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: Shield
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
“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
“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
“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
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
“Guard Security Systems”, Camden: vicious
Posted by on October 2, 2012
“Guard Security Systems” burglar alarm, Camden • That’s enough Foot Guards – here’s an altogether more violent fellow, who I think may be meant to be a Norman soldier. In fact, he’s the most vicious sounder figure I’ve found since this stabby Centurion in Sheffield. • Spotted: Hatton Garden, Camden, London, EC1, England, 2004 • Politics: In the Labour constituency of Holborn and St Pancras
“Brocks Alarms”, Islington: non-faded
Posted by on September 1, 2012
“Brocks Alarms” burglar alarm, Islington • You don’t see too many of these old Brocks boxes with the lion and shield on; normally they are plain white with just the logo at the top. I never know whether that’s because they started like that, or the lion and shield faded off – I suspect the latter. A nice design anyway, and it heralds (geddit) the last shield, as the knightly arm-borne protection falls away leaving just a few heraldic-style animals. • Spotted: Albermarle Way, Islington, London, EC1, England, 2007 • Politics: In the Labour constituency of Islington South and Finsbury
“Berkeley Guard”, Oxford: well posh
Posted by on August 31, 2012
“Berkeley Guard” burglar alarm, Oxford • Berkeley has connotations of something really rich, doesn’t it? Like a hedge fund, or a property portfolio. So I looked up Berkeley Guard on the internet, and lo and behold, the company was “founded in 1982 by Julian Berkeley, second son of Sir Lennox Berkeley, musician and composer” – proving yet again that there are quite a lot of Sirs in burglar alarm land, even if only peripherally. Incidentally, Julian’s brother Michael presents the Sunday morning show Private Passions (a kind of upmarket an upmarket Desert Island Discs) on Radio 3 – so a posh burglar alarm indeed. • Spotted: Queen Street, Oxford, Oxfordshire, OX1, England, 2012 • Politics: In the Labour constituency of Oxford East
“A1 Security”, Norwich: traffic cops
Posted by on August 30, 2012
“A1 Security Protecting the Community Norwich” burglar alarm, Norwich • This piece of DIY heraldry conjures up the police force with its badge, checkers, and ribband reading “Protecting the community”. But they’re obviously not traffic cops, as the A1 – aka Britain’s longest numbered road – doesn’t go anywhere near Norwich. A name chosen to rise to the top of the phone directory, then. • Spotted: Town centre, Norwich, Norfolk, NR1, England, 2007 • Politics: In the Liberal Democrat constituency of Norwich South
“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
“Bristol & West Security”, Bristol: criminal tattoo
Posted by on August 28, 2012
“Bristol & West Security” burglar alarm, Bristol • The name looks and sounds as if it’s a building society (the old fashioned non-hedge fund sort) – so maybe it was. Under Photoshop enhancement, the faded carbuncle above the name (below) resembles a Russian criminal tattoo. Phenomenally complex, it incorporates two unicorns, a massive old ship on a shield (shades of old Westward TV logo), crossed human arms clutching scales of justice and a snake (law v burglar v, geddit?), and the legend Quality in Service. They don’t make ‘em like that any more. • Spotted: Baldwin Street, Bristol, Avon, BS1, England, 2012 • Politics: In the Liberal Democrat constituency of Bristol West
“New Century Security”, Bristol: double whammy
Posted by on August 27, 2012
“New Century Security” burglar alarm, Bristol • This is a double whammy: a shield-within-shield logo. And not just that, but a gauntlet clutching a lightning bolt, a rampant lion, a window at night (I think), a repetition of their name, and what looks like the European stars. There’s even another version with “21st” above the title, just in case you thought the new century was the 18th. Talk about covering all the bases. • Spotted: Surrey Street, Bristol, Avon, BS2, England, 2011 • Politics: In the Liberal Democrat constituency of Bristol West
“Ambassador”, Old Coulsdon: dog-head
Posted by on August 26, 2012
“Ambassador” burglar alarm, Old Coulsdon • More cockles, and a dog prancing on someone’s head. Loads of these heraldic alarm shields have helmets on top, and this is a bit like Hadleigh – maybe they all copied the same piece of clip art. They all look like logos for local government rather than burglar alarms, anyway – I could see this over the entrance arch of an LCC council estate. Heaven knows what LPC stands for here, or how it relates to an ambassador. • Spotted: Court Avenue, Old Coulsdon, Surrey, CR5, England, 2010 • Politics: In the Conservative constituency of Croydon South
“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
“Hadleigh Security”, Tower Hamlets: crane and cockles
Posted by on August 24, 2012
“Hadleigh Security” burglar alarm, Tower Hamlets • Now we merge from shields into heraldry, where the shield is just part of an overall coat of arms, albeit probably a made-up one. This one has what appears to be a crane coming out of its helmet and balloons raining down on cockles, owned perhaps by the lord of some Cockney manor. The name makes me think of Tony “Foghorn” Hadley out of Spandau Ballet, recently heard tooting out the excellent “Gold” over many an Olympics TV show. Speaking of which, most of White Post Lane got eaten up by the Olympics, so I doubt this sounder is there any more. • Spotted: White Post Lane, Tower Hamlets, London, E9, England, 2006 • Politics: In the Labour constituency of Bethnal Green and Bow
“Alarm Call Ltd”, Exeter: parti-coloured
Posted by on August 23, 2012
“Alarm Call Ltd” burglar alarm, Exeter • Parti-colored is I think the correct term here. It’s redolent of horse racing colours, a rubbish football team (ie Crystal Palace in the olden days), and heraldry. Which is exactly where we’re heading next. • Spotted: Town centre, Exeter, Devon, EX1, England, 2009 • Politics: In the Labour constituency of Exeter
“Alarm Safe”, Bath: cream shield
Posted by on August 22, 2012
“Alarm Safe” burglar alarm, Bath • It’s cream, and it was on an ice-cream shop. Excellent. • Spotted: York Street, Bath, Avon, BA1, England, 2011 • Politics: In the Liberal Democrat constituency of Bath
“CG Computa Guard”, Bolton: green and gritty
Posted by on August 21, 2012
“CG Computa Guard” burglar alarm, Bolton • Let me count the ways I love this. It suggests it’s guarded by a computer. It’s spelled groovily. It’s green, which is unusual. It’s square, and I like squares. It’s got a really basic monogram, and I like those too. It’s vintage. It’s from Bolton, which sounds all gritty and Northern. It was on an escarpment of grandly decaying windswept buildings, in true gritty Northern fashion. It’s rusty. And it’s got a shield on. A total winner. • Spotted: St Georges Road, Bolton, Lancashire, BL1, England, 2010 • Politics: In the Labour constituency of Bolton North East
“WEC Alarms”, Nottingham: cheery acronym
Posted by on August 20, 2012
“WEC Alarms” burglar alarm, Nottingham • An cheery yellow unexplained acronym livening up a nice green Georgian house, though not exactly “in keeping”. The building is some kind of defunct costume museum, opposite Nottingham’s stupid castle, so a shield seems appropriate. I learn from their website that WEC were established in 1981 as a subsidiary of Woodthorpe Electrical Contractors, who were formed in 1963 – hence the name. • Spotted: Castle Gate, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, NG1, England, 2011 • Politics: In the Labour constituency of Nottingham South
“ASE”, Marlborough: half-arsed
Posted by on August 19, 2012
“ASE” burglar alarm, Marlborough • It nearly says arse, haw haw. • Spotted: Town centre, Marlborough, Wiltshire, SN8, England, 2007 • Politics: In the Conservative constituency of Devizes
“Classic Alarms”, Islington: double dated
Posted by on August 18, 2012
“Classic Alarms” burglar alarm, Islington • Old enough to bear not one but two 01 numbers – double dated, if you will. • Spotted: Caledonian Road, Islington, London, N1, England, 2012 • Politics: In the Labour constituency of Islington South and Finsbury
“The Security Centre”, Newham: basic shape
Posted by on August 17, 2012
“The Security Centre” burglar alarm, Newham • And so the shields get ever more basic. This is a similar shape to the SIS effort, yesterday – but at least it’s not filled in with biro. • Spotted: Leytonstone Road, Newham, London, E15, England, 2006 • Politics: In the Labour constituency of West Ham
“Security Installation Services”, Camden: birotastic
Posted by on August 16, 2012
“Security Installation Services Ltd” burglar alarm, Camden • Uuuuh? This looks like it was traced in biro off a US police badge. And the thing in the middle looks like a candle. Maybe it’s meant to suggest the SAS, but to me it conjures up the schoolroom. • Spotted: Parkway, Camden, London, NW1, England, 2010 • Politics: In the Labour constituency of Holborn and St Pancras
“Shivon”, Westminster: head-turner
Posted by on August 15, 2012
“Shivon Security Systems” burglar alarm, City of Westminster • I wonder if this is pronounced like Siobhán? I’d never heard of this word but it does come up as a name on Google, usually for young women. According to the not-very-reliable online Urban Dictionary, Shivon means “a girl who can turn the head of any man” – a definition which I am sure this firm was not named after. Nice shield, anyway – three letter S shapes, geddit? • Spotted: Wellington Street, City of Westminster, London, WC2, England, 2011 • Politics: In the Conservative constituency of Cities of London and Westminster
“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
“Scotshield”, Glasgow: patriotic
Posted by on August 13, 2012
“Scotshield Fire & Security Systems” burglar alarm, Glasgow • You’d never get a firm called Engshield, would you? Britshield, maybe. But there’s no doubt where this one’s from. In fact, it’s so patriotic it was found on the Rangers football stadium at Ibrox Park (see photo below). You know, the really famous Glasgow football club who went broke and are now relegated to the Irn-Bru Third Division – there’s a pic of the ground here. So who knows whether they’ll be able to maintain their security contract. • Spotted: Edmiston Drive, Ibrox, Glasgow, Lanarkshire, G51, Scotland, 2010 • Politics: In the Labour constituency of Glasgow South West
“Shield Alarms”, Sheffield: glum
Posted by on August 12, 2012
“Shield Alarms” burglar alarm, Sheffield • Yet another glum shield from the creators of the previous two sounders – hardly inspiring enough to warrant a three-strong showing, but benefiting from the fact that I just want to get rid of every shield variation I have • Spotted: Eldon Street, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, S1, England, 2010 • Politics: In the Labour constituency of Sheffield Central
“Shield Alarms”, Sheffield: grey blob
Posted by on August 11, 2012
“Shield Alarms” burglar alarm, Sheffield • Obviously the same firm as above, judging by the shape of the gloomy grey blob lurking in the background. • Spotted: Campo Lane, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, S1, England, 2010 • Politics: In the Labour constituency of Sheffield Central
“Shield Alarms”, Sheffield: twingo bingo
Posted by on August 10, 2012
“Shield Alarms” burglar alarm, Sheffield • And so – ta da – we make a slight return to yellow shields. I wonder if this is any relative of the brace of vintage yellow Shields I published a week ago? It has the same typeface as this old Shield Security System sounder. All these shield sounders are kind of like burglar alarm Twingo Bingo. • Spotted: North Church Street, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, S1, England, 2010 • Politics: In the Labour constituency of Sheffield Central
“Armour Alarms”, Camden: aaaargh
Posted by on August 9, 2012
“Armour Alarms” burglar alarm, Camden • Aaargh, enough red shield alarms already. Can’t we go back to the yellow ones? • Spotted: Finchley Road, Camden, London, NW3, England, 2007 • Politics: In the Labour constituency of Hampstead and Kilburn
Recent comments