Federal Q siren mode Q2B "S"

[Leslie]

I recently purchased an older Federal Q siren. The I.D. Plate on the motor says "Q2BS". Does anyone know what the "S" means? Thanks

 

[JohnMarcson]

I recently purchased an older Federal Q siren. The I.D. Plate on the motor says "Q2BS". Does anyone know what the "S" means? Thanks

That's clearly a knock off.. it even says it's BS right on the label

 

[Leslie]

John,


What is your definition of a knockoff?

 

[JohnMarcson]

John,
What is your definition of a knockoff?

I was making a joke that it said BS.. as in bullsh*t.. as in the item wasn't genuine. Didn't make it clear I was kidding... my bad

 

[Leslie]

John,


Thanks but you had me worried for a bit. Have you ever seen a federal Q with that on the I. D. Plate?

 

[JohnMarcson]

These come up for sale occasionally, I doubt they are fake. I have three generations of federal literature and none list it but that means little. I had always assumed it meant stainless or surface but I have nothing to back that. The B means brake obviously....


Currently, they only show


Q2B-P Q-Siren with pedestal mount and housing


Q2B-NN Q-Siren without pedestal mount or housing


(designed for recess mounting)

 

[Leslie]

John,


Thanks for the info. Have a great day!

 

[JohnMarcson]

I think you may get more help in the vintage section, so I moved the thread and left a redirect link.


Also user Henry455 is a great resource on mechanical sirens.

 

[shues]

Some chatter from the Professional Car Society forums suggest that the S may stand for surface-mount: Strange Federal Q siren base - Professional Car Society - Official Website of the Professional Car Society, Inc.

 

[50theman]

Some chatter from the Professional Car Society forums suggest that the S may stand for surface-mount: Strange Federal Q siren base - Professional Car Society - Official Website of the Professional Car Society, Inc.

I agree with one of the members in that thread.


The S likely means Surface Mount or Seagrave Mount.


Hopefully Henry445 can answer this.

 

[MARSMAN]

The "S"means : Go but a Super Chief instead. :yes:

 

[August Arborists]

I think the "S" means sell it to me. Always wanted a Q...

 

[Henry455]

I have no idea what the S stands for. I have searched all my documentation and have found nothing in regards to an S in the model number. Maybe Joe Dorgan or Kevin O'connell owner of B&M sirens would know. The OP did state that this was found on the motor itself which is also strange it being a Q2B and not a Q1B unless he is calling the rear cover the motor.

 

[elite907]

I called Federal Signal and they are dumber than owl crap.


It took 3 different people to tell me they had no idea what the ( S ) stood for.

 

[shues]

I have no idea what the S stands for. I have searched all my documentation and have found nothing in regards to an S in the model number. Maybe Joe Dorgan or Kevin O'connell owner of B&M sirens would know. The OP did state that this was found on the motor itself which is also strange it being a Q2B and not a Q1B unless he is calling the rear cover the motor.

If it's anything like the other one in known existence, then perhaps it has no rear cover:

 

[Henry455]

This is a wild guess but maybe 50theman is on to something, it appears it could possibly be a recess mounted Q2 as was done on some Seagraves

 

[JohnMarcson]

Now that you mention it..... The only other one I knew of for sale was on ebay a year ago and it was in a lot off a seagrave. It too had no rear cover and a pedestal mount. I bet "S" did mean Seagrave... It would be a unique combo of chromed front and unfinished rear. The mullet of sirens.


Here is some nice eye candy of all the cool concealed / pedestal mount stuff Seagrave mounted like this.


eLightbars Hunger Force, onward!

 

[FGS]

Is there even a knock off copy of a Q2? I know some of FedSig's stuff are copied by other companies.

 

[JohnMarcson]

I saw one on a China web site in 2007, but they used an actual stolen Q pic... so I doubt it really looked like that.

 

[Black Hoe]

The "S"means : Go but a Super Chief instead. :yes:

Agreed. The newer Q2B's are using chinese built parts!

 

[Leslie]

Thanks for all the help

 

[Leslie]

The one with the short wire Q2B, serial# 2D25H66 was on a 72 Howe pumper/ Mack Truck. It has no I.D. Tag on the motor.


The one with the long wire, Q2B, serial# 2D25F75 Unknown pumper/tanker, etc. The I.D. Tag on the motor is pictured in the earlier post "Q2BS" serial#2D26E6

 

[50theman]

Ok boys and girls, I have spoken to a good friend of mine on this matter. I figured he may know for the following reasons. He's a Retired Henrico Fire Captain of Logistics and (Lights and Siren Guru) and also owns a 1940's or 50's Seagrave Tiller with the noise Q2B like the early photos.


He tells me that the S stands for Surface Mount. Just by speaking to him on the phone, he was able to identify this siren as a Federal Q2B without the bullet on the back, but with the regular pedestal mount on the bottom and possibly a tag on the motor. He claims that this siren is probably from the 1960' or 70's because early one had no tag and the model number was stamped on to the motor housing itself.


He claims that these used to be in 1970's era Federal Signal Catalogs. But he doesn't have any of those catalogs, trust me I asked.... :sadcry:


I hope this helps,


5-0

 

[Leslie]

Ok boys and girls, I have spoken to a good friend of mine on this matter. I figured he may know for the following reasons. He's a Retired Henrico Fire Captain of Logistics and (Lights and Siren Guru) and also owns a 1940's or 50's Seagrave Tiller with the noise Q2B like the early photos.

He tells me that the S stands for Surface Mount. Just by speaking to him on the phone, he was able to identify this siren as a Federal Q2B without the bullet on the back, but with the regular pedestal mount on the bottom and possibly a tag on the motor. He claims that this siren is probably from the 1960' or 70's because early one had no tag and the model number was stamped on to the motor housing itself.


He claims that these used to be in 1970's era Federal Signal Catalogs. But he doesn't have any of those catalogs, trust me I asked.... :sadcry:


I hope this helps,


5-0

5-0


Thanks

 

[JohnMarcson]

Ok boys and girls, I have spoken to a good friend of mine on this matter. I figured he may know for the following reasons. He's a Retired Henrico Fire Captain of Logistics and (Lights and Siren Guru) and also owns a 1940's or 50's Seagrave Tiller with the noise Q2B like the early photos.

He tells me that the S stands for Surface Mount.


5-0

These come up for sale occasionally, I doubt they are fake. I have three generations of federal literature and none list it but that means little. I had always assumed it meant stainless or surface but I have nothing to back that.

I should have stuck with my theory....


Later.....

Now that you mention it..... The only other one I knew of for sale was on ebay a year ago and it was in a lot off a seagrave. It too had no rear cover and a pedestal mount. I bet "S" did mean Seagrave... It would be a unique combo of chromed front and unfinished rear. The mullet of sirens.

So, I guess Seagrave just used these....they weren't responsible for the name.


Thanks for the info 50theman

 

[Wailer]

This is a wild guess but maybe 50theman is on to something, it appears it could possibly be a recess mounted Q2 as was done on some Seagraves

When I see those 1950s open cab Seagraves I think of Federal C series sirens. The city FD where I live used to have a 1953 Bickle-Seagrave pumper with a C series siren and a Dietz 711 beacon (which was added later).

 

[Skip Goulet]

I disagree with the "S" standing for surface mount. I couldn't tell by the picture, but when Federal used the "S" on their other motor sirens, the "S" stood for special small motor. I had a 28S, and it had a very small motor....small enough that it used a saddle mount bracket, much like the B&M sirens. They wouldn't put an "S" just for a surface mount, because all of them were surface mounts except for the occasional flush mount models for fire trucks.

 

[JohnMarcson]

I disagree with the "S" standing for surface mount. I couldn't tell by the picture, but when Federal used the "S" on their other motor sirens, the "S" stood for special small motor. I had a 28S, and it had a very small motor....small enough that it used a saddle mount bracket, much like the B&M sirens. They wouldn't put an "S" just for a surface mount, because all of them were surface mounts except for the occasional flush mount models for fire trucks.

You are probably right. They called that a pedestal mount, not surface. the next best guesses are Special or Small.....


Q2B 012PN was how it was ordered in the 1980s, before that the model numbers are much simpler. It would make sense to add an a letter when the standard models were deviated from. At this point my money is back on "special"

 

[Skip Goulet]

You are probably right. They called that a pedestal mount, not surface. the next best guesses are Special or Small.....

Q2B 012PN was how it was ordered in the 1980s, before that the model numbers are much simpler. It would make sense to add an a letter when the standard models were deviated from. At this point my money is back on "special"

Wow! First time I've seen an EG listed for that much! I've never seen them listed for more than the $50 they sold for for many years. Explains why I see some of them priced so high on sleeze-bay.

 

[JohnMarcson]

Explains why I see some of them priced so high on sleeze-bay.

No, they are priced high on ebay because people will over pay some vintage items on ebay. The actual rarity of an item seldom has much to do with he price on ebay.


But yeah, special options on a mechanical siren is somewhat rare...