kerry4951
Member
Yes, they tell me that the black face did not come out till after 1990. The silver faces are hard to find.The PA300 was introduced circa 1983. I believe the silver front panel (similar to the PA200) was the first version.
The yelp tone sounded fairly consistent throughout the course of production, but the wail tone has changed over the years. The early PA300s (silver face and earliest black face units) have a slow rising wail tone. Later PA300s have faster rising wail tones.
You've heard more of them than me, so I can't disagree.Speed and deepness of yelp seems to have varied over time. I've seen videos of old silver faced units that have really slow and deep tones, but I have sliver one that has a higher pitched fast one.
Wail: R23, R26, C11
Yelp: R23, R24, R26, C11
Hi-Lo: R23, R25, R26, R27, R28, R29, C11
Manual peak: R23, R25, R26, C11
Tone oscillator (VCO): R46, R47, R57 (variable), C21
That's exactly the discussion I was thinking of while replying to this thread! Yes, if I knew the component values that Federal used, I could certainly replicate them. Lacking those details, I could adjust to match a good quality sample of the desired sound.I think we may have discussed this in the past, but does knowing all of this mean I could send you a siren box for you to customize to a certain spec (i.e. FDNY) ?
Look for an early PA300 with the slow rising wail tone and find a way of lowering the pitch. I've heard one, and it actually sounds pretty good.I'd be looking to modify the PA-300 that I have to have a slower windup and wind-down and maybe cycle a bit slower. A deeper yelp would be interesting as well. I'd be looking for something that has that distinct old-school siren sound. I still have to look at several YouTube videos to get a firmer idea of what I'm looking for, though.
Look for an early PA300 with the slow rising wail tone and find a way of lowering the pitch. I've heard one, and it actually sounds pretty good.
There's a YouTube video of a deep sounding silver faced PA300 that sounds like what you're describing. I wonder if it's the one you mention towards the end of your comment.
When I'm back home I'll post it in here.
That's exactly what I had in mind! I was thinking of something that sounded like a bit of a mashup between an early PA-300 and a PA-200.
The PA200 (when working normally) is a high pitched screamer like the sirens we hear today.
Haha that's it, found some others that may capture that deep sound you mentioned before:
This is actually a PA500 but sounds identical to the 300. A nice deep yelp on it:
What about the PA-150 or any of the earlier PA models? Of them, which would you say have deepest, richest wail and yelp tones, cycle a bit slower, and have a nice slow wind-up and wind-down?
The PA150 has the same siren oscillator circuit as the PA200, so you wouldn't like that one either.
What you could consider is a late 1960s Federal PA15A (serial numbers beginning with 1B, 1C, or 1D) or PA20A (serial numbers beginning with 2B, 2C, or 2D). Those sirens have a slow rising and falling wail tone and a deep throaty sounding yelp. Click on the video link below to hear a demo.
Here's a recording of my PA-300..
Sounds like a newer PA300. The wail tone rises and falls somewhat like a Code 3 V-CON siren, but it's lower pitched.
Yes that is me in the video. I like being goofy. I called the siren a piece of musical equipment because those particular versions of the PA15A and PA20A sing a sweet melody that is music to my ears.
Those sirens were replaced by the PA15A series 1E and PA20A series 2E in the 1970s. 1E and 2E are screamers - they don't sing.
The early Smith & Wesson Magnum series electronic sirens with the large pushbuttons sound close to the late 1960s Federal sirens. I remember hearing them back in the mid to late 1970s. Here is a video clip of one with a Dietz Omnisound label.
TRIVIA ALERT- the Police Tapes was Steven Bochco's inspiration for the camera techniques used in Hill Street Blues, it was the first time handheld cameras and 'rapid cuts' were used for a TV production
The new sirens sound sharper and cleaner, but they just lack the depth, richness and warmth of the oldies. It just isn't the same and doesn't have that same satisfaction to listen to, not that they're not enjoyable to listen to.
One thing that I forgot to say is Wailer, your accent sounds a bit like you're from Northern Ontario.
As a side-note, if you ever want to watch a film with a ton of NYPD Signal Stat sirens and crossbars in use, watch "The Police Tapes" (1977). Incredible documentary; very raw. Well worth a watch. I'll try and rip the scenes with the sirens from my DVD copy and post on another thread.