Burglar Alarm Britain

Where vigilante culture meets vernacular design

Category Archives: 2011

Trust Alarms, Camden: blubbing

Leave a Comment Posted by Vici MacDonald 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

2011, Bonkers, Building, Cartoon, Favourite, House, Human body, Illustrated, Labour Party, Male, Pantomime burglar, Police and thieves, Rectangle burglar alarm, Camden, EC1, graphic design, London, politics, surveillance

Securaplace, Southwark: lockdown

Leave a Comment Posted by Vici MacDonald 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

2011, Blue, Building, Chain, Favourite, House, Illustrated, Lib-Dem Party, Lock, Locksmithery, Monochrome, Rectangle, Stylised graphic burglar alarm, graphic design, London, politics, SE1, Southwark, surveillance

TAN Alarms, Bath: eaves

1 Comment Posted by Vici MacDonald 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

2011, 3 initials, Building, House, Illustrated, Lib-Dem Party, Rectangle, Stylised graphic, Unexplained acronym Avon, Bath, burglar alarm, graphic design, politics, surveillance

SPE, Islington: shortform

Leave a Comment Posted by Vici MacDonald 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

2011, 3 initials, Awkward diagonal logo, Initial-based, Labour Party, Rectangle, Typographic, Unexplained acronym burglar alarm, graphic design, Islington, London, N1, politics, surveillance

REB, Greenwich: faded

1 Comment Posted by Vici MacDonald 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

2011, 3 initials, Awkward diagonal logo, Faded, Initial-based, Labour Party, Rectangle, Typographic, Unexplained acronym burglar alarm, graphic design, Greenwich, London, politics, SE10, surveillance

JA, Bath: worst

3 Comments Posted by Vici MacDonald 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

2 initials, 2011, Awkward diagonal logo, Basic, Initial-based, Lib-Dem Party, Rectangle, Typographic, Unexplained acronym Avon, Bath, burglar alarm, graphic design, politics, surveillance

IXP Alarm, York: bubbly

Leave a Comment Posted by Vici MacDonald 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

2011, 3 initials, Awkward diagonal logo, Initial-based, Labour Party, Rectangle, Typographic, Unexplained acronym burglar alarm, graphic design, politics, surveillance, York, Yorkshire

Electric City, York: New York

Leave a Comment Posted by Vici MacDonald 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

1970s disco, 2010, 2011, 3 initials, Building, City, Favourite, Illustrated, Initial-based, Labour Party, Rectangle, Science and Technology, Silhouette, Typographic, Unexplained acronym burglar alarm, graphic design, politics, surveillance, York, Yorkshire

Keepsafe, York: big K

Leave a Comment Posted by Vici MacDonald on April 7, 2013

“Keepsafe Alarm Systems” burglar alarm, York • We jump from big I to big K with a fairly old-school looking Keepsafe sounder. Blimey, this big letter series is like a really crap reading lesson. • Spotted: nr Stonegate, York, Yorkshire, YO1, England, 2011 • Politics: In the Labour constituency of York Central

1 initial, 2011, Initial-based, Labour Party, Locksmithery, One big letter, Rectangle, Safe, Typographic burglar alarm, graphic design, politics, surveillance, York, Yorkshire

E, Southwark: big E

1 Comment Posted by Vici MacDonald 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

1 initial, 1970s disco, 2011, Blue, Favourite, Initial-based, Lib-Dem Party, Monochrome, One big letter, Other connotations, Rectangle, Typographic, Unexplained acronym burglar alarm, graphic design, London, politics, SE1, Southwark, surveillance

“B” Safe, Nottingham: big B

Leave a Comment Posted by Vici MacDonald on April 1, 2013

“B Safe” burglar alarm, Nottingham • And here’s a big B, with incorporated bonkers pun. • Spotted: Mansfield Road, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, NG1, England, 2011 • Politics: In the Labour constituency of Nottingham East

1 initial, 2011, Basic, Bonkers, Geographic, Initial-based, Labour Party, Local, Locksmithery, One big letter, Rectangle, Safe, Typographic burglar alarm, graphic design, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, politics, surveillance

“Alarms 4 Scaffolding”, Camden: unlucky for some

Leave a Comment Posted by Vici MacDonald on March 13, 2013

“Alarms 4 Scaffolding” burglar alarm, Camden • Can security firms only count up to four? This is the third to feature the number – which is considered extremely unlucky in China, where it signifies death. And it’s the death of this numbers theme, because there’s a new one tomorrow. • Spotted: Coptic Street, Camden, London, WC1, England, 2011 • Politics: In the Labour constituency of Holborn and St Pancras

1 initial, 2011, Delta, Initial-based, Labour Party, Numeric, One big letter, Scaffolding, Typographic burglar alarm, Camden, graphic design, London, politics, surveillance, WC1

“G2″, York: guardian

Leave a Comment Posted by Vici MacDonald on March 9, 2013

“G2″ burglar alarm, York • Not just a supplement of the Guardian (apt name), but a burglar alarm. • Spotted: Micklegate, York, Yorkshire, YO1, England, 2011 • Politics: In the Labour constituency of York Central

2 initials, 2011, Labour Party, Numeric, One big letter, Rectangle, Typographic, Unexplained acronym burglar alarm, graphic design, politics, surveillance, York, Yorkshire

“A1 Alarms”, Islington

Leave a Comment Posted by Vici MacDonald on March 6, 2013

“A1 Alarms” burglar alarm, Islington • Ah, A1 again. But this is the first red version I’ve shown (albeit very faded). • Spotted: Packington Street, Islington, London, N1, England, 2011 • Politics: In the Labour constituency of Islington South and Finsbury

2 initials, 2011, Excellence, Geographic, Initial-based, Labour Party, Numeric, Rectangle, Road, Typographic burglar alarm, graphic design, Islington, London, N1, politics, surveillance

“Apex”, Bath: tippy-top

Leave a Comment Posted by Vici MacDonald on March 1, 2013

“Apex Alarms” burglar alarm, Bath • From Greek to Latin excellence with an alarm called Apex, meaning the very tippy-top. • Spotted: Bartlett Street, Bath, Avon, BA1, England, 2011 • Politics: In the Liberal Democrat constituency of Bath

2011, Classical, Excellence, Latin, Lib-Dem Party, Rectangle, Typographic Avon, Bath, burglar alarm, graphic design, politics, surveillance

“Classic”, Hackney: boring

Leave a Comment Posted by Vici MacDonald on February 25, 2013

“Classic Alarms Security Systems” burglar alarm, Hackney • Excellent of name, boring of appearance. Though green alarms are rather rare. • Spotted: Calvert Avenue, Hackney, London, E2, England, 2011 • Politics: In the Labour constituency of Bethnal Green and Bow

2011, Delta, Excellence, Green, Labour Party, Monochrome, Typographic burglar alarm, E2, graphic design, Hackney, London, politics, surveillance

“Adept”, Bath: understated

Leave a Comment Posted by Vici MacDonald on February 21, 2013

“Adept Fire & Security Systems Ltd” burglar alarm, Bath • This logo with its strange pink spot suggests only borderline excellence, as adept is such an odd, understated word: the thesaurus offers flowery synonyms like adroit, accomplished, and dextrous. But it’s more fun playing “antonym alarms”, so my non-excellent doppelganger would simply be called “Inept fire and security”. Which might not catch on. • Spotted: Miles’s Buildings, Bath, Avon, BA1, England, 2011 • Politics: In the Liberal Democrat constituency of Bath

2011, Circle, Excellence, Fire, Illustrated, Lib-Dem Party, Stylised graphic Avon, Bath, burglar alarm, graphic design, politics, surveillance

“Vital Guard”, York: spirited

Leave a Comment Posted by Vici MacDonald on February 14, 2013

“Vital Guard York” burglar alarm, York • Yesterday’s sounder boasted pro guards, today’s promises guards who are vital – suggesting an excellence both crucial and spirited. Not, I’ll wager, a combination this faded old bell box has provided for quite some time. • Spotted: Queen Street, York, Yorkshire, YO2, England, 2011 • Politics: In the Labour constituency of York Central

2011, Awkward diagonal logo, Excellence, Geographic, Guard, Illustrated, Labour Party, Local, Militia, Rectangle, Stylised graphic burglar alarm, graphic design, politics, surveillance, York, Yorkshire

“DPS Alarms”, Bristol: double-page spread

Leave a Comment Posted by Vici MacDonald on January 25, 2013

“DPS Alarms” burglar alarm, Bristol • So good they named it twice – that’s a tiny DPS monogram above the self-same black initials. DPS is what publishers call a double-page spread, fact fans, but I somehow doubt that’s the firm’s name. • Spotted: Broad Street, Bristol, Avon, BS1, England, 2011 • Politics: In the Liberal Democrat constituency of Bristol West

2011, 3 initials, Initial-based, Lib-Dem Party, Monogram, Other connotations, Rectangle, Typographic, Unexplained acronym Avon, Bristol, burglar alarm, graphic design, politics, surveillance

“Ape Fire & Security”, Bristol: wild

Leave a Comment Posted by Vici MacDonald on January 19, 2013

“Ape Fire & Security” burglar alarm, Bristol • Ah, APE – not only a wild animal emitting soundwaves, but an unexplained hand-drawn monogram in the shape of a circle. Many boxes ticked. • Spotted: Victoria Street, Bristol, Avon, BS1, England, 2011 • Politics: In the Liberal Democrat constituency of Bristol West

2011, 3 initials, Ape, Audio, Creature, Fire, Illustrated, Initial-based, Lib-Dem Party, Monogram, Rectangle, Soundwaves, Stylised graphic, Typographic, Unexplained acronym Avon, Bristol, burglar alarm, graphic design, politics, surveillance

“Future”, Bath: timely

2 Comments Posted by Vici MacDonald on January 1, 2013

“Future Security Systems” burglar alarm, Bath • So endeth two years of burglar alarms. But blub ye not (in the unlikely event that you were), because – amazingly, heroically, certifiably – I have at least another year’s-worth to publish, though I won’t always be writing “pithy” comments as in the past. And to usher in the new year, 2013′s first theme is “Time”, which I shall kick off with the, um, futuristic Future. Why? Well, 2013 sounds like a science fiction year, and also there’s a big publishing company called Future based in Bath, where I found this sounder. So here’s to the future. Cheers! • Spotted: Margaret’s Buildings, Bath, Avon, BA1, England, 2011 • Politics: In the Liberal Democrat constituency of Bath

1970s disco, 2011, Illustrated, Lib-Dem Party, Modernism, Rectangle, Retrofuturism, Stylised graphic, Time Avon, Bath, burglar alarm, graphic design, politics, surveillance

“Taybell Alarms”, York: groovy

Leave a Comment Posted by Vici MacDonald on December 29, 2012

“Taybell Alarms” burglar alarm, York • Groovy! This charming monogram looks like something off an early 1970s boutique, apt since Taybell was founded in 1974. Utterly fab. • Spotted: Gillygate, York, Yorkshire, YO3, England, 2011 • Politics: In the Labour constituency of York Central

1970s disco, 2 initials, 2011, Audio, Bells, Favourite, Initial-based, Labour Party, Monochrome, Monogram, Rectangle, Typographic, Yellow burglar alarm, graphic design, politics, postaday, surveillance, York, Yorkshire

“Hunter”, Lambeth: art shoot

Leave a Comment Posted by Vici MacDonald on December 15, 2012

“Hunter” burglar alarm, Lambeth • What do hunters do? They shoot things. I rest my shooting-related case. Incidentally, I found this burglar alarm on the side of one of Damian Hirst’s many studios, the one where teams of assistants used to make spot paintings for him. He’s now had the entire road closed down (thanks, Dame, now I have to make a massive detour!) while the building is turned, at vast expense, into a swanky art gallery and restaurant. So the burglar alarm is no more. • Spotted: Newport Street, Lambeth, London, SE11, England, 2011 • Politics: In the Labour constituency of Vauxhall

2011, Art, Basic, Delta, Labour Party, Militia, Shooting, Typographic burglar alarm, graphic design, Lambeth, London, politics, postaday, SE11, surveillance

“Cannon”, Bristol: big guns

Leave a Comment Posted by Vici MacDonald on December 14, 2012

“Cannon” burglar alarm, Bristol • A word, fact fans, derived from the Italian for “big tube“. And basically a giant gun, so obviously shooting-related. • Spotted: All Saints Lane, Bristol, Avon, BS1, England, 2011 • Politics: In the Liberal Democrat constituency of Bristol West

2011, Basic, Circle, Lib-Dem Party, Militia, Shooting, Typographic Avon, Bristol, burglar alarm, graphic design, politics, postaday, surveillance

“Marksman”, Bristol: take aim

Leave a Comment Posted by Vici MacDonald on December 13, 2012

“Marksman Security Ltd” burglar alarm, Bristol • Today I start a brief and brutal run of shooting-related sounder designs, both deliberate and coincidental. The word “marksman” is a fairly unambiguous reference to firearms, as are the target-like soundwaves (if that’s what they are)… so, take aim! • Spotted: Broad Street, Bristol, Avon, BS1, England, 2011 • Politics: In the Liberal Democrat constituency of Bristol West

2011, Delta, Illustrated, Lib-Dem Party, Militia, Shooting, Soundwaves, Stylised graphic Avon, Bristol, burglar alarm, graphic design, politics, postaday, surveillance

“Delta”, Hackney: creek

Leave a Comment Posted by Vici MacDonald on December 10, 2012

“Delta Security” burglar alarm, Hackney • According to useless Yahoo Answers, there are no river deltas in Britain, because there’s not a vast enough area of flat land. But I’ve found one: the Wandle Delta. Admittedly it’s just an forgotten little industrial creek off the Thames, but hey – we can’t all be the Mississippi. In fact there are plans to smarten it up with posh housing, but I rather like how it looks now – must go and explore it before it’s too late. Amazing the things you learn researching burglar alarms! • Spotted: Chatsworth Road, Hackney, London, E5, England, 2011 • Politics: In the Labour constituency of Hackney North and Stoke Newington

Above: a great pic of the Wandle Delta by Tom Bolton – see more on Flickr here

1 initial, 2011, Classical, Geographic, Greek, Illustrated, Labour Party, One big letter, Rectangle, River, Stylised graphic burglar alarm, E5, graphic design, Hackney, London, politics, postaday, surveillance

“A1 Alarms”, Southwark: straight

3 Comments Posted by Vici MacDonald on November 26, 2012

“A1 Alarms” burglar alarm, Southwark • The A1, running from London to York and Edinburgh largely following a straight ancient Roman route, is famously the UK’s longest numbered road. This company probably meant their name in the sense of “very good”, but seeing as I’ve found examples of their sounders in both London and York, perhaps they did have the highway in mind too. • Spotted: Bermondsey Street, Southwark, London, SE1, England, 2011 • Politics: In the Liberal Democrat constituency of Bermondsey and Old Southwark

Above: part of the very long A1

2 initials, 2011, Geographic, Initial-based, Lib-Dem Party, Local, Other connotations, Rectangle, Road, Typographic burglar alarm, graphic design, London, politics, postaday, SE1, Southwark, surveillance

Ghost under “ASG Vision”, Bristol: anagrams

Leave a Comment Posted by Vici MacDonald 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

2011, 3 initials, Ex-alarm, Ghost, Hexagon, Lib-Dem Party, Rectangle, Typographic, Unexplained acronym, Vision Avon, Bristol, burglar alarm, graphic design, politics, postaday, surveillance

Ghost under “Arrow”, Chelsea: neat niche

Leave a Comment Posted by Vici MacDonald on November 5, 2012

Ghost under “Arrow Security” burglar alarm, Kensington and Chelsea • I know I’ve already shown this Arrow, but in that post you couldn’t clearly see it was snuggling into the neat niche burrowed by a shield-shaped Banham (or one of their sub-brands). • Spotted: Beauchamp Place, Kensington and Chelsea, London, SW3, England, 2011 • Politics: In the Conservative constituency of Kensington

2011, Arrow, Conservative Party, Delta, Ex-alarm, Ghost, Illustrated, Militia, Niche, Stylised graphic, Triangle, Weapon burglar alarm, graphic design, Kensington and Chelsea, London, politics, postaday, surveillance, SW3

Ghost under “GC”, Chelsea: comeuppance

Leave a Comment Posted by Vici MacDonald on November 2, 2012

Ghost under “GC Fire & Security” burglar alarm, Kensington and Chelsea • And now mighty Chubb gets its comeuppance, with just two measly corners peeking out from beneath a somewhat less venerable brand (albeit one boasting soundwaves – always a good point). • Spotted: Beauchamp Place, Kensington and Chelsea, London, SW3, England, 2011 • Politics: In the Conservative constituency of Kensington

2 initials, 2011, Audio, Conservative Party, Delta, Ex-alarm, Fire, Ghost, Illustrated, Initial-based, Soundwaves, Stylised graphic, Triangle, Unexplained acronym burglar alarm, graphic design, Kensington and Chelsea, London, politics, postaday, surveillance, SW3

← Older posts

A project by Vici MacDonald, ex-editor of Art World magazine, who explains her obsession here. Launched on 1/1/11, this blog will be updated daily, building into an alarming archive of bonkers burglar deterrents. Subjects range from cuddly creatures to mythical beasts, shadowy spies to seductive belles, with a lot of naive design in between. All this plus the alarms' political constituencies too! The collection will grow fast – keep updated on Twitter or Facebook, or sign up for email notifications.

Category Archives: 2011

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Recent themes

About

Subscribe by email

Follow on…

Archives

Alarm subjects

Recent comments

Alarms whose MP is…

Recent posts

Popular topics

Blog Stats

Follow “Burglar Alarm Britain”