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: Unexplained acronym
Eke Security, Stroud: eek!
Posted by on June 12, 2013
“Eke Security” burglar alarm, Stroud • Eek! Vertical and horizontal in a little cross. I wonder if EKE is an unexplained acronym, or a standalone name. • Spotted: High Street, Stroud, Gloucestershire, GL5, England, 2012 • Politics: In the Conservative constituency of Stroud
MAS, Liverpool: cathedral
Posted by on June 5, 2013
“MAS Formby” burglar alarm, Liverpool • This is on Liverpool Cathedral (the C of E one) – there’s a distance shot of it here. Given it nearly reads Mass, the Catholic one might have been more apt. • Spotted: Town centre, Liverpool, Merseyside, L1, England, 2008 • Politics: In the Labour constituency of Liverpool Riverside
GSS, Lambeth: extended
Posted by on June 4, 2013
“GSS Grays” burglar alarm, Lambeth • I like the way the extended sci-fi-style type of this unexplained SS-themed acronym fills the whole sounder. Grays Security Systems, perhaps? • Spotted: Lower Marsh, Lambeth, London, SE1, England, 2010 • Politics: In the Labour constituency of Vauxhall
HPS, Sheffield: sideways
Posted by on June 3, 2013
“HPS” burglar alarm, Sheffield • Blimey, not exactly the world’s most inspired logo. And either the box or the label is on sideways… • Spotted: Union Street, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, S1, England, 2010 • Politics: In the Labour constituency of Sheffield Central
AES, Lambeth: rocket
Posted by on June 2, 2013
“AES” burglar alarm, Lambeth • Kind of a triangular stack going on here, like a rocket of initials with a blast of phone numbers beneath. Fanciful, moi? • Spotted: Secker Street, Lambeth, London, SE1, England, 2011 • Politics: In the Labour constituency of Vauxhall
PSK, Tower Hamlets: boring
Posted by on May 31, 2013
“PSK” burglar alarm, Tower Hamlets • Starting today, one of my most boring-ever themes: vertical initials. • Spotted: Clare Street, Tower Hamlets, London, E2, England, 2012 • Politics: In the Labour constituency of Bethnal Green and Bow
DS Securities, Bath: monogramatic
Posted by on May 20, 2013
“DS Securities” burglar alarm, Bath • Unexplained acronym making a monogramatic rooftop. • Spotted: Cavendish Road, Bath, Avon, BA1, England, 2011 • Politics: In the Liberal Democrat constituency of Bath
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
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
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
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
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
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
Zodiac Security, Camden: big Z
Posted by on April 17, 2013
“Zodiac Security” burglar alarm, Camden • No big Y (oh why oh why?), but here’s a stonking Z to end; there’s another Zodiac Security sounder here. That’s enough big letters; tomorrow, cities. • Spotted: Finchley Road, Camden, London, NW3, England, 2007 • Politics: In the Labour constituency of Hampstead and Kilburn
E, Southwark: big E
Posted by on April 4, 2013
“E” burglar alarm, Southwark • A big E. I mean, what can you say? Aceeeeiiid!!!!! • Spotted: Snowsfields, Southwark, London, SE1, England, 2011 • Politics: In the Liberal Democrat constituency of Bermondsey and Old Southwark
CSL, Westminster: big C
Posted by on April 2, 2013
“CSL” burglar alarm, City of Westminster • Here’s a big C – not waves, but a sort of clamp effect. • Spotted: New Cavendish Street, City of Westminster, London, W1, England, 2012 • Politics: In the Conservative constituency of Cities of London and Westminster
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