Burglar Alarm Britain

Where vigilante culture meets vernacular design

Category Archives: Roman Britain

“Century”, Derby: 100 years

Leave a Comment Posted by on January 12, 2013

Century Alarms

“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

2010, Classical, Drawing, Human body, Illustrated, Labour Party, Male, Militia, Rectangle, Roman Britain, Time , , , , ,

“Britannia”, Southwark: patriotic lion

Leave a Comment 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

1 initial, 2011, Bulb, Classical, Creature, Favourite, Geographic, Heraldry, Illustrated, Latin, Lib-Dem Party, Lion, National, Rectangle, Roman Britain, Stylised graphic, Union Jack, Vintage , , , , , , ,

“Aztec Solutions”, Bristol: surely a Roman?

Leave a Comment 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

2 initials, 2011, Classical, Face, Human body, Illustrated, Lib-Dem Party, Male, Militia, Monochrome, Rectangle, Red, Roman Britain, Stylised graphic , , , , , ,

“Defender”, Sheffield: invader, actually

Leave a Comment 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

2010, Classical, Human body, Illustrated, Labour Party, Male, Militia, Rectangle, Roman Britain, Shield, Stylised graphic , , , , , ,

“Sussex Alarms”, Brighton: superior helmet

Leave a Comment 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

2004, Classical, Conservative Party, Delta, Face, Geographic, Human body, Illustrated, Local, Male, Militia, Roman Britain, Stylised graphic , , , , , ,

“MG Systems”, Glasgow: possibly a Pict

Leave a Comment 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

2 initials, 2008, Classical, Human body, Illustrated, Initial-based, Labour Party, Male, Militia, Rectangle, Roman Britain, Shield, Stylised graphic, Unexplained acronym , , , , , , ,

“Citadel”, Southwark: ghostly guardian

Leave a Comment 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

2011, Classical, Drawing, Human body, Illustrated, Lib-Dem Party, Male, Militia, Monochrome, Red, Roman Britain, Triangle , , , , , , ,

“Century Alarms”, Derby: dapper centurion

Leave a Comment 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

2010, Classical, Drawing, Human body, Illustrated, Labour Party, Male, Militia, Rectangle, Roman Britain , , , , , ,

Nameless Roman soldier alarm, Sheffield: stabby

3 Comments 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

2010, Classical, Delta, Drawing, Favourite, Human body, Illustrated, Labour Party, Male, Militia, Monochrome, Roman Britain, Shield, Yellow , , , , , ,

“Britannia”, Westminster: Roman invader

Leave a Comment 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

2011, Classical, Conservative Party, Delta, Female, Geographic, Human body, Illustrated, Latin, Militia, National, Roman Britain, Speed, Stylised graphic, Union Jack , , , , , , ,

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