Antique IBM Fire Alarm Restoration

I found this Fire Horn/Siren/Alarm thing on the old electronic bay (surprise, surprise) and since I had so much luck with my original fire bell restoration video I thought it would be a good subject for another restoration video.
It was sitting on my shelf in a state of disrepair for so long because I didn't know how to recreate the label. I thought about trying to repaint the old label, but it turned out terrible. Eventually I stumbled upon acid etching metal to create labels and decided it would be perfect. I had my roommate draw up the label in Adobe Illustrator and I printed it out onto some press'n'peel blue PCB etching paper then ironed it onto some brass plate. The acid for etching this brass plate is ferric chloride. I left it in the ferric chloride for a few minutes to get a good etch and the rest of the process is pretty self explanatory if you watch the video.
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Instagram: Restoration.Station
Facebook: RestorationStationFB
TikTok: tiktok.com/@restostaysh
Products used in video
Brass Sheet: amzn.to/3lrHgdi
Ferric Chloride Etching Acid: amzn.to/3G9KjyD
Sprayon Clear Lacquer: amzn.to/3IiLFZI
Press-n-Peel Blue: ebay

[@RestorationStation]

FYI this thing is loud. I bumped the volume down a lot when editing to avoid blowing people's eardrums out

[@Vault57]

There are some rubber grommets available for use on the power input wires held by the wire clamp. I have also found some on old equipment that were in pretty good condition, appropriate for reuse.

[@vintagesimplexfirealarmsof6440]

i like the sound loud lol since i like old horns

[@Vault57]

@@vintagesimplexfirealarmsof6440 I used to work on Simplex system's. They are loud and designed to be irritating to make people want to leave a possibly burning building. My problem was I had to go in and listen to the awful squawking until we could clear the building. Yep, I did like the Simplex system's over most others though.

[@josemoreno9604]

SssssssssSssssssssssssss

[@АнатолійРуденок]

Йййце 55

[@saltypond390]

Never thought I’d see the day someone restores a fire alarm! I’m actually into these types of things, especially old/vintage devices like this one. These horns were used primarily in the 1940’s and 1950’s. IBM sold their brand to Simplex, which is a well known fire Alarm company.

[@-Productions-wp8do]

I’m in the process of restoring one now! I’ve been inspired by this video, going to make a new tag and everything. It’s a Simplex 4040 that’s seen better days.

[@saltypond390]

@@-Productions-wp8do sounds like a cool project! Btw, this is actually SiphonR Alarms (formerly Alarm Collector 330) I’m just using a different account

[@-Productions-wp8do]

@@saltypond390 Cool, I’ll sub!

[@luigikoopa8771]

That's why it looks like a 4030 or 4040

[@bentheidioticnerd8993]

I have a red 4040 that is in good shape. Also have one that has a flush mount plate on it.​@@-Productions-wp8do

[@amunarjoh]

Who ever in doubt regarding the difference between repair and restore: This is restoration! Impressive job!

[@chocolatefrenzieya]

That new tag is awesome. That amount of meticulous work you put into it is insane.

[@tankman232]

ditto! that was impressive.

[@boltthrower3215]

Even the chinese canˋt copy it with this quality

[@howardoller443]

The icing on the cake of this excellent video is that there no extraneous chatting, background music or other distractions.

[@MikeCiccolo]

I caught the Ctrl-C and Ctrl-V sequence. Clever.

[@CrimsonIsFinallyBack]

Command C command V.

[@sethtriggs]

I was blown away by the label reproduction. That's amazing work and I always wondered how those were made.

[@RestoreMore]

Etching that name plate was absolutely fascinating to see! Great work!

[@williamharris8367]

One of the aspects of restoration videos that I most like is seeing the range of tools and techniques used. This video certainly did not disappoint in that regard. Thank-you!

[@markxl]

I knew that IBM made scales, tills and butchery equipment but I didn't know they made fire alarms. Thanks for the new information and a great restoration job.

[@Fahrenheit4051]

Yup! They sold their fire alarm division to the Simplex Time Recorder Company in the late 1950's.

[@toddster2656]

What I wouldn't do to have this guy's incredible restoration skills. So many different talents are necessary. We had one of those horns aimed at the playground of my junior high school back in the 1970s. It was certainly loud.

[@antisoda]

These videos are so satisfying to watch. Your editing is top-notch. :)

[@RestorationStation]

Thanks! I put a lot of time into editing. Some would say too much time

[@antisoda]

@@RestorationStation Don't listen to them. You take all the time you want. Quality over quantity, y'know. :)

[@DanTDMJace]

@@antisoda think he was joking. Coming back 6 months later, I don't know what I was talking about lol

[@phyde1885]

@@RestorationStation NEVER ! Editing is where the Mustard is cut! Don't believe me,take from a pro like Linus Tech Tips !! He has almost 16Million Subs ! Editing can still make a bad vid look great,and vice versa. You already have the Technical and Mechanical skills,Time is only your only Foe now.,just as it was with Linus when he was starting out. You are on the right path,just keep hitting it,and hit it HARD ! I wish i was in your place,i'm too OLD now and Retirement does have some rewards. Teaching the next Gen !😎

[@FireRescue80]

Classic IBM 4030 horn. Nice restoration.

[@kcparks856]

Never seen anyone etch a plate like that. Very cool to watch. Beautiful piece of work.

[@mikekemsley1531]

I got to say I was real skeptical when you started making the the new label instead of restoring the original. I was wrong. Came out great. Very impressive.

[@jacksvacssafety2620]

Ah, the Simplex/IBM 4030, the loudest (or so I'm told) Fire horn to exist, and you made one look like new, bravo!

[@XMarkxyz]

I found the sound underwelming

[@Fahrenheit4051]

@@XMarkxyz There's a lot of variance with mechanical horns. Even later ones like -9838's can vary from quiet to super-loud. Take a look: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rWWwiImQZs12iZY kzbin.info/www/bejne/rWWwiImQZs12iZY

[@RestorationStation]

I bumped the volume way down in editing so people didn't complain about their eardrums being blown out. It's pretty loud lol

[@badtothebonefanrock1250]

4040 4051 are louder

[@kansasclocksandsirens]

@@badtothebonefanrock1250 Not true

[@troynewly]

Amazing! Making the badge, that emblem, was a work of art, thoroughly enjoyed.

[@Austeration]

Incredible 👍 loved watching you work your magic on this. Amazed watching you create that tag. Fantastic job.

[@airborneace]

My mechanic grandfather always called PB Blaster "tiger piss". I found that so funny as a kid and I still chuckle 20+ years later when I see a can of it

[@audinos1840]

Many 1950’s-era school buildings in Oregon used horns like that for outdoor “bells.” Fire alarms were typically motor-driven sirens.

[@robbyboy03]

Very nice job...particularly how you were able to etch that plate. Well done.

[@MichaelAStanhope]

This klaxon was actually made to be connected to the IBM time recorder. It was a time clock with a program wheel that would sound the klaxon at certain times like for shift change or lunch break in factories and schools. I’m sure many pulled double duty as fire alarms since the are loud as hell!

[@DanTDMJace]

Yes, I saw a video where this horn model was being used for a fire alarm.

[@firealarm2903_]

​@@DanTDMJace it is a fire alarm

[@aaronbrandenburg2441]

To be fair I've seen some cases where schools bells in quotes were actually basically just momentary sounding of the fire alarm horns used to do repair work sometimes around school since I was in their mind fully qualified. I remember the old Bell system was totally jacked up who knows how many times the system has been modified. Don't know if the controls are original or not everything was just like mishmash absolute Trainwreck but generally would work well most of the time when I would have to intervene usually was me! Usually it was burnt up relay contacts or welded contacts! When this would happen I knew exactly what to do had a school-issued keyring as well that key to that room was one of them. To be fair a lot of them work for stage crew which I was a member of. By the way did help elevator access anyways because of this however they noticed with back issues and also was able to get through building quicker because of traffic and just my issues was encouraged to take the elevator since did better and got the class quicker was able to avoid most of the people that cause trouble around are in the process bonus. As well as I was always moving equipment around sometimes to help the instructors and all as well as other reasons for this as well authorized to do a lot of stuff that most people wouldn't even believe wouldn't be happening either! One could say a jack-of-all-trades knows the trade. Back to the Bell programmer system if you want to call it that. This is one of the reasons I knew that occasionally fire alarms were used for schoolbelles occasionally. I was working on the system happened to brush against a wire that is loose and did not see it and of course was not capped off should have been even though it's low voltage for this very reason. Apparently that was part of the wiring that time the Bell System originally into the fire alarm system had bumped it and I heard the fire alarm go off golfers with second I thought that was strange happen to bump it again and same thing and realize wait a sec I don't think that's coincidence it turns out it was not. Most everything that the labels and everything were so far gone you couldn't even read them. Eventually found bits and pieces of documentation of the whole system and did piece everything together or Chris everything out in the end who drew up a full schematic and service info on my own mainly not just for myself but for anyone in the future there was no plans to replace it anytime!

[@aaronbrandenburg2441]

Oh yes old IBM Simplex remember those systems for sure. Scrapped out quite a bit of that stuff back in the day salvaging a large fire alarm system they asked me is specifically which type of system and for good reason they said make sure that both sides of the power coming in or disconnected since the system had both hot wires from the 220 as basically standby power since there was no backup systems on this and 220 is present in the cabinet that definitely got my attention did not realize that they had done this back in the day. Yeah I do know of some old exit system Design Systems that had to separate incandescent bulbs and we're on two separate circuits sometimes on opposite just like the old me I'm Simplex systems. Also once found an old backup exit sign & lighting system it did not seem to be so much of a standalone system but yet it was sort of. It looked kind of odd wiring was even weirder. Was something else in addition to this in the vicinity. Lifter the ceiling tile and lo and behold up on a beam deep cycle battery! Very large 1in apparently this was providing power to more than one lamp head and that particular exit sign! Also I knew that this originally was a 6 volt system however there were 12 volt bulbs where there should have been 6 volt! The lamp heads basically used automotive type lamps not the typical ones you'd see as well so don't know what happened there but then again to be fair it had old fire alarm system in that building also use 12 volts those ones that had the basically Automotive turn signal flashers in them they had there were similar situation for backing the system also there's a bunch of out of place light fixtures out of place and didn't seem like they belong where they were or just odd looking where they were in otherwise. Also never could get them to work and everyone said that they didn't know what they were controlled by or even if they're still working turns out that was also a separate emergency lighting system back in the day same idea yep big old deep cycle batteries! Using standard base incandescent 12 volt bulbs. And there were a few other odd things that worked in this similar manner as well there were what look like old downlights that just had an automotive bulb in them above the exits as well even outside there was the occasional push button on a wall that seemed just out of place and Out Of Reach not labeled or anyting but these were test buttons for the various low-voltage systems there was a ton of batteries in various utility rooms half of that don't even know what it did

[@JBF-GST-Tanda]

@@aaronbrandenburg2441 "Usually it was burnt up relay contacts or welded contacts!" Maybe the current adjustment resistor for NAC was set to a wrong value... probably some school staff with no basic knowledge about how fire alarms work just wanted to make the horns louder and louder and louder

[@OldSchoolFireAlarms.]

EXCELLENT JOB !! Thank you for posting.

[@OldSchoolFireAlarms.]

@@neohistoryfan1014 Yes, I am familiar with all that hardware. I have donated all that type of hardware to fire museums over the past 25 years.

[@francescoparretti7793]

Bravo bravo bravissimo. Great technical knowledge, right tool for the right task, and appropriate use of chemicals. Big like.

[@willbill808]

Amazing to see someone putting love into an old piece of history like this. Did you know that International Business Machines was the very same IBM that later made computers?? Crazy, huh? Also, the model number is 4030, not 1030. Small detail, but very fixable.

[@MegaCAMARLENGO]

Ay oiga, le quedó muy bonita su alarma de incendios, va mi like para usted, trabajo hermoso.

[@DJ.XU.666.RADIOWEB]

[@jamessisk8380]

Beautifully done.

[@ИванБубуек-х9р]

Мужик, она не звучит как должна, и не отмазывайся, что ты убавил звук! за работу респект !

[@kotborka]

Ну,не шмогла)))

[@DanTDMJace]

1. You are from Russia so they may sound different there. 2. They are actually *very loud*. 3. He did just turn the volume down.

[@johnnelson5697]

Beautifully done and beautifully presented.

[@deafmonk24]

NICE JOB!!!!!!!!!!! Even I got nitro 5 laptop too. before the restore, I couldnt hear the alarm so I had to bring my loop induction headphone to my hearing aid to hear it closer. I shouldve turned the volume down on the after restore test.... owie :) keep up the work.

[@garrettcompton6163]

One error to the Identification tag: The model number of that horn is 4030-1, but the overall restoration? Chef's kiss.

[@chrisbeard5794]

Love watching these videos and I have the same iron, fantastic job and sounds great.

[@АндрейНикитенко-ф4с]

All the work was done very well, but the new sign is especially beautiful. :-) I watched a few of your videos and decided to subscribe. And of course I like it for you.

[@randomprojectstube]

Brilliant restoration, and great attention to detail , wel done.

[@theray2009]

I love these old alarms! Thank you!

[@luiseduardobermejomonteneg3794]

Excelente restauración, de verdad me gustó mucho, gracias un abrazo grande desde Bogotá Colombia.

[@chemento0712]

Very well done! I also love filming and editing. Thanks for sharing!

[@АлександрРыженко-и1ж]

вот черт, я так ждал теста в конце видео, надо было громко!!! чтоб пыль в мастерской посыпалась). Тем не менее, спасибо за ваш труд. Отменная работа!

[@nordicson2835]

This is amazing , breathing life back into things from a simpler and better time... awesome and thank you.

[@georgebrown8312]

Beautiful job, and the horn works, too.

[@garyjones2582]

Such a small item, so much work.. Very nice 👌 ...

[@sethhorst6158]

It's impressive how they manage to amplify the sound to be as loud as it is.

[@jimburchfield8732]

Amazing attention to detail. Great work!

[@felipekrt]

Fantastic work! ✌🏻✌🏻

[@perlidberg7351]

An impressive job with the small tag

[@MechanicVoronov1988]

Здравствуйте, очень интересный экземпляр сегодня на реставрации 👍

[@ferfernandez9783]

Perfecto travajo,como salido de fabrica 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@juliussecurite3995]

Holy cow, That’s so freaking loud!!

[@sporkmeplenty]

Great job handling the wiring properly!

[@dt9094]

You are very talented. Thank you

[@nena4215]

Way better than new, perfect job!!!!

[@Thoron_of_Neto]

You got my like based solely on the fact you shot your own rivet. It's not a huge thing, but solid rivets are the bane of most people's existence, so they use blind pulls or cherry max. Of course, I enjoyed the rest of the video as well, but I knew I had to like, and compliment based on that alone.

[@josebermudezleon9642]

Un trabajo impecable. Felicidades.

[@kenadamlenueva9448]

this video deserves million views. 🤓

[@bobdefalco]

Had these in my elementary school in the 70s. You don't forget the sound.

[@keithatkins6316]

So did I it reminds me of the similar sounds strike sounds that is what you hear on the game show Family Feud when you hear the strike buzz instead of the answer ding

[@davidkrasowski6265]

great video...👍👍👍👍👍

[@AMRP]

you very very professional restoration 👌 ❤️from morrocco 🇲🇦🇲🇦🇲🇦🇲🇦🇲🇦🇲🇦

[@kristinkittel2962]

Well 8 minutes in and I'm impressed 😍

[@richintalent]

Yeeesh the way you use that razor blade makes me wince! I have a magnificent inch and a half long scar on the base of my right thumb from trying to hack open a golf ball with one.

[@mjtunstall1976]

well i hate to blow my own horn but you did! that was really loud nice job man!

[@acutemadness]

I’m pretty sure that things like this are still good for scoreboards and industrial use.

[@DanTDMJace]

Yes, I have seen a Simplex 3080 in use as an alarm for when the new bags come at VPS

[@RaulGonzalez-jg8ks]

Por lo ke c ve eres un experto restaurador, y luego teniendo todas las herramientas necesarias.

[@ledart]

サイレンかと思ったらブザーww goodjob!

[@chocolatefrenzieya]

Engineer's task: Design object with as many screws as possible.

[@ryguy2006]

A testament to how strong they were built!

[@Raul_Gajadhar]

99% perfect. When assembling the diaphragm you put a few of the nuts upside down, the flat side of the nuts were facing up. they will not know until the next 60 years, so all good.

[@petremincu6309]

SALUT PRIETENI. SPOR LA TREABA.DRĂGUȚ VLOG.PA.PA. NUMAI BINE PA.PA.PA. FELICITĂRI

[@davidcoats1037]

Excellent! Well done! 😃👌🏼

[@johnconnor555]

Wow ,so amazing work,you did'it well !!! I really like this fire alarm,so clasic....

[@colingraham1065]

Great restoration but as it said time recording division I wondered if it was a factory hooter to signal breaks, lunch and end of work rather than a fire alarm?

[@BillyJoefromMtVernonMo]

I noticed the RMP box in your video, I worked there 40 years before I retired

[@tombarlow6176]

That's a perfect restoration

[@Jack-sf5yp]

Please forgive my late comment and perhaps my aged and antiquated perspective. These days, I seldom get to enjoy an afternoon off viewing our shared craftsmanship. On first view, I was very excited by and impressed with the art and talent of the work and tradesman. And ... I find no fault in that regard ... well done. But on rewatching to learn technique, it appeared to me that I was expecting pure recovery and restoration of the original ... not a remanufacture of the horn. Too much a fine point? Perhaps. But I'm an old fart craftsman who has lost his way. In my day ... we were expected to retain the vintage and provenance, and yet magically produce the unaltered original in new life; in those days of scarcity, repair and restoration retained the patina, the original parts, and then as best we could, restored the full function. In this case, at a minimum, the purer restoration would have at least saved and glorified the original name plate and outer patina of the failed paint. Sure seems the more modern the process and techniques, the less of the lessons and ancestry we love and honor. Just my thoughts ... no criticism ... just something I hour your younger artists will consider and embrace. God Bless.

[@ronaldlapointe1219]

This is a great restoration! 👌

[@leahcimressik5994]

You've earned a thumb for the nameplate alone! 👍 unfortunately there is only one. keep it up and stay healthy 🍀😷🤕💪🏼💐

[@metalbob3335]

I've had to do some delicate sanding on some old embossed lettering too. Hard foam sanding blocks help to take down paint nice and even.

[@andrzejporeda7281]

Przepiękne jest ten cały klakson trombka zabytkowa odrestaurowana pozdrawiam twórcę tego filmiku serdecznie 👍👍👍👍

[@Bradwick1]

Restored and ready to alert on escapees from the covid camp! Very nice restoration. 19:17 Appears there is an adjustment nut for this bolt to adjust the travel on the volume level? Just a guess.

[@HkOutdoorRelax]

Nice work bro 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@RaccoonAlarmsVosgra]

Also known as the simplex 4030 nice piece of history!!

[@GummyBearWA]

Bend your single edge razor blades a little at the safe seam. It makes scraping paint or old seals off really easy.

[@김영-u3j]

Perfect restoration!

[@tonoalvarado1436]

¡INCREÍBLES!

[@hawkdsl]

I wonder when the last time IBM made an alarm. EDIT: IBM sold their Fire Alarm systems in 1958 to Simplex Time Recorder Co. That type of alarm horn was then made into the 1960's. Simplex still makes fire alarms and systems to this day.

[@ponkkaa]

I like the method of copy and paste for making the gaskets. Doesn't seem to work on my computer though......

[@Natbelka100]

Вот бы в мой город такого мастера. Уж Вы бы точно починили мой любимый пылесос "Шмель". Ручной, проводной, мощный. Стал сильно искрить и реветь, поэтому больше не включаю - боюсь. Но и не выбрасываю. А современный товар мне не нравится. Честь и хвала вашим ручкам и трудолюбию.

[@christopherprince3250]

Great job, love the new info. tag.

[@ranid0072]

Yay ! We found some* BOOP * alarm !

[@gforcekaras]

Nice. Would love to see you tackle something like a Coleman nickel plated lantern from the '50s.

[@DanTDMJace]

He more does things from the early electric era. Oil lamps I don’t think he will try

[@DaniloEP76]

Espetacular! Amazing

[@mmuussee100]

well done ,i enjoyed that

[@kiiiisu]

very nice job!

[@hermenegildorodriguez6876]

GRACIAS MAESTRO POR TUS ENSEÑANZAS

[@CG-1000-T]

that is an IBM 4030 fire alarm horn. an IBM or Simplex 4030 horns are unobtainable because they are so flippin rare and are worth a lot of money when in good working condition.

[@paulsheffield4729]

I love it when vintage things are restored

[@Joannesyoga]

a work of art

[@briangoldberg4439]

I've generally found that electrical tape isn't a good solution to keeping things tight. The glue and the tape have a tendency to continue to squish and drift apart when under constant pressure and it can become loose. There are a lot of ways to deal with that, I would probably use a rubber grommet or, if you don't have one, you can use heat shrink tape by putting increasing sizes on top of one another. Good job though, it looks great.

[@lisaguthridge174]

I may be wrong here but I think the idea is to restore it just the way it was made originally. IBM used electrical tape so he did too. I was amazed at all the hard work and detail he put into just the label. ❣️

[@alexhusko]

It is a beautiful restoration. Only thing is It actually sounds like the hammer is binded and not properly vibrating even after rebuild. Should should more rattling and louder.

[@Gawrik94]

Тот момент когда пол часа пройдут офигенно

[@joshuabaughn3734]

So before they made computers, they made sirens?

[@Vacuum_And_Siren_Expert]

Yes they did! Sirens have been around for a very long time, being used as fire sirens since around 1910, being used for air raids since 1939, and for tornadoes since(I think) 1970