Here’s a throwback to the past that I found on a Bank in Cumberland. There’s something about this alarm that makes it seem like it was colorized and stripped from the set of an early gangster movie. Of course, those gangsters were never smart enough to realize that the best step to take first might have been to disable the alarm. The bank certainly isn’t hiding its location.
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1 Dave Kanis // Oct 11, 2009 at 7:19 AM
Disabling this alarm would have been almost impossible. I know, I collect these things and they were very difficult to bypass. First of all there was a large steel bell within including the batteries, relay, and all necessary wiring for self containment. The only wires leaving the box were the ones that attached to the contacts on the vaut door that seperated if it was opened after hours thusly sounding the alarm. If these wires were cut, spliced, or tampered with in any way the alarm would sound. The exterior box itself was made of thick steel with venting to allow the bell to be heard outside. Just within the outer casing of the box was another box that was made of thin steel and was rigged so if someone would try to drill through the outer casing and their drill bit hit the interior box the alarm would ring. Next is a series of bolts that allowed the alarm box to be opened for service but there was a contact switch attached to each locking bolt that would also trip the alarm. If someone would try to pry the box off the wall there was a contact switch that rested against the building that would set off the alarm as soon as the box was seperated even a little from the surface of the building. These things were not so primitive as many thought and were very highly advanced technologically speaking for their time. They gave the appearance of easy prey but that was just what the alarm company wanted. They are very interesting !!!!
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