Gamewell Systems in Massachusetts

[daysleeper47]

Currently on eBay there is a booklet showing the location of all fire alarm boxes in Arlington, MA. Quite a nice little item for Gamewell fans from Mass.

http://cgi.ebay.com/1957-Arlington-MA-Fire-Department-Alarm-Box-Locations_W0QQitemZ300341300157QQcmdZViewItemQQptZAntiquarian_Collectible?hash=item45edbc8bbd&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

[brucobuff]

The Fire box list for Foxboro, Mass. back in 1959. A single horn on Fire HQ would honk out the signals, the 1st piece would respond with the small paid crew, and call ffs would respond to the station along with the off-duty shifts.
WWII era photo
1966 postcard view
WW Jenkins collection

[almdoc]

If you look closely at the first picture there is a bell striker in the tower. The hammer is in the ready position at the right of the bell. The second picture shows the diaphone on top the tower. The bell striker was replaced by the horn which needed much less attention to operate correctly. My guess would be that low man had to climb the tower after each alarm and wind the bell striker as they were weight driven.

[magicitybill]

Interesting! A great photo of the apparatus too. Old light houses (that had rotating lights) were weight driven. On those however the weights hung down in the tower.

[Box 2565]

Brockton, Massachusetts
Warren & Pleasant Streets
January 1941
A great looking scene.  Makes me long for a Coke and a Croft ale!
National Archives photo.

[FAO25]

Brockton, Massachusetts
Warren & Pleasant Streets
January 1941
A great looking scene.  Makes me long for a Coke and a Croft ale!
National Archives photo.

Let us know when you're in the neighborhood and we'll buy you a tonic. Have to be a Coke cause you can't get a Cott anymore. I don't know about Croft Ale but they've started making Narragansett again.