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: 2010
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
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
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
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
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
Western Technologies, Brighton: big W
Posted by on April 15, 2013
“Western Technologies Limited Armour Flash” burglar alarm, Brighton • A nice big W amidst Bridget Riley-ish op-art waves, actually found in the south east. • Spotted: Gloucester Road, Brighton, East Sussex, BN1, England, 2010 • Politics: In the Green constituency of Brighton Pavilion
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
ADK, Bolton: parcel
Posted by on March 28, 2013
“ADK” burglar alarm, Bolton • This is somewhat unreadable, I’m just guessing it says ADK. I like the Union Jack “parcel” on the left. • Spotted: Bridge Street, Bolton, Lancashire, BL1, England, 2010 • Politics: In the Labour constituency of Bolton North East
Solo, Liverpool: alone
Posted by on March 17, 2013
“Solo” burglar alarm, Liverpool • Could refer to Star Wars‘ Han Solo, or even cold war spook Napoleon Solo (Robert Vaughan in The Man from U.N.C.L.E, kiddoes), but as this is a musical theme I shall assume it refers to a musical solo. Nice oval box too. • Spotted: Greenland Street, Liverpool, Merseyside, L1, England, 2010 • Politics: In the Labour constituency of Liverpool Riverside
“4KL Crowthorne”, St Albans: forking ‘ell
Posted by on March 12, 2013
“4KL Crowthorne” burglar alarm, St Albans • The Berkshire village of Crowthorne is home to Broadmoor mental hospital – notorious for the famous murderers within – so security may well loom large in locals’ minds. What 4KL stands for I have no idea however – it sounds like the title of a Prince song. Or maybe Ronnie Barker’s famed epithet, “forking ‘ell”. • Spotted: Town centre, St Albans, Hertfordshire, AL1, England, 2010 • Politics: In the Conservative constituency of St Albans
“A2Z Security”, St Albans: pronunciation?
Posted by on March 7, 2013
“A2Z Security” burglar alarm, St Albans • I wonder if that’s pronounced zed or zee? The latter would rhyme with security, but be rather unpatriotic. • Spotted: Town centre, St Albans, Hertfordshire, AL1, England, 2010 • Politics: In the Conservative constituency of St Albans
“Best”, Chelsea: Mr Boasty
Posted by on March 4, 2013
“Best” burglar alarm, Kensington and Chelsea • The excellence category ends with a simple boast of “best”, although I have to say this doesn’t look like the world’s best alarm. There’s a little full stop after every letter, so maybe it’s B.E.S.T – something-something-security-technology is my guess. • Spotted: Sydney Street, Kensington and Chelsea, London, SW3, England, 2010 • Politics: In the Conservative constituency of Chelsea and Fulham
“Boss”, Derby: top cat
Posted by on February 9, 2013
“Boss Security Ashbourne” burglar alarm, Derby • No arguing with this – it’s da boss. And of course boss is slang for excellent, as well as meaning top dog. Speaking of which, I’d like to think it was inspired by Boss Cat rather than Bruce Springsteen, though probably it’s neither. • Spotted: Town centre, Derby, Derbyshire, DE1, England, 2010 • Politics: In the Labour constituency of Derby South
“Expert”, Milton Keynes: trainer
Posted by on February 7, 2013
“Expert” burglar alarm, Milton Keynes • Now we move from alarms boasting sheer excellence into those claiming prowess in the field of business, with a superb sounder that looks like the Adidas stripes, minus one, off an old-school trainer. • Spotted: Midsummer Boulevard, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, MK9, England, 2010 • Politics: In the Conservative constituency of Milton Keynes North
“Class A”, Derby: hard drugs
Posted by on February 6, 2013
“Class A Alarms” burglar alarm, Derby • A baroque paean to classiness, somewhat undermined by its unfortunate reference to hard drugs. • Spotted: Town centre, Derby, Derbyshire, DE1, England, 2010 • Politics: In the Labour constituency of Derby South
“Prestige”, Westminster: inaccurate
Posted by on February 3, 2013
“Prestige Security Systems” burglar alarm, City of Westminster • Doesn’t exactly look like what it says on the can… • Spotted: Mortimer Street, City of Westminster, London, W1, England, 2010 • Politics: In the Conservative constituency of Cities of London and Westminster
“SDS Security”, Merton: tiny
Posted by on January 30, 2013
“SDS Security” burglar alarm, Merton • A funny old sounder with a tiny SDS monogram, which in typical style is repeated in more legible text right next to it. SDS later used swanky chrome boxes with a larger monogram and no repetition – there’s an example here. • Spotted: Merton Road, Merton, London, SW19, England, 2010 • Politics: In the Conservative constituency of Wimbledon
“Integrated Systems Installations”, Islington: illegible
Posted by on January 27, 2013
“ISI Integrated Systems Installations” burglar alarm, Islington • I’ve long had a version of this without the name spelt out beneath, and I simply couldn’t work out if it said ISI or LSI. Lucky I found this one too, then. • Spotted: York Way, Islington, London, N1, England, 2010 • Politics: In the Labour constituency of Islington South and Finsbury
“AT Alarms”, Derby: clunky
Posted by on January 21, 2013
“AT Alarms” burglar alarm, Derby • Called AT in the logo, and ATA in the monogram, with neither explained (Alarm Technology, perhaps). I wonder if the clunky ATA is meant to conjure up the scales of justice? Because it looks more like a trestle table. • Spotted: Town centre, Derby, Derbyshire, DE1, England, 2010 • Politics: In the Labour constituency of Derby South
“Century”, Derby: 100 years
Posted by on January 12, 2013
“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
“Ides”, Glasgow: fateful day
Posted by on January 10, 2013
“IDES Intruder Detection and Electrical Services” burglar alarm, Glasgow • The Ides was part of the fantastically complex early Roman calendar system, as in Julius Caesar’s fateful assassination date, the Ides of March (aka March 15, 44 BC). Probably a coincidence, as this is an acronym for the firm’s unwieldy full name, but enough to get it in the “Time” category. • Spotted: Merchant City area, Glasgow, Lanarkshire, G1, Scotland, 2010 • Politics: In the Labour constituency of Glasgow Central
“CPM”, Hackney: wordplay
Posted by on January 7, 2013
“CPM” burglar alarm, Hackney • Not sure if this rather minimal logo is meant to be a clever play on ”post meridiem“, as in “see you in the evening”, but I shall give it the benefit of the doubt. • Spotted: Curtain Road, Hackney, London, EC2, England, 2010 • Politics: In the Labour constituency of Hackney South and Shoreditch
“AM”, Cambridge: shorthand
Posted by on January 6, 2013
“AM Alarm Maintenance” burglar alarm, Cambridge • An abbreviation for Alarm Maintenance, but handily for my “Time” theme, also shorthand for “ante meridiem“. I’m also enjoying the sounder’s black letter font and the frankly horrible colour scheme of the wall it’s affixed to. • Spotted: Hills Road, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, CB2, England, 2010 • Politics: In the Liberal Democrat constituency of South Cambridgeshire
“AM 2 PM”, Derby: half-time
Posted by on January 5, 2013
“AM 2 PM Security Derby” burglar alarm, Derby • From the morning to the evening – but what about vice versa? • Spotted: Town centre, Derby, Derbyshire, DE1, England, 2010 • Politics: In the Labour constituency of Derby South
“Burglarm”, Winchester: eccentric
Posted by on December 31, 2012
“Burglarm Southampton” burglar alarm, Winchester • And finally, to see out 2012, one of my all-time favourite monograms, which I have been waiting two long years to feature – the eccentrically-titled Burglarm, whose monogram inexplicably features an S-shaped serpent struggling out of a letter “B”. I suppose it stands for Burglarm Southampton, and since it’s not a town noted for snake infestations, the slithering fellow must represent a burglar. Anyway, Burglarm are no more: founded in 1968, they were taken over in 2006 by the rather grand Berkeley Guard, who maintain a nice page of Burglarm history here. • Spotted: Town centre, Winchester, Hampshire, SO23, England, 2010 • Politics: In the Conservative constituency of Winchester
“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
“Wilton Alarms”, Islington: registration marks
Posted by on December 21, 2012
“Wilton Alarms” burglar alarm, Islington • This definitely looks like a gun sight’s crosshairs, though if I’m honest it also resembles the registration marks printers use to help line up their plates correctly. On the website of Wilton Alarms, the Dorking-based firm explain they’re now known as Wilton Security Systems. Luckily they still retain this logo, so I narrowly escaped confusing them with Wilton Alarm Systems of Wilton in Salisbury, whose unmistakable rapier-wielding wasp is one of my favourite sounder designs, as featured here. • Spotted: Wharfdale Road, Islington, London, N1, England, 2010 • Politics: In the Labour constituency of Islington South and Finsbury
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