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: Illustrated
Quantum Security, Camden: packets
Posted by on June 18, 2013
“Quantum Security” burglar alarm, Camden • Basically a discrete energy packet, from the Latin for “quantus,” meaning “how much”. Although the logo looks more like the planet Saturn. • Spotted: Parkway, Camden, London, NW1, England, 2010 • Politics: In the Labour constituency of Holborn and St Pancras
Xtal, Merton: crystal
Posted by on June 17, 2013
“Xtal” burglar alarm, Merton • Xtal is an abbreviation for crystal. There’s another Xtal alarm here. • Spotted: Merton Road, Merton, London, SW19, England, 2010 • Politics: In the Conservative constituency of Wimbledon
Mercury, Nottingham: quicksilver
Posted by on June 14, 2013
“Mercury” burglar alarm, Nottingham • Mercury is a chemical element with the symbol Hg and atomic number 80, known as quicksilver. Not to mention being a planet, a Roman god, and a burglar alarm company. • Spotted: Friar Lane, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, NG1, England, 2011 • Politics: In the Labour constituency of Nottingham South
Holgate Alarms, York: windy
Posted by on May 30, 2013
“Holgate Alarms” burglar alarm, York • And finally, a home for Windy Miller. Holgate Windmill is famed for being sited a roundabout in the middle of a York housing estate - see the BBC story here. However, rather than a cheery flour-miller, a scary Northern matron sprung from the terraced house this alarm adorned and yelled at me for photographing her gaff, so I had to pretend I was photographing the football stadium behind it (as if). • Spotted: Newborough Terrace, York, Yorkshire, YO3, England, 2011 • Politics: In the Labour constituency of York Central
Tollgate, Bath: quaint
Posted by on May 29, 2013
“Tollgate Security Ltd” burglar alarm, Bath • OK, so a tollgate is a gate for taking money, and not a house. But, in this drawing, it does look like a quaint little house. • Spotted: Manvers Street, Bath, Avon, BA1, England, 2011 • Politics: In the Liberal Democrat constituency of Bath
Homeguard, Old Amersham: throwing-star
Posted by on May 26, 2013
“Homeguard Security Systems” burglar alarm, Old Amersham • Sonic dot emerging from home, like a scary Ninja throwing-star. • Spotted: Town centre, Old Amersham, Buckinghamshire, HP7, England, 2006 • Politics: In the Conservative constituency of Chesham and Amersham
DR Security & Electrical Ltd, Islington: blobby
Posted by on May 25, 2013
“DR Security & Electrical Ltd” burglar alarm, Islington • Dr Blobby’s in da house – another version of a very old favourite, as posted here. • Spotted: Compton Street, Islington, London, EC1, England, 2008 • Politics: In the Labour constituency of Islington South and Finsbury
Access Security, Milton Keynes: arrow-house
Posted by on May 24, 2013
“Access Security” burglar alarm, Milton Keynes • The ever-popular arrow-house. That’s probably what they look like in Milton Keynes. • Spotted: Midsummer Boulevard, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, MK9, England, 2010 • Politics: In the Conservative constituency of Milton Keynes North
Premia Security, Southwark: Dickensian
Posted by on May 21, 2013
“Premia Security” burglar alarm, Southwark • Another rooftop-mountain-pyramid -triangle thing. Notable for being found in Wild’s Rents, one of London’s most Dickensian-sounding roads. • Spotted: Wild’s Rents, Southwark, London, SE1, England, 2011 • Politics: In the Liberal Democrat constituency of Bermondsey and Old Southwark
Pritchard Security Systems, Cardiff: mountainous
Posted by on May 19, 2013
“Pritchard Security Systems” burglar alarm, Cardiff • Pyramids? Mountains? Rooftops? It’s Welsh, so it could be rooftops in front of a mountain. • Spotted: St Mary Street, Cardiff, South Glamorgan, CF10, Wales, 2012 • Politics: In the Liberal Democrat constituency of Cardiff Central
IHD Security Limited, Ealing: sonic dot
Posted by on May 18, 2013
“IHD Security Limited” burglar alarm, Ealing • Rounded 1970s house-arrow surrounding sonic dot and unexplained acronym. • Spotted: Bideford Avenue, Ealing, London, UB6, England, 2006 • Politics: In the Labour constituency of Ealing North
Crime Cure, Bristol: old fave
Posted by on May 17, 2013
“Crime Cure” burglar alarm, Bristol • Update of an old favourite, as featured here. Where’s the house? It’s surrounding the massively complex heraldic device. • Spotted: The Arcade, Horsefair, Bristol, Avon, BS1, England, 2013 • Politics: In the Liberal Democrat constituency of Bristol West
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
Imperial Security, Bristol: Chinese
Posted by on May 15, 2013
“Imperial Security” burglar alarm, Bristol • Chinese house! • Spotted: The Arcade, Horsefair, Bristol, Avon, BS1, England, 2013 • Politics: In the Liberal Democrat constituency of Bristol West
Tel Cam, Lambeth: Ecurity
Posted by on May 14, 2013
“Tel Cam Security Systems” burglar alarm, Lambeth • Or, in this case, Ecurity Systems. I think that’s a weird tall house in the middle of the triangle, but it’s a bit hard to say. • Spotted: Electric Avenue, Brixton, Lambeth, London, SW9, England, 2012 • Politics: In the Labour constituency of Dulwich and West Norwood
Trust Alarms, Camden: blubbing
Posted by on May 13, 2013
“Trust Alarms” burglar alarm, Camden • Another version of the superb blubbing house I featured here, near the start of this blog. • Spotted: Leather Lane, Camden, London, EC1, England, 2011 • Poliatics: In the Labour constituency of Holborn and St Pancras
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
Secure Installations Alarm, Falmouth: giant hand
Posted by on May 10, 2013
“Secure Installations Alarm” burglar alarm, Falmouth • Giant hand holding tiny house – nice. • Spotted: Market Strand, Falmouth, Cornwall, TR11, England, 2012 • Politics: In the Conservative constituency of Truro and Falmouth
Securaplace, Southwark: lockdown
Posted by on May 9, 2013
“Securaplace” burglar alarm, Southwark • Fabulous old sounder with a lock and a house. • Spotted: Borough High Street, Southwark, London, SE1, England, 2011 • Politics: In the Liberal Democrat constituency of Bermondsey and Old Southwark
Berkshire Home Alarms, Cirencester: bleak house
Posted by on May 8, 2013
“Berkshire Home Alarms Reading” burglar alarm, Cirencester • A rather bleak-looking house: found on some random new “executive” estate I was driving past. • Spotted: near Cirencester, Gloucestershire, GL7, England, 2012 • Politics: In the Conservative constituency of Cotswolds
TAN Alarms, Bath: eaves
Posted by on May 7, 2013
“TAN Alarms” burglar alarm, Bath • Starting today: alarms with houses on, like this clever use of As as roof eaves (though no clue as to what TAN stands for). • Spotted: Pierrepont Street, Bath, Avon, BA1, England, 2011 • Politics: In the Liberal Democrat constituency of Bath
East Tower, Camden: iconic
Posted by on April 22, 2013
“East Tower Security Systems” burglar alarm, Camden • Tower bridge isn’t exactly a city, but is iconic enough of London to represent it, and is central to both the London skylines featured previously. East Tower have had many sounder designs, but they always boast this same illustration. • Spotted: Mount Vernon, Camden, London, NW3, England, 2012 • Politics: In the Labour constituency of Hampstead and Kilburn
LT Security Services, Wandsworth: romantic
Posted by on April 21, 2013
“LT Security Services” burglar alarm, Wandsworth • I thought that was a Japanese flag in the background, then I realised it’s the moon in a night sky. Quite a romantic illustration for a burglar alarm. • Spotted: Longbeach Road, Wandsworth, London, SW11, England, 2012 • Politics: In the Conservative constituency of Battersea
City Alarms, Tower Hamlets: Millennium Dome
Posted by on April 20, 2013
“City Alarms” burglar alarm, Tower Hamlets • Ah, some recognisable lumps on the London skyline, though oddly not the Gherkin. It must be post-2000, as it includes the Millennium Dome; there’s an earlier City alarm here that doesn’t. • Spotted: Leyden Street, Tower Hamlets, London, E1, England, 2010 • Politics: In the Labour constituency of Bethnal Green and Bow
L or L Security, Hackney: handbasket
Posted by on April 19, 2013
“L or L Security” burglar alarm, Hackney • A city in a padlock that looks like a basket. Excellent. But I have no idea what the weird name L or L means – hell in a handbasket? • Spotted: Broadway Market, Hackney, London, E8, England, 2012 • Politics: In the Labour constituency of Hackney South and Shoreditch
Electric City, York: New York
Posted by on April 18, 2013
“Electric City” burglar alarm, York • I think that’s the Empire State Building on this discotastic sounder; it was found in old York, so there’s some logic, I suppose. • Spotted: Gillygate, York, Yorkshire, YO3, England, 2011 • Politics: In the Labour constituency of York Central
Dent Security, Cambridge: big D
Posted by on April 3, 2013
“Dent Security” burglar alarm, Cambridge • I think this jolly big D is meant to represent a padlock, if not a threat to put a dent in Johnny Burglar. • Spotted: Hills Road, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, CB2, England, 2010 • Politics: In the Liberal Democrat constituency of South Cambridgeshire
Cotronic (UK) Ltd, Stratford-upon-Avon: monotone
Posted by on March 30, 2013
Cotronic (UK) Ltd” burglar alarm, Stratford-upon-Avon • This looked like a total mystery; I assumed the name was something-cotronic, maybe Ecotronic, but a learned contributor (see comments, below), has ascertained that Cotronic is indeed the full name of the firm. Anyway there’s a tiny monochrome Union Jack in the centre, hence its inclusion here. • Spotted: Ely Street, Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, CV37, England, 2012 • Politics: In the Conservative constituency of Stratford-on-Avon
Electrotect Group, Westminster: elaborate
Posted by on March 29, 2013
“Electrotrct Group Security Systems” burglar alarm, City of Westminster • A rather elaborate design, and the only one of its kind I’ve ever found. Electrotect Group sounds like a 1980s synth band, but in fact I’m thinking of Electroset, the 1990s rave outfit – here’s How Does It Feel, their quite good version of a New Order classic. Sigh, dance music’s really gone down the dumper since then. • Spotted: Great Titchfield Street, City of Westminster, London, W1, England, 2012 • Politics: In the Conservative constituency of Cities of London and Westminster
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