Author Topic: Erie Pa fire alarm system (Read 9061 times)

mlmummert · « **on:** February 21, 2005, 09:56:34 PM »

It was previously announce that Erie, Penna is supposed to be removing their street pull boxes this summer. This was before the list crashed.

Does anyone know for sure what will happen to the 125 (I think) master boxes on the system? Is the entire fire alarm system actually being removed from service or is it just the street pull boxes?

If the entire system is actually being shut down, then is the alarm equipment going to the fire museum? Personally, you guys in Erie should make sure the museum gets an assortment of different type boxes, etc. Also make sure the museum gets the main control panels for the system, even if they are modern. If you have a Digitize receiving panel or anything like that, make sure it is saved along with the traditional gongs, registers, etc.

Matthew Mummert

Erie_Gamewell · « **Reply #1 on:** February 21, 2005, 11:10:44 PM »

Whats up mlmummert.? I am still investigating it fully. but being up here in Fairbanks AK I seem to be getting little info. I just need to call some people who would know for sure. I am sad to report that the recieving sytem is digital, the old system was removed and demolished years ago. Most likely the fire museum will get most of the equiptment ie gongs and punch machines. the City has one last security pedestal left and I will make it my mission to see the museum get it. BTW does anyone know if the rest of the stuff I posted will ever come back up.? or am I gonna have to repost everything.?

yfdgricker · « **Reply #2 on:** February 22, 2005, 09:30:31 AM »

I'm sorry, Erie Gamewell, but this was the best I could recover since the hosting company lost the backups for youngstownfire.com as well. I know it's not the answer you were hoping for but you will have to repost.

[/flash]

Erie_Gamewell · « **Reply #3 on:** March 24, 2005, 08:36:50 PM »

last cast iron pedestal

Erie_Gamewell · « **Reply #4 on:** March 24, 2005, 08:37:48 PM »

back side

Erie_Gamewell · « **Reply #5 on:** March 24, 2005, 08:47:17 PM »

box 237

Erie_Gamewell · « **Reply #6 on:** March 24, 2005, 08:48:47 PM »

newly painted "24"

Erie_Gamewell · « **Reply #7 on:** March 24, 2005, 08:51:28 PM »

master box

Erie_Gamewell · « **Reply #8 on:** March 24, 2005, 08:53:10 PM »

master box at the former home of zurn industries

mlmummert · « **Reply #9 on:** March 24, 2005, 10:35:42 PM »

Did you ever find out any more info on the supposed end of the Erie fire alarm system such as are they cutting off all fire alarm service to the industries that use master boxes?

Matthew Mummert

Erie_Gamewell · « **Reply #10 on:** March 24, 2005, 10:49:56 PM »

Sorry Matt I have not yet found out. I will though in june when I take leave and go home.

sfdjohnny456 · « **Reply #11 on:** March 26, 2005, 08:46:24 PM »

are you interested in selling?

Erie_Gamewell · « **Reply #12 on:** March 26, 2005, 11:40:05 PM »

Hello sfdjohnny456. Erie's system is still active and hopefully for a long time. so as of yet there is nothing for sale.

Erie_Gamewell · « **Reply #13 on:** December 14, 2005, 12:21:58 PM »

From wjet.com

http://www.wjettv.com/news/default.asp?mode=shownews&id=5876

Thursday, December 08, 2005
Erie Fire Alarm Boxes are History
The system has been around for decades. But it now looks like Erie`s Gamewell system is also being put on City Council`s chopping block.
Council has given gave the thumbs up to a proposal by the
Filippi administration to phase out fire alarm system.
The Gamewell boxes are those red fire alarm boxes you see both on the streets and in several city buildings.
The administration has long argued the system is outdated and could save the city some money

Box 2565 · « **Reply #14 on:** December 17, 2005, 12:22:53 AM »

Erie, Pennsylvania

Box 413 - West 26th & Washington

yfdgricker · « **Reply #15 on:** December 17, 2005, 01:01:02 PM »

See also this topic:
R.I.P. Erie,PA fire alarm telegraph system

http://www.youngstownfire.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=5331&highlight=erie+fire

Box 2565 · « **Reply #16 on:** December 04, 2006, 11:37:46 AM »

Erie history goes on sale
Firefighters get first crack at buying old fire-alarm boxes

By Tim Hahn - tim.hahn@timesnews.com

Erie firefighter Terry Bird is plunking down $100 for Box 168.

The box, part of Erie's now-defunct Gamewell fire alarm system, has a number that matches the badge number of John Cassano, a former Erie firefighter and friend of Bird who died of cancer in December 1993.

"I want to give it to his sons to put on his hunting camp in Warren," Bird said.

Bird bought the memento this week, when city officials started selling off the distinctive red street-alarm boxes by offering them to active city firefighters.

Retired city firefighters will get the next crack at the items, sometime next week, and then the city plans to make the boxes available for public purchase. Officials said the city soon will announce the start of that sale.

The prices for all the sales are $100 each for boxes that hung on utility poles and $200 each for boxes that set on their own metal pedestal, with the pedestal included in the deal.

All of the proceeds will go into the city's general fund, fire officials said.

"After a lot of talk, we felt the firefighters deserved first crack at them," Fire Chief Tony Pol said. "They worked with them all these years."

He said the city hopes to sell all the boxes by the end of the year.

The boxes were part of a fire-alarm system that had served the city since 1890. Manufactured by the Gamewell Fire Alarm Telegraph Co. of Massachusetts, the system allowed people to pull a switch on a box to summon the Bureau of Fire.

The system was made up of 126 master boxes, which were connected to buildings in the city, and 243 street alarm boxes. All of the boxes were taken out of service earlier this year when city officials decided to disconnect the system to save money and to prepare for countywide dispatching.

The last box was disconnected in late June.

Fire officials had considered a number of options for selling the old alarm boxes ever since the first one came down and the phone calls started coming in from residents who expressed interest in buying them.

Firefighters considered auctioning them off before deciding to set one price for each box and selling them through three sales, Pol said.

He said many other communities have sold off their obsolete Gamewell boxes in a similar fashion. He said a price of $100 appears to be the going rate for the boxes on auction-oriented Web sites, such as eBay.

Collectors of firefighter memorabilia have said that fire-alarm boxes sell for about $100, but the price can vary depending on a box's age and condition.

Erie won't sell all of the boxes that made up its Gamewell system. Pol said the owners of buildings that had master boxes will get to keep them because the businesses paid to have them installed.

The city gave a street box to the Firefighters Historical Museum at West Fifth and Chestnut streets, where the box had been connected to the building.

One street box is on display in Mayor Joe Sinnott's office.

And another will be displayed, with information on the history of Erie's Gamewell system, in a prominent spot in the lobby of City Hall, Pol said.

BACKGROUND: The city of Erie dismantled its Gamewell fire-alarm system and its 469 fire-alarm boxes this year. The system's red fire-alarm boxes had been scattered throughout the city since 1890.

THE LATEST: The city this week started selling the boxes to active city firefighters. The price is $100 for boxes that had hung on utility poles and $200 for boxes that had stood on pedestals.

COMING UP: Retired city firefighters will get the next crack at buying the mementos, and then the general public. The city will announce the date of the public sale.

GoErie.com 11/24/06

PFD1 · « **Reply #17 on:** December 07, 2006, 10:39:04 AM »

Does anyone know what is going to happen to the receiving equipment?? Gongs, registers? Were they removed some time ago?

Bs918 · « **Reply #18 on:** December 07, 2006, 06:42:13 PM »

The fire box's have been sold out Friday they went on sale to the public wiped out in a few hours

Erie_Gamewell · « **Reply #19 on:** December 18, 2006, 11:15:56 AM »

Hello all, Just made it back to Erie yesterday after being away for a while. Sure isnt the same with the alarm box's hanging around. It is a shame the system was disabled. Also the city of Erie wants to lay off even more firefighters.! Erie seems to be in a downward spiral. Hopefully it recovers soon. anyways I am home on leave from the Army and hope to get some good pictures of Erie's trucks and maybe some fire pics if they have a job while I am home.

News:

Author Topic: Erie Pa fire alarm system (Read 9061 times)