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: Vision
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
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
“i2i Security”, Middlesbrough: geddit?
Posted by on March 8, 2013
“i2i Security Middlesbrough” burglar alarm, Middlesbrough • There’s only one eye so it’s Eye 2 I, geddit? If it was Eye 2 Eye, they’d have had an eye on both Is. And if it was I 2 I, it would suggest serious undermanning. Or something. Found above a suitably poetic Lord Byron sign (see below). • Spotted: Bridge Street East, Middlesbrough, Cleveland, TS2, England, 2012 • Politics: In the Labour constituency of Middlesbrough
“Pro-Guard”, Stroud: professionalism
Posted by on February 13, 2013
“Pro-Guard Security Solutions Ltd” burglar alarm, Stroud • There are lots of guard alarms, but this starey-eyed sounder is the only one offering the added excellence of professionalism. If you wanted unprofessional guarding, maybe you’d hire a certain quadratic firm who messed up a bit during the Olympics, ha ha. • Spotted: Threadneedle Street, Stroud, Gloucestershire, GL5, England, 2012 • Politics: In the Conservative constituency of Stroud
“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
“Western”, Falmouth: staring eyes
Posted by on January 9, 2013
“Western Security Systems We Watch Day and Night” burglar alarm, Falmouth • Not the most obvious time reference, but the roundel at the top states “we watch day and night”. And to reinforce the point, there’s a pair of staring eyes – one in the light, one in the dark. Nice! • Spotted: Market Strand, Falmouth, Cornwall, TR11, England, 2012 • Politics: In the Conservative constituency of Truro and Falmouth
“Isis”, Oxford: posh
Posted by on December 2, 2012
“Isis Security Systems” burglar alarm, Oxford • Oxford’s other famous river is the Isis (a posh name for the Thames), which like the Cherwell gives its name to a long-running student magazine. Isis was also an Egyptian goddess, and this sounder piles on the references with the visual pun of a startled-looking eye. I reckon that’s a CR logo underneath it, another brand that’s common in the town. • Spotted: Cornmarket, Oxford, Oxfordshire, OX1, England, 2012 • Politics: In the Labour constituency of Oxford East
Above: fops punting on the Thames, aka the Isis, at Oxford
Ghost under “ASG Vision”, Bristol: anagrams
Posted by on November 10, 2012
Ghost under “ASG Vision (on OS Resolution)” burglar alarm, Bristol • Triple acronym whammy: ADG on OSR on something that was a flat-ended oval. Maybe one of these also-Bristolian APS jobbies? In which case the total initials are ADGOSRAPS, whose anagrams include Rap Ass Dog, Spar as God and Drag Soaps. Wow, deep. • Spotted: Broad Street, Bristol, Avon, BS1, England, 2011 • Politics: In the Liberal Democrat constituency of Bristol West
“Watchman Alarms”, Edinburgh: not plural
Posted by on October 10, 2012
“Watchman Alarms” burglar alarm, Edinburgh • Another waveform in a circle, like Guardwell the other day – only not as retro. Luckily the name isn’t plural, so I don’t have to go on about the also retro Watchmen graphic novels. • Spotted: Charlotte Square, Edinburgh, Scotland, EH2, 2012 • Politics: In the Labour constituency of Edinburgh North and Leith
“Watchguard Security”, Cambridge: deleted
Posted by on October 9, 2012
“Watchguard Security” burglar alarm, Cambridge • Hmmm, they appear to have crossed out their own logo. Strange (and very basic). • Spotted: Castle Street, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, CB3, England, 2010 • Politics: In the Liberal Democrat constituency of South Cambridgeshire
“Cox Security”, Beckenham: apple in Bowieland
Posted by on April 12, 2012
“Cox Security” burglar alarm, Beckenham • Cox – it’s an apple, geddit? To me, the logo also looks like a staring eye, which would make it a pun on “the apple of my eye” and thus also qualify it for the “vision” and “monograms” categories. I found a couple of Cox security firms on the internet: Cox Security Solutions Ltd near Milton Keynes, and the wonderfully-named CoxLocks in the Surrey area, which is nearer to Beckenham (which, pathetically, I always associate with David Bowie in his dress-wearing days). But neither has this logo, so it may be some completely different firm. • Spotted: High Street, Beckenham, Kent, BR3, England, 2010 • Politics: In the Conservative constituency of Beckenham
Left, David Bowie in Beckenham (and a dress); right, a cox apple
“Crime Cure”, Bristol: vintage inverted pocket
Posted by on February 5, 2012
“Crime Cure” burglar alarm, Bristol • This is an absolutely classic sounder, and it makes me chuckle every time I see it. I found it at eye level in downown Bristol, the city that never stops giving great burglar alarm gifts. Everything about it, from my shallow design-based point of view, is good: it’s vintage metal; an unusual “inverted pocket” shape (though I have found one other); rare use of green; amusing name in bold modernist type; and a complex piece of heraldry incorporating eight popular security tropes in a tiny space, namely lions, keys, an eye, a padlock, some bars, a shield, a castle, and even a motto – “protect and deter”. An internet search on “crime cure security” throws up firms in business listings all over the place, including Bristol, but as none have their own websites I’m assuming they’re all defunct.• Spotted: High Street, Bristol, Avon, BS1, England, 2011 • Politics: In the Liberal Democrat constituency of Bristol West
“ICU”, Hackney: hip heptagon
Posted by on November 8, 2011
“ICU” burglar alarm, Hackney • My final vision-themed “backronym” offers up the unambiguous message “I see you”. It’s a nice idea, although the label could equally well be a piece of conceptual street art. Note that the sounder is the first I’ve posted with seven equal sides – a shape known occasionally as a septagon, but more usually as a heptagon. Or in this case, a hip Hackney heptagon. Fact: its sides all meet at an angle of 128.5714286 degrees. Thank you, Wikipedia! • Spotted: Rivington Street, Hackney, London, EC2, England, 2011 • Politics: In the Labour constituency of Hackney South and Shoreditch
“MECE”, Camden: see me
Posted by on November 7, 2011
“MECE” burglar alarm, Camden • Assuming this firm isn’t run by an ecstasy-chugging rapper called MC EE, the logo is intended to read “me see” – geddit? – and is thus, like yesterday’s iC, a “backronym”. What the letters actually stand for isn’t indicated on MECE’s website, though I did learn that it’s a huge 18-year-old company with offices across Europe, and loads of major clients including Eurotunnel, Cambridge University and the 2012 Olympics. Which makes it odd that I’ve only ever come across a couple of their sounders. • Spotted: Store Street, Camden, London, WC1, England, 2010 • Politics: In the Labour constituency of Holborn and St Pancras
“IC Integrated Security Ltd”, Southwark: backronym
Posted by on November 6, 2011
“IC Integrated Security Ltd” burglar alarm, Southwark • To end this vision theme, a few examples of punning abbreviations, where the characters stand for entire words or syllables. While broadly acronyms, these seem to be a grey area in the English language, with no precise term for the multifarious kinds of letter-play available, though in an extensive entry, fascinating to those of a sub-editorial bent, Wikipedia suggests “initialism” as a catch-all term. I suspect this is what they would cutely sub-class a “backronym” – “one deliberately designed to be especially apt for the thing being named” – as Integrated Security happily reduces to iC, reading as “I see”, or even “eye see”. Had the designer dotted the “i” with an eye, this would have created enough levels of punning to end the universe. It possibly did end the company, because their website was last updated in 2009. • Spotted: Old Jamaica Road, Southwark, London, SE16, England, 2010 • Politics: In the Liberal Democrat constituency of Bermondsey and Old Southwark
“CamWatch”, Sheffield: prayer pomegranate
Posted by on November 5, 2011
“CamWatch” burglar alarm, Sheffield • Ah, the modern world – up until now eyes have been watching from the vision-themed burglar alarms, but today it’s a camera. However, there may be observation from a higher power still, for this is situated on Sheffield’s Old Synagogue, a striking Victorian Gothic building rearing up from a narrow side-street near the cathedral. My photo of the frontage (below) doesn’t really do it justice; it’s carved with Hebrew inscriptions and topped with a stone pomegranate, whose 613 seeds represent the number of laws in the first five books of the Bible. By the 1950s it had become a warehouse for the woollen trade and later a hairdressing supplier, and is now restored as office space. There’s a bit more info about its warehouse days half way down this rambling discussion thread, and an article on Sheffield’s symbolically carved buildings – including the pomegranate – here. • Spotted: North Church Street, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, S1, England, 2010 • Politics: In the Labour constituency of Sheffield Central
“ExtraWatch Security Systems”, Islington: which witch
Posted by on November 4, 2011
“ExtraWatch Security Systems” burglar alarm, Islington • From the land of Arsenal and Old Labour (by which I mean long-serving MP Jeremy Corbyn, not ex-resident Tony Blair) comes this mouldering, faded and defunct-looking item bearing the colours of both; draw from that what parallels you will. So bleached is it that at first I thought it said Extra Witch, which sounds much more interesting and conjures up (ha ha) images of a bevy of broomstick-riding harridans swooping down upon Islington’s cowering malefactors. Including, hopefully, Tony Blair. • Spotted: Marlborough Road, Islington, London, N19, England, 2010 • Politics: In the Labour constituency of Islington North
“Sight Sound & Security Systems”, Glasgow: free mould
Posted by on November 3, 2011
“Sight Sound & Security Systems” burglar alarm, Glasgow • Sight, sound, security and a free helping of damp black mould – you can’t argue with that! • Spotted: Merchant City area, Glasgow, Lanarkshire, G1, Scotland, 2010 • Politics: In the Labour constituency of Glasgow Central
“ASG Vision”, Bristol: flamboyant tail
Posted by on November 2, 2011
“ASG Vision” (over “OS Resolution”) burglar alarm, Bristol • Aha – I love a sticker, and especially a violent yellow one. Bristol seems to have a particularly thriving burglar alarm ecosystem, and here, ASG Vision have effected a brutal takeover of a hapless OS Resolution box (both firms I have come across this one time only). It’s included due to the “vision” reference; what the acronym ASG refers to remains opaque, but I reckon its flamboyant tail is a very abstract eye. • Spotted: Broad Street, Bristol, Avon, BS1, England, 2011 • Politics: In the Liberal Democrat constituency of Bristol West
“IFSS Infocus Security”, Hounslow: verbal vision
Posted by on November 1, 2011
“IFSS Infocus Security” burglar alarm, Hounslow • Now I leave the visual representation of eyes for a few alarms that, counterintuitively, refer to vision verbally – in this case, with that popular catch-all management-speak buzz-word, “focus”. In all other ways, it’s a supremely boring design – it isn’t even an unexplained acronym, despite the extra “S” (for “systems”, presumably). I promise there are some better ones to come. • Spotted: Chiswick Mall, Hounslow, London, W4, England, 2006 • Politics: In the Conservative constituency of Brentford and Isleworth
“Focus Security Systems”, Bristol: dying star
Posted by on October 31, 2011
“Focus Security Systems” burglar alarm, Bristol • The inclusion of the word “Focus” on this faded device leads me to think of this as a stylised eye, though it could equally be a dying star. Focus don’t appear to have a website, and when I looked them up on Google Street View it showed a caravan… so that may be an apt metaphor. • Spotted: Town centre, Bristol, Avon, BS1, England, 2006 • Politics: In the Liberal Democrat constituency of Bristol West
“Metro Security Centre”, Tower Hamlets: wide eyed
Posted by on October 30, 2011
“Metro Security Centre” burglar alarm, Tower Hamlets • I’m probably reading too much into this design, but I see it as one immense red eye with a staring black pupil, hence its inclusion within the “vision” theme. Although that would only work on sounders of this specific almost-eye shape, and most firms use a variety of box styles over the years, so I’m probably wrong. • Spotted: Redchurch Street, Tower Hamlets, London, E2, England, 2007 • Politics: In the Labour constituency of Bethnal Green and Bow
“Raysil”, Southwark: snorey update
Posted by on October 29, 2011
“Raysil Security Systems Ltd” burglar alarm, Southwark • Here we have a more recent and less faded version of yesterday’s Raysil alarm, sporting the same dodgy design on a lovely new hexagonal box. In other words, a snorey update included for the sake of completeness. • Spotted: Farnham Place, Southwark, London, SE1, England, 2010 • Politics: In the Liberal Democrat constituency of Bermondsey and Old Southwark
“Raysil”, Birchington-on-Sea: sci-fi Clearasil
Posted by on October 28, 2011
“Raysil Security Systems Ltd” burglar alarm, Birchington-on-Sea • Once again an abstract eye stares out from a diamond-shaped panel, this one less elegant than yesterday’s and possibly constructed from a clunky mutated R and Y. Raysil, reminiscent of Clearasil, is an odd name. The word “ray’ is always quite sci-fi-sounding, and it’s set in what in lesser graphic design circles of the 1980s would have passed for a sci-fi typeface. But I’m wondering if, more prosaically, it’s made of two names run together: Ray and Silvia, for instance, or Ray Silver (though my researches show the erstwhile owners, who sold out to a venture capital company in 2008, are not called anything like that). As an aside, can I point out that this hefty, angular sounder is surely one of the ugliest “jewel-shaped” (aka delta) boxes ever made. • Spotted: Town centre, Birchington-on-Sea, Kent, CT7, England, 2006 • Politics: In the Conservative constituency of Thanet North
“Octagon”, Marlborough: one-sided
Posted by on October 27, 2011
“Octagon” burglar alarm, Marlborough • An abstract octagonal eye for a company called Octagon, in a circular sounder. I bet they’d have liked an octagonal one, but to my knowledge such things don’t exist. (There’s an eight-sided box as sported by the Next Gen alarm at top left here, but being irregular it looks nothing like a classic octagon.) • Spotted: Town centre, Marlborough, Wiltshire, SN8, England, 2007 • Politics: In the Conservative constituency of Devizes
“Intelligent Security Installations”, Eton: untutored
Posted by on October 26, 2011
“Intelligent Security Installations” burglar alarm, Eton • Despite the lack of pupils, I reckon those are peepers dotting the “i”s with their blank-eyed stare, although the design – unlike pupils at nearby Eton – is most kindly described as “untutored”. Just as well they spell out the firm’s name underneath, or the meaning would remain totally obscure. • Spotted: High Street, Eton, Berkshire, SL4, England, 2009 • Politics: In the Conservative constituency of Windsor
“Panther Security”, East Grinstead: mutant eyebrow
Posted by on October 25, 2011
“Panther Security” burglar alarm, East Grinstead • For years I didn’t spot the “P” in the eye here, and was racking my brains as to what the full word could be – “ANTHEM” was my best (and wrong) guess. Then recently I came across this more recent version: lo and behold there was a letter “P” in the eye, so the firm is of course Panther. Although real panthers don’t have eyebrows. • Spotted: London Road, East Grinstead, West Sussex, RH19, England, 2004 • Politics: In the Conservative constituency of Sussex Mid
“Crism”, Sheffield: concrete poetry
Posted by on October 24, 2011
“Crism” burglar alarm, Sheffield • A piece of concrete poetry, no less. I haven’t got a subscription to the OED (never thought a burglar alarm blog would necessitate one), so can’t check if it’s a real word – but I suspect it isn’t. And even if it was, in Scrabble it would only get you a weedy 9 points. To continue the poetry theme, the only rhymes are “prism” (from which it is doubtless derived) and “schism”, so it’s probably pronounced “Krizzum”, though I’m not stalkerish enough to ring them and see how they say it when they answer the phone. I guessed it was a firm run by someone called Chris M, and checking their website find this is indeed the case. Which would surely be “ChrisM” (note the upper-case M, and being one letter away from “Christ”), but perhaps that’s a bit too avant-garde, even for Sheffield. • Spotted: Campo Lane, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, S1, England, 2010 • Politics: In the Labour constituency of Sheffield Central
“BAC”, Bristol: uninspired iris
Posted by on October 23, 2011
“BAC” burglar alarm, Bristol • I like burglar alarm-hunting in the West Country, because there are so many independent firms with quirky designs. Sadly, this is one of the less inspired ones: I’m not sure if it’s a letter “O” representing the iris (or perhaps a number “0″, for zero crime), but I’m including it in the typographic section anyway. There’s an example of BAC’s current design here, which is even worse, and doesn’t look like an eye any more. The firm is based in the unpreposessing yet quaintly-named suburb of Fishponds; their website gives no clue as to what BAC stands for, but I’m guessing Bristol Alarm Company. • Spotted: Exchange Avenue, St Nicholas Market, Bristol, Avon, BS1, England, 2011 • Politics: In the Liberal Democrat constituency of Bristol West
“Euroscan Security”, East Grinstead: plucky move
Posted by on October 22, 2011
“Euroscan Security Ltd” burglar alarm, East Grinstead• Now, in the never-ending procession of eyes, I move on to typographic treatments. This one is quite clever, though invoking the continent is a plucky move in this swathe of deeply traditional stockbroker belt, which is represented in parliament by Tory grandee Nicholas Soames, the portly grandson of Winston Churchill. And referencing the Euro isn’t exactly reassuring to anyone these days. • Spotted: Middle Row, East Grinstead, West Sussex, RH19, England, 2004 • Politics: In the Conservative constituency of Sussex Mid
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