multiple elements meet, as for example spokes at a hub, originally from a Latin verb meaning ‘connect, bind’.” Despite its classical origins, the word is kind of sci-fi sounding, which is why it’s also been used in everything from Bladerunner to World of Warcraft. I don’t know what connection that has to a shield with a crusader-style crucifix on it. • Spotted: Wrexham Road, Tower Hamlets, London, E3, England, 2010 • Politics: In the Labour constituency of Bethnal Green and Bow
“Britannia”, Southwark: patriotic lion
Posted by on July 2, 2012
“Britannia” burglar alarm, Southwark • I end the Roman Britain theme as I began, with Britannia – I never tire of their swinging sixties-style logo, which wouldn’t look out of place in a Paul Smith boutique. This old box has a bulb on top, which thanks to the comment here I now know is considered somewhat insecure, as a passing ne’er-do-well could use it to lever the alarm off. • Spotted: Morocco Street, Southwark, London, SE1, England, 2011 • Politics: In the Liberal Democrat constituency of Bermondsey and Old Southwark
“Aztec Solutions”, Bristol: surely a Roman?
Posted by on July 1, 2012
“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
“Defender”, Sheffield: invader, actually
Posted by on June 30, 2012
“Defender” burglar alarm, Sheffield • Although small, this logo definitely portrays a Roman soldier – see the close-up, below. Bit of a weird concept for illustrating the firm’s name though, seeing as in Britain the Romans were invaders, rather than defenders. • Spotted: Brown Street, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, S1, England, 2010 • Politics: In the Labour constituency of Sheffield Central
“Sussex Alarms”, Brighton: superior helmet
Posted by on June 29, 2012
“Sussex Alarms” burglar alarm, Brighton • Not, as it may appear, Darth Vader, but a Roman soldier in his finely-crafted helmet.Sussex was positively crawling with Romans in olden days, their metal headgear being vastly superior to the barbarians’ leather contraptions. Not that I am suggesting Sussex is full of barbarians. • Spotted: Old Steine, Brighton, East Sussex, BN1, England, 2004 • Politics: In the Conservative constituency of Brighton Kemptown
“MG Systems”, Glasgow: possibly a Pict
Posted by on June 28, 2012
“MG Systems” burglar alarm, Glasgow • It may be slightly contentious to lump this Scottish sounder in under Roman Britain, as the Romans famously never colonised Caledonia – partly because they weren’t really that keen on it, apparently. So, although this fellow looks pretty Roman to me, he could be a Pict. The lack of a leather skirt (called, unpronounceably, a “pteruges“) is no proof either way, though, as legionaries favoured trousers (“braccae”) in colder climes. And of course the kilt hadn’t been invented yet – it was the Victorians who dreamt that particular skirt up. • Spotted: Central Station area, Glasgow, Lanarkshire, G1, Scotland, 2008 • Politics: In the Labour constituency of Glasgow Central
“Citadel”, Southwark: ghostly guardian
Posted by on June 27, 2012
“Citadel Security Systems” burglar alarm, Southwark • The ghostly guardian on this is so worn out he looks like a marauding mummy or a giant robot (reproduced small), but the name Citadel suggests it’s a Roman soldier. And the sounder’s nearly as ancient as its source matter. • Spotted: Southwark Bridge Road, Southwark, London, SE1, England, 2011 • Politics: In the Liberal Democrat constituency of Bermondsey and Old Southwark
“Century Alarms”, Derby: dapper centurion
Posted by on June 26, 2012
“Century Alarms” burglar alarm, Derby • This dapper centurion is a lot calmer than yesterday’s stabby specimen. At least I’m assuming he’s a centurion (it’s a play on the name Century, geddit?) – either that or he’s a fireman in a dress. • Spotted: Town centre, Derby, Derbyshire, DE1, England, 2010 • Politics: In the Labour constituency of Derby South
Nameless Roman soldier alarm, Sheffield: stabby
Posted by on June 25, 2012
Nameless burglar alarm with Roman soldier, Sheffield • This is the most violent sounder image I have: an anonymous Roman legionary unashamedly going about a ferocious felon-stabbing – or possibly ritual disembowelling – with a calm, impassive expression on his face. Either he’s a robot, a la Westworld, or he’s simply a psychopath. Burglars beware! • Spotted: Bank Street, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, S1, England, 2010 • Politics: In the Labour constituency of Sheffield Central
“Corinium Security”, Cirencester: Mr Grumpy
Posted by on June 24, 2012
“Corinium Security Cirencester” burglar alarm, Cirencester • Just as elderly but somewhat less DIY than yesterday’s Corinium sounder, this features a stern Roman legionary protecting the premises. In fact he’s so grumpy-looking (see enlargement, below), you’d think he was stuck out on blustery, Scot-bashed Hadrian’s Wall rather than in the softie southern posting of Cirencester. • Spotted: Town centre, Cirencester, Gloucestershire, GL7, England, 2007 • Politics: In the Conservative constituency of Cotswolds
“Corinium Security”, Cirencester: ancient name
Posted by on June 23, 2012
“Corinium Security Cirencester” burglar alarm, Cirencester • Corinium – it’s the Roman name for Cirencester, don’t you know. I always imagined Cirencester was some cowshit-strewn rural dump till I went there, then I realised it was really posh. I guess it got rich in Roman times, and stayed that way ever since. Hence perhaps their devotion to their ancient name. • Spotted: Town centre, Cirencester, Gloucestershire, GL7, England, 2007 • Politics: In the Conservative constituency of Cotswolds
“Britannia”, Westminster: Roman invader
Posted by on June 22, 2012
“Britannia” burglar alarm, City of Westminster • You’d think invasion was a bad subject for burglar alarms – let alone for a country – but both Britain and security firms seem to revel in our colonisation by Rome. Thus there are quite a few alarms on a “Romans in Britain” theme – or, as this one more accurately puts it, in Britannia. I prefer Britannia’s older two designs, here, assuming it’s the same firm. But thankfully they’ve retained the Union Jack (or Union Flag, as we’re boringly supposed to call it these days), and are to be applauded for depicting only the fourth woman I’ve come across on a sounder. However Boadicea might have been better, as she at least tried to keep the Romans at bay.• Spotted: Strand, City of Wetminster, London, WC2, England, 2011 • Politics: In the Conservative constituency of Cities of London and Westminster
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