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
Tag Archives: politics
Laser Alarms, Westminster: acronym
Posted by on June 19, 2013
“Laser Alarms” burglar alarm, City of Westminster • Acronym for Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation. And a very nice logo (seriously). • Spotted: Great Portland Street, City of Westminster, London, W1, England, 2012 • Politics: In the Conservative constituency of Cities of London and Westminster
Quantum Security, Camden: packets
Posted by on June 18, 2013
“Quantum Security” burglar alarm, Camden • Basically a discrete energy packet, from the Latin for “quantus,” meaning “how much”. Although the logo looks more like the planet Saturn. • Spotted: Parkway, Camden, London, NW1, England, 2010 • Politics: In the Labour constituency of Holborn and St Pancras
Xtal, Merton: crystal
Posted by on June 17, 2013
“Xtal” burglar alarm, Merton • Xtal is an abbreviation for crystal. There’s another Xtal alarm here. • Spotted: Merton Road, Merton, London, SW19, England, 2010 • Politics: In the Conservative constituency of Wimbledon
Zenon, Camden: noble
Posted by on June 16, 2013
“Zenon” burglar alarm, Camden • As Zenon isn’t an actual English word, I can only assume this refers to its homophone Xenon, the noble gas with symbol Xe and atomic number 54. It’s used in bright lighting and anaesthesia, both useful for felon-apprehending. • Spotted: Gayton Road, Camden, London, NW3, England, 2012 • Politics: In the Labour constituency of Hampstead and Kilburn
Radium, Liverpool: lethal
Posted by on June 15, 2013
“Radium” burglar alarm, Liverpool • Chemical element with symbol Ra and atomic number 88; highly radioactive and unstable, it emits a blue glow, and did for Marie Curie. Not sure about the wisdom of naming your sounders after such a lethal material, but it’d certainly be a deterrent. • Spotted: Town centre, Liverpool, Merseyside, L1, England, 2010 • Politics: In the Labour constituency of Liverpool Riverside
Mercury, Nottingham: quicksilver
Posted by on June 14, 2013
“Mercury” burglar alarm, Nottingham • Mercury is a chemical element with the symbol Hg and atomic number 80, known as quicksilver. Not to mention being a planet, a Roman god, and a burglar alarm company. • Spotted: Friar Lane, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, NG1, England, 2011 • Politics: In the Labour constituency of Nottingham South
Cobalt, Walton-On-Thames: pigment
Posted by on June 13, 2013
“Cobalt” burglar alarm, Walton-On-Thames • Starting today: scientific sounders. Cobalt is a chemical element with symbol Co and atomic number 27, used to make blue pigment since antiquity. And a burglar alarm company. • Spotted: New Zealand Avenue, Walton-On-Thames, Surrey, KT12, England, 2002 • Politics: In the Conservative constituency of Esher and Walton
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
NSIN, Oxford: catchy
Posted by on June 11, 2013
“Nationwide Security Installation Network” burglar alarm, Oxford • Catchy acronym, not. I wonder if it actually was nationwide? I daresay someone will tell me. • Spotted: Cornmarket, Oxford, Oxfordshire, OX1, England, 2012 • Politics: In the Labour constituency of Oxford East
Security Red Alert, Lambeth: wiring
Posted by on June 10, 2013
“Security Red Alert” burglar alarm, Lambeth • Nice wiring! Not, to be fair, related to the bellbox. • Spotted: Baylis Road, Lambeth, London, SE1, England, 2005 • Politics: In the Labour constituency of Vauxhall
Southern Electrical Services, Westminster: SES
Posted by on June 9, 2013
“Southern Electrical Services Gerrards Cross” burglar alarm, City of Westminster • SES, not quite as famous as the SAS. • Spotted: Berners Street, City of Westminster, London, W1, England, 2012 • Politics: In the Conservative constituency of Cities of London and Westminster
Safety and Security, Bristol: SAS
Posted by on June 8, 2013
“Safety and Security” burglar alarm, Bristol • SAS, geddit? Another one that’s usurped a hexagonal – presumably ADT – sounder. • Spotted: Lower Maudlin Street, Bristol, Avon, BS1, England, 2013 • Politics: In the Liberal Democrat constituency of Bristol West
Security Solutions, Westminster: plant
Posted by on June 7, 2013
“SSL Security Solutions London” burglar alarm, City of Westminster • Another SS acronym, shielded by giant plant. Looks like there was a hexagonal sounder there before it. • Spotted: Rathbone Street, City of Westminster, London, W1, England, 2012 • Politics: In the Conservative constituency of Cities of London and Westminster
Sound Alarms, Stoke-On-Trent: shaky
Posted by on June 6, 2013
“Sound Alarms” burglar alarm, Stoke-On-Trent • Apologies for the very blurred shot, for some reason I was really shaky while in Stoke… • Spotted: Hanley town centre, Stoke-On-Trent, Staffordshire, ST1, England, 2010 • Politics: In the Labour constituency of Stoke on Trent Central
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
Exco, Falmouth: river
Posted by on June 1, 2013
“Exco” burglar alarm, Falmouth • Nice name, based on the river Exe, I assume. There’s another Exco here, with a more flamboyant logo. • Spotted: Berkeley Vale, Falmouth, Cornwall, TR11, England, 2012 • Politics: In the Conservative constituency of Truro and Falmouth
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
Holgate Alarms, York: windy
Posted by on May 30, 2013
“Holgate Alarms” burglar alarm, York • And finally, a home for Windy Miller. Holgate Windmill is famed for being sited a roundabout in the middle of a York housing estate - see the BBC story here. However, rather than a cheery flour-miller, a scary Northern matron sprung from the terraced house this alarm adorned and yelled at me for photographing her gaff, so I had to pretend I was photographing the football stadium behind it (as if). • Spotted: Newborough Terrace, York, Yorkshire, YO3, England, 2011 • Politics: In the Labour constituency of York Central
Tollgate, Bath: quaint
Posted by on May 29, 2013
“Tollgate Security Ltd” burglar alarm, Bath • OK, so a tollgate is a gate for taking money, and not a house. But, in this drawing, it does look like a quaint little house. • Spotted: Manvers Street, Bath, Avon, BA1, England, 2011 • Politics: In the Liberal Democrat constituency of Bath
Abbey Alarm, Birchington-on-Sea: Ladyshave
Posted by on May 28, 2013
“Abbey Alarm” burglar alarm, Birchington-on-Sea • Well, an Abbey is a sort of house, for monks. On what looks like a Ladyshave. • Spotted: Town centre, Birchington-on-Sea, Kent, CT7, England, 2006 • Politics: In the Conservative constituency of Thanet North
Houseguard Security, Merton: close-up
Posted by on May 27, 2013
“Houseguard Security ” burglar alarm, Merton • I showed this ancient object in the distance a couple of years ago, so here it is close-up (and blurred). Note old phone number of G’ford (Guildford) 70000. • Spotted: St Mary’s Road, Merton, London, SW19, England, 2006 • Politics: In the Conservative constituency of Wimbledon
Homeguard, Old Amersham: throwing-star
Posted by on May 26, 2013
“Homeguard Security Systems” burglar alarm, Old Amersham • Sonic dot emerging from home, like a scary Ninja throwing-star. • Spotted: Town centre, Old Amersham, Buckinghamshire, HP7, England, 2006 • Politics: In the Conservative constituency of Chesham and Amersham
DR Security & Electrical Ltd, Islington: blobby
Posted by on May 25, 2013
“DR Security & Electrical Ltd” burglar alarm, Islington • Dr Blobby’s in da house – another version of a very old favourite, as posted here. • Spotted: Compton Street, Islington, London, EC1, England, 2008 • Politics: In the Labour constituency of Islington South and Finsbury
Access Security, Milton Keynes: arrow-house
Posted by on May 24, 2013
“Access Security” burglar alarm, Milton Keynes • The ever-popular arrow-house. That’s probably what they look like in Milton Keynes. • Spotted: Midsummer Boulevard, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, MK9, England, 2010 • Politics: In the Conservative constituency of Milton Keynes North
Home Care, Bath: basic
Posted by on May 23, 2013
“Home Care Bristol” burglar alarm, Bath • A very basic home. • Spotted: Broad Street, Bath, Avon, BA1, England, 2012 • Politics: In the Liberal Democrat constituency of Bath
Home Protection Systems, Bristol: verbal
Posted by on May 22, 2013
“Home Protection Systems” burglar alarm, Bristol • A verbal rather than a visual house. • Spotted: Ashton Road, Bristol, Avon, BS3, England, 2011 • Politics: In the Labour constituency of Bristol South
Premia Security, Southwark: Dickensian
Posted by on May 21, 2013
“Premia Security” burglar alarm, Southwark • Another rooftop-mountain-pyramid -triangle thing. Notable for being found in Wild’s Rents, one of London’s most Dickensian-sounding roads. • Spotted: Wild’s Rents, Southwark, London, SE1, England, 2011 • Politics: In the Liberal Democrat constituency of Bermondsey and Old Southwark
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