Thread: Got a Old Model 28 Siren, looking for some info ??

Hey all, got a call from my cousin today was cleaning some stuff out of the funeral home and found an old Q siren. Its been painted Black at some point many moons ago. Even the tag got painted. Can make out some of the stampings 12VDC 28S 2A14FS (and that was tough to read with magnifying glass). Any Idea's on cleaning this thing up? Would love to hear from some of the pro's on this one. Thanks Randy










Edit; model number in title

By the tag description, it is a Federal model 28 siren, not a model 'Q' siren. it does not have a coaster clutch, or brake. I think beadblasting would be best, after removing the ID tag (hard to do on an old siren thats been painted over) John Dorgan (sirenman) would be the one to talk to. He would be able to tell you what the "S" means. I've seen model 28's and model 28H (high pitch) but not a 28S
Clarence

Thanks Clarence that's what I was thinking. Had the thread typed up and filled in the blanks with the tag info I could see. Its smaller than a Q but Ive never messed with any of the mechanical sirens other than to mount and hook up wires. Bead blasting sounds good, the screws on the tag look like they will be a real treat. Was kinda thinking about giving it a wipe down with lacquer thinner and see what it does, did an old painted latern with that took it to the origanal finish.

In the past i have soaked painted parts in Castrol Super Clean and after a day or so you could take a brush to them and the paint would come off easy. That is if you can take it apart. Just an idea.

Originally Posted by plybeep68

In the past i have soaked painted parts in Castrol Super Clean and after a day or so you could take a brush to them and the paint would come off easy. That is if you can take it apart. Just an idea.

Idea's are exactly what Im looking for. Thanks

The 66 and 28 series are pretty loud mechanical sirens. They're good for patrol cars and other smaller vehicles that don't have the space or the current carrying capacity for a Q siren.

Originally Posted by Clarence H

By the tag description, it is a Federal model 28 siren, not a model 'Q' siren. it does not have a coaster clutch, or brake. I think beadblasting would be best, after removing the ID tag (hard to do on an old siren thats been painted over) John Dorgan (sirenman) would be the one to talk to. He would be able to tell you what the "S" means. I've seen model 28's and model 28H (high pitch) but not a 28S
Clarence

The 28S was a special build on special order only. It came with a smaller motor, particularly in the late 50s and early 60s for easier behind-the-grille mount on unmarked police cars. Federal also built an odd shaped 28 specifically for grille mounts, along with the same thing in a non-coasting doubletone. I had a 28S a few years back and they're nice, and had a slightly better roll than the standard 28. Also, the 28S sirens came with a saddle-mount bracket rather than the standard pedestal mount because of the small motor. What might be a very wicked sound would be a 28HS. I have a 28H that I got from John Dorgan and it will hurt your ears!

Originally Posted by Skip Goulet

I have a 28H that I got from John Dorgan and it will hurt your ears!

The 28H and other Federal high-pitched mechanical sirens have the same frequency range as high-pitched electronic sirens. If you really want to get brutal, run a 28H in combination with a PA200 with dual speakers. Then you'll have high-pitched mechanical and electronic siren sounds.

Great info guys, thanks

Originally Posted by Wailer

The 28H and other Federal high-pitched mechanical sirens have the same frequency range as high-pitched electronic sirens. If you really want to get brutal, run a 28H in combination with a PA200 with dual speakers. Then you'll have high-pitched mechanical and electronic siren sounds.

Ouch!! I bet that would make the dogs howl!!

Several years ago, our old rig used to run a standard Federal 28 with a Unitrol 480K. The combination of the lower pitched mechanical siren going in unison with the high pitched Unitrol electronic siren sounded amazing. It was a real traffic clearer!

Originally Posted by Wailer

The 28H and other Federal high-pitched mechanical sirens have the same frequency range as high-pitched electronic sirens. If you really want to get brutal, run a 28H in combination with a PA200 with dual speakers. Then you'll have high-pitched mechanical and electronic siren sounds.

Ouch! That spells "headache" in all caps! Many years ago a friend of mine who ran the ambulance service in Big Spring had a '64 Ford wagon for his ambulance. It had a C4B and a 28H under the hood. Now that made for some sound. The loudest I ever heard, though, was a '66 Pontiac wagon ambulance that was in Clovis,NM at the time. It had been specially built for the Longview, TX F.D. It had three Qs all side-by-side on the roof and five big Dietz 211s (four corners + rear center). I got to go on a run in that car (ouch!). To power all that stuff it had twin batteries and twin high-output alternators. For sound power with electronics, we had a '70 lowtop Suburban ambulance that had a Smith and Wesson electronic and a PA200, plus a Q on the roof. Peope didn't know whether we were coming or going!!

Randy, How did the siren restoration turn out?

Originally Posted by plybeep68

Randy, How did the siren restoration turn out?

Havent had a chance to even mess with it. Just got back from 3 week RnR in Florida.