Federal Siren Help

[plybeep68]

Ok first of all i have no clue on the difference in all of the federal sirens other than what i have read here on this forum. What siren would be period correct for a 1969 police car?? I have read on here that different series have pitches that vary according to year that they were made. I have a couple of Federal Director's, clueless if they are right as i haven't even tested them. I know with all the knowledge you guy's have someone will steer me in the right direction.

 

[toon80]

Member "Wailer" knows a lot about these sirens.


Here's his website about Federal sirens:


Old Federal Electronic Sirens


Hope this helps


Toon

 

[plybeep68]

Thanks, I will check it out

 

[Sirenman]

It isn't a siren unless it has a motor and a rotor. All else are glorified peanut whistles.


John Dorgan

 

[Sarge619]

It isn't a siren unless it has a motor and a rotor. All else are glorified peanut whistles.
John Dorgan

ROFLMAO!!!! :haha: :haha: :haha:

 

[Wailer]

It isn't a siren unless it has a motor and a rotor. All else are glorified peanut whistles.
John Dorgan

John, maybe all electronic sirens sound alike to you, but not to my ears. A late 1960s Federal Director or Interceptor does not sound anything like the 1970s versions. The circuitry and siren tones in the 1960s models are completely different from the 1970s models.

 

[Sirenman]

I didn't say that they all sounded the same, just that they all were peanut whistles when compared to a large electro-mechaniical siren such as the B&M SC8 or the Federal Q. Ask the operator who has had experience with an electronic and then had the good fortune to use a mechanical. They'll tell you that there is NOTHING that moves traffic as well. This horse has been beaten to death in other forums and publications and I won't belabor it further. The result is always the same. There is no audible device that moves traffic better than a large electro-mechanical siren


John Dorgan

John, maybe all electronic sirens sound alike to you, but not to my ears. A late 1960s Federal Director or Interceptor does not sound anything like the 1970s versions. The circuitry and siren tones in the 1960s models are completely different from the 1970s models.

 

[Wailer]

I didn't say that they all sounded the same, just that they all were peanut whistles when compared to a large electro-mechaniical siren such as the B&M SC8 or the Federal Q. Ask the operator who has had experience with an electronic and then had the good fortune to use a mechanical. They'll tell you that there is NOTHING that moves traffic as well. This horse has been beaten to death in other forums and publications and I won't belabor it further. The result is always the same. There is no audible device that moves traffic better than a large electro-mechanical siren
John Dorgan

But should all 1960s vehicle restorations require mechanical sirens? The original poster wants to use an electronic siren for his restoration.


To plybeep68 I say a PA15 Director (with wail, yelp and alert tones) or a PA15A Director (serial number beginning with 1B, 1C, or 1D) would be suitable for a 1969 police car restoration.


But avoid PA15A Directors with serial numbers beginning with 1E. Series 1E is a 1970s model. 1E is the version with high-pitched wail and yelp tones.

 

[plybeep68]

Thank you for all the info and help, I now know the difference between a siren and a peanut whistle!!! lol