Garet Posted April 21, 2009 Report Share Posted April 21, 2009 Any idea what this is? There were about 4-5 of them beside exit doors as well as bedroom doors in a 1952 house. The lever with the red label reads "rewind". Pulling the lever with the chain (...which hung nearly to the floor) rang the bell (sounded like an old-time school bell). I couldn't find any other markings. BTW, where's the forum labeled "Identify This Old Weird Thing I Found Today"? Garet Click to Enlarge 22.67 KB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hausdok Posted April 21, 2009 Report Share Posted April 21, 2009 I've seen those many times in older homes. It's my understanding they are fire alarms. You wind them up and then they somehow sense the heat from a fire and wake everyone up. Old tech; I love it. OT - OF!!! M. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Raymond Posted April 21, 2009 Report Share Posted April 21, 2009 There is a pin under that rose thingy in the center of the bell. The softer metal deforms at high temperatures and allows the pin to move activating the bell spring. They also fail from age and the bells are very loud, ask me how I know. I'm pretty sure thats why the house I grew up in had (almost all) the pins held in with pennies. It would have been cheaper to just let them all unwind[:-dev3] Tom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Katen Posted April 21, 2009 Report Share Posted April 21, 2009 I've seen those many times in older homes. It's my understanding they are fire alarms. You wind them up and then they somehow sense the heat from a fire and wake everyone up. Old tech; I love it. Yeah, but by the time they sense the fire, you're already a crispy critter. They're interesting artifacts but nearly worthless compared to the marvel of a modern smoke alarm. BTW, no one's sent in a picture of an old style carbon tet fire grenade lately. - Jim Katen, Oregon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garet Posted April 22, 2009 Author Report Share Posted April 22, 2009 BTW, no one's sent in a picture of an old style carbon tet fire grenade lately. Are you happy now? Click to Enlarge 22.98 KB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jerry Simon Posted April 22, 2009 Report Share Posted April 22, 2009 I've seen those many times in older homes. It's my understanding they are fire alarms. You wind them up and then they somehow sense the heat from a fire and wake everyone up. Old tech; I love it. Yeah, but by the time they sense the fire, you're already a crispy critter. They're interesting artifacts but nearly worthless compared to the marvel of a modern smoke alarm. BTW, no one's sent in a picture of an old style carbon tet fire grenade lately. - Jim Katen, Oregon Have you ever seen these old fire alarm whistles? Click to Enlarge 99.42 KB Click to Enlarge 25.03 KB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kurt Posted April 22, 2009 Report Share Posted April 22, 2009 Don't let Jerry fool ya....that's his sexual aid..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Katen Posted April 22, 2009 Report Share Posted April 22, 2009 BTW, no one's sent in a picture of an old style carbon tet fire grenade lately. Are you happy now? Click to Enlarge 22.98 KB Well, that's ok, but I was thinking of the glass ones. - Jim Katen, Oregon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Kibbel Posted April 22, 2009 Report Share Posted April 22, 2009 That's a metal jacket that contains a glass bulb. CM-7 is a late model that likely contains azeotropic methyl chloride, instead of carbon tet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chad Fabry Posted April 22, 2009 Report Share Posted April 22, 2009 Friday's inspection Click to Enlarge 42.84 KB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garet Posted April 22, 2009 Author Report Share Posted April 22, 2009 That's a metal jacket that contains a glass bulb. CM-7 is a late model that likely contains azeotropic methyl chloride, instead of carbon tet. If I remember correctly the outer jacket was plastic, but it was several years ago. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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