Very old sounding manual siren on this Whelen ws-295 siren

[cromwell]

Hi folks!

I have noticed that my Whelen WS295-mp siren has got a very old sounding MANUAL siren, almost like the old Director sirens.

If you search in youtube "whelen ws295" you´ll find soundsamples (not my siren but the manual siren sounds the same).

The sound is kind of mechanical. Anyone else here got the same siren?

My siren has also got all the other sirensounds, AIRHORN, WAIL, YELP, TWO-TONE, PIERCER.

How rare is this siren? Was the model used on policecars in USA? 

 

[tsquale]

I have never seen a 295 like yours with Wail, Yelp, Two Tone, and Piercer or with the Pursuit switch. Maybe it is a European only variation?

 

[cromwell]

Yes, this could very well be a European model only.

 

[tsquale]

Either way, it looks pretty cool. Are you able to take a video of it?

 

[cromwell]

I can try later this week to make a video.

 

[Skip Goulet]

The early technology of some of the Whelen sirens had a distinct mechanical tone to them that was lost with later technology.  I have a very old WS295 that sounds that way when I can get it to work.

 

[JazzDad]

..  when I can get it to work.

:dielaugh:

 

[Skip Goulet]

Well, what do you expect when someone just hands the thing to you and sez, "See what you can do with this thing."   It's an original.  One time it will work just fine and the next time it plays hard to get....! :angry:

 

[JohnMarcson]

This was offered in the US in 1990.  In fact it was a transition period for Whelen between the new (micro processor) and old styles of sirens.

 

[Skip Goulet]

Y'all have heard me say this before.  I don't care for the sirens with microprocessors for the most part.  Some of them are o.k., but others just don't have a real siren sound.  The one nice thing that has come from them, however, is the technology that allows for the Q-sound on the newer sirens.  I had an EQ2B for a while that I liked; but I got an offer that I couldn't refuse for it.  I've got a Whelen Gamma-2 siren that I like, and it has some neat sounds.   The one X-Ecutor that I heard close up several years ago sounded terrible.  Tim (Henry 455) has got an Alpha siren that has the X-Ecutor sound, and it sounds terrific!  Go figure!

 

[SomeBloke]

Y'all have heard me say this before.  I don't care for the sirens with microprocessors for the most part. 

You know, when ever I get around to sorting out my Stirling Tri-Sound, I think you'll enjoy it immensely.

You can always tell if a Whelen siren is Euro produced (or Woodway branded) because of how short the interval is during the two tone/hilo tones.  Euro boxes tend to have fast/shorter intervals between the hi and lo sound, whereas the US ones I've heard have a slower hi and lo interval

 

[Skip Goulet]

I'd like to hear that siren some time.  Last night (Sunday) I happened to catch a program on our PBS TV station and they were doing a documentary on the history of the investigative arm of Scotland Yard and how their techniques, and eventually forensics developed over the years.  One part was shot near New Scotland Yard and it showed a London police car running "hot", and I was quite surprised to hear a siren.  For so many years (at least in movies), all you heard from London police, etc., were bells or the European hi-lo horns.

 

[SomeBloke]

I'd like to hear that siren some time.  Last night (Sunday) I happened to catch a program on our PBS TV station and they were doing a documentary on the history of the investigative arm of Scotland Yard and how their techniques, and eventually forensics developed over the years.  One part was shot near New Scotland Yard and it showed a London police car running "hot", and I was quite surprised to hear a siren.  For so many years (at least in movies), all you heard from London police, etc., were bells or the European hi-lo horns.

Sorry to hi=jack the thread a bit but I believe THIS is what it sounds like (and yes, this was a real arrest)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wJGVljVmJ1E

 

[RobDBama]

Majority of the WS-295MP sirens were mainly on Fire trucks and Ambulances. City Ambulance and Haynes Ambulance in Montgomery, Alabama used these sirens on their units

 

[Wailer]

I agree. It looks like a transition model between the current Whelen sirens and the earlier versions.