Alarm box code wheel/"O'Brien" question

D

dcampagna

Guest
Hi guys,

Two questions:

1) I've heard people use the term "O'Brien" when referring to this style box. Is that true? If so, where does that name come from?
alarm-box-ext.jpg


2) The code wheel inside this box has this sequence stamped on the face: "3-692-12". The "3692" appears to be notched on the wheel. Is 3692 the box number? What does the "12" represent? The number plate on the front is missing, and I'm just wondering if this wheel belongs in an FDNY box or not.

alarm-box-codewheel.jpg


Thanks! --Damon Campagna, NYC Fire Museum

 
3-692-12 would be a class 3 alarm for what was called a special building box.  Most of these were replaced with boxes in the 8000 range.  The box shown was also called a "double action" box because you first had to lift the guard and then pull down the handle to transmit an alarm.  I remember working at an all hands at Brooklyn box 1535 where a cop thought he pulled the box, but only lifted the guard and never pulled down the handle.  He couldn't understand why it took so long for companies to respond.  Maybe that's why he was a cop!
 
Is the outer shell made by O'Brien and the inner box made by Horni ?

Hey John, I guess the cop missed the word "pull" on the activation handle  :p
 
Hey Guys maybe the cop was very tall and could not see the big word PULL.
 
Maybe he was preoccupied trying to figure out why he was in Brooklyn and his RMP was at LaGuardia.
 
Thanks! Some parts of the mechanism are stamped "Brown Bros. Mfg., New York"... There was a company named Brown Bros. in Ohio that made telegraph keys in the 1970s. Could they be the same company? I can't seem to find any direct link but it seems logical.

And Horni is the company that made stoplights, correct? Didn't know they worked in fire equipment but now it's obvious.

At what point did the City stop working with Gamewell -- or are these units actually a subcontract through Gamewell?
 

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Box 692 is at 31st Street and 12th Avenue.  I think that at least some of the piers used to have several pull stations (on the same box number) running from shoreline to the far end; the pull stations were the same type boxes as you'd find on the street corners.  The "12" might refer to the specific location on the pier.  The concept is the same as alarms located in hospitals and other large buildings today that will direct responding companies to an exact location.  Box 3-692-12 would be: 3 (special building box) 692 (located at Pier 71, 12th Avenue and 31st Street) 12 (location on the pier).
 
Frank:

Who is the manufacturer of the box itself, Norelco? Or do they just make the ERS boxes?

 
Frank, John Manhattan: thanks for that info, it's very helpful.

Norelco was responsible just for the faceplate and circuitry that retrofit into those older shells, correct? In that case, who made this design with the round top? It's not rare... is there a way to ID the manufacturer? I can't find any marks.
 
Correct, Norelco made the faceplate and circuitry, at least on the modified boxes.  

It may take some digging, but the City Hall Library in the old Surrogate's Court building on Chambers at Centre Street might either have those records in the archives or be able to direct you.  Another thought might be the Mand Library.  Let me know how you make out.
 
That particular box was referred to as "spade handle with guard" as other boxes had the same pull handle without the overlaying guard. Additionally, there were other double action boxes which caused even more confusion. They had a T shaped handle on the outer door which had to be twisted to open the box. This twisting motion also rang a bell mounted inside this door, often causing the person to believe the box had been tripped. The inner box was clearly marked directing the person to pull a lever to transmit the alarm, but was overlooked. Also, concerning the Class 3 boxes, many were in special buildings, such as hospitals, and had glass panels or rods securing the pull lever, similar to what privately installed systems usually have. These outer boxes looked nothing like those used on the street.
 
johnd248 said:
3-692-12 would be a class 3 alarm for what was called a special building box.  Most of these were replaced with boxes in the 8000 range.  The box shown was also called a "double action" box because you first had to lift the guard and then pull down the handle to transmit an alarm.  I remember working at an all hands at Brooklyn box 1535 where a cop thought he pulled the box, but only lifted the guard and never pulled down the handle.  He couldn't understand why it took so long for companies to respond.  Maybe that's why he was a cop!
Click to expand...
 
Someone tell me if this is a coincidence:

The alarm box pictured in the first post is the EXACT same one for sale on eBay from Vermont: http://cgi.ebay.com/VINTAGE-NYDP-FIRE-ALARM-BOX-GAMEWELL-BROWN-BROS_W0QQitemZ230432753683QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item35a6dcc813

The Museum isn't in the habit of selling their possessions, especially on eBay under a fictitious name. Nor would the Museum be willing to buy that item when there are hundreds of them in storage in the FDNY shops.

Any explanations?
 
How about that !! Someone got caught with their hand in the cookie jar.

Wonder if its the same person who was stealing...I mean selling an ERS box on ebay about a year agao
 
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