You are viewing the activation of a pull rod fire alarm at Case Elementary School in Akron, Ohio. The pull rod is hooked to a manual, Reiter, brass trip bell and an activation switch that is wired to an electric Autocall fire alarm system. When the rod is pulled, it rings the manual brass bell and triggers the activation switch to signal the electric fire alarm bells that are installed throughout the school. The single stroke fire bells sound the cadence marching time signal, 4-4-4-4. Sadly, this well built school was decommissioned in 2015 and demolished.
You are viewing a pull rod fire alarm being activated at a public elementary school that had three floors. The manual pull rod and trip bells were installed when the school was first built in 1930. Later, in 1954 the pull rod was automated with an Autocall fire alarm system. Double projector vibrating horns were the audible devices used that were wired to the Autocall fire alarm control panel, which is shown at the end of the video. The signal code is the cadence marching time, 4-4-4-4.
This is a pull rod fire alarm being activated at a public elementary school. The pull rod is tied into a Standard Electric Time Company fire alarm control panel, which is shown at the end of the video (circa 1950’s).
This is a manual pull rod fire alarm system that was automated in the 1950’s with an Autocall fire alarm system that used 10″ single stroke bells. The signal is 4-4-4-4 cadence march time. Instead of pulling the rod, I simply pulled down the lever on the actuator switch that is attached to the pull rod.
You are viewing the pull rod fire alarm being activated at Firestone Elementary School in Akron, Ohio. Instead of using horns, this system was wired to 10″ Autocall single stroke bells. The code is 4-4-4-4 cadence march time which is all automated by the Autocall fire alarm control panel that is shown at the end of the video.
This is a manual pull rod / Autocall fire alarm system being activated at a public school building. This pull rod fire alarm was updated in the 1950’s with an Autocall fire alarm system using vibrating horns. They sure don’t make fire alarms like this anymore.
You are viewing the original pull rod fire alarm being activated at George Barber Elementary School in Akron, Ohio. This beautiful school was built in 1929 and sadly, demolished in 2008.
You are viewing the original pull rod fire alarm being activated at Schumacher Elementary School in Akron, Ohio. This beautiful school was built in 1929 and sadly, demolished in 2011. The manual pull rod fire alarm was automated in the 1950’s with an Autocall fire alarm system that used vibrating horns.
Here for your viewing pleasure is the pull rod fire alarm that was used for 79 years at the original, George Barber Elementary School in Akron, Ohio. You will also see the Autocall fire alarm control panel that was installed in the 1950’s that automated the system with electric horns. There were three floors in the building and two pull stations on each floor. One at each end of the hallways. The Autocall control panel that automated the pull rod system was housed in the boiler room on the first floor. Sadly, the original school was demolished in 2008 and replaced with a new school building.
Bettes School was originally constructed in 1927 in Akron, Ohio with a manual Pull Rod Fire Alarm system using 10 inch trip bells. In 1952, the system was updated with an IBM electric fire alarm system using 10 inch, electric single stroke bells. The code is 4-4 which is sent out by the IBM master control panel (Model 4201-2). There are also non-code IBM pull boxes (Type 4250-1) located throughout the school that can also activate the system. After 89 years, this vintage fire alarm system is still working great and certainly more reliable and easier to maintain then most of the newer systems manufactured today.
In 1962 an absolutely beautiful High school was constructed in Akron, Ohio. At the time, this school was considered a crown jewel for Akron Public Schools. The school was named in honor of Harvey S. Firestone (1868-1938), a tire industrialist, who along with three associates, organized and built the Firestone Tire & Rubber Company.
The school was furnished with a Standard Electric Time, model # UAX-3 (circa 1958) fire alarm system. Considered at the time to be one of the very best systems ever designed and manufactured. After 58 years of fire drills, this Standard Electric Time system still works like a charm and could easily go another 58 years. Sadly, this school was decommissioned and demolished in 2016.
Hotchkiss Elementary is a modest, smaller school in Akron, Ohio. This school was originally built in 1927 with a manual, pull rod fire alarm system. In the early 1950’s the pull rod was automated with an electric, Autocall fire alarm system. Non-coded pull stations with 10 inch, single stroke bells were installed throughout the two story building.
My father, who was born in 1929, attended this school when he was a boy. So I could not help feeling nostalgic as I walked the hallways and roamed throughout the building. Sadly, this school has been decommissioned and is now closed awaiting demolition.
