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“Magpie Services”, Camden: one for sorrow
“Magpie Services” burglar alarm, Camden • Two security tropes for the price of one: a thieving magpie, and a garland of locksmithery (a subject I shall cover soon). I can’t let my final magpie pass...
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“Mayfair Selby” label, York: faded chains
“Mayfair Selby” label on “York Alarm Centre” burglar alarm, York • Now we move from locks to chains, of which this is a particularly heraldic example. It once said Mayfair Selby, though the red text...
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“Mayfair Selby”, York: football fixture
“Mayfair Selby” burglar alarm, York • Here’s an updated, unfaded version of yesterday’s identity, with a double helping of chain-draped heraldry, and traces of a less curvaceous bell box behind it....
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“Securaplace Alarms”, Lambeth: graphics 101
“Securaplace Alarms” burglar alarm, Lambeth • This badly-drawn house appears to have a giant rapper’s neck-chain dropped over it. Meanwhile the lettering breaks rule 101 of typography: don’t use script...
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“Alert Alarms”, Canvey Island: leviathan lock
“Alert Alarms” burglar alarm, Canvey Island • Burglars must be behemoths on Canvey Island: it’s a bit hard to see, but there’s a giant lock and chain around the tiny house on the top right hand corner....
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“Garfield”, Camden: not funny
“Garfield” burglar alarm, Camden • This company has put a chain around the entire northern hemisphere, from Greenland to equatorial Africa. Blimey! The trouble is most people associate Garfield with a...
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“PM Security Systems”, Brighton: time and tied
“PM Security Systems” burglar alarm, Brighton • A mere chunk of chain on an identity that also references time, another popular alarm trope. It’s a rough-looking bit of chain, more suited to leg irons...
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“Securebase”, Islington: abstract chain
“Securebase” burglar alarm, Islington • I reckon this is an abstract reference to chain links. It’s quite clever if so, reading as both a small white S in the middle, a bigger blue S around it (making...
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“Sovereign Security”, Frome: security cliches
“Sovereign Security” burglar alarm, Frome • Another abstract piece of chain, unless I am very much mistaken, which is also possibly intended to read as an eye. How Sovereign Security converts to the...
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“Wakefield”, Worthing: Sleepfield, more like
“Wakefield” burglar alarm, Worthing • Sleepfield, more like: this was found in West Worthing, which is even more snorey than its dozy neighbour “main” Worthing, mobility scooter capital of the world....
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Essex Security Services”, Tower Hamlets: last link
“Essex Security Services” burglar alarm, Tower Hamlets • This is my last locksmithery post for now, and I can’t pretend it’s been an rivetting theme. Some of the imagery has been quite nice, but I’ve...
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“Sovereign Security”, Bristol: not remotely regal
“Sovereign Security” burglar alarm, Bristol • I’ve already posted a Sovereign Security sounder under the theme of locksmithery, as the logo looks like a chain. Here’s an older and much nicer one, even...
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“Sovereign Fire & Security”, Bristol: apposite address
“Sovereign Fire & Security” burglar alarm, Bristol • A much more recent bell box from yesterday’s Sovereign Security, found in the appropriate surrounds of Queen Square. It’s similar to the...
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“Lasting Security”, Beckenham: chain-draped
“Lasting Security” burglar alarm, Beckenham • Yay, chains – so I reckon this is the door to a dungeon. That’ll teach Johnny Burglar. • Spotted: High Street, Beckenham, Kent, BR3, England, 2010 •...
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“Knightsbridge”, Merton: horsey bling
“Knightsbridge Security Systems Ltd” burglar alarm, Merton • Giant chains, jewelled keys and a white horse (at least that’s what I think it is) on top: that’s one blingy portcullis Knightsbridge have...
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“TES Security”, Bolton: named twice
“TES Security” burglar alarm, Bolton • This is quite strange, when you deconstruct it: a portcullis with a jaunty 1960s-style monogram in the middle, with a completely different logo suspended from it...
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Securaplace, Southwark: lockdown
“Securaplace” burglar alarm, Southwark • Fabulous old sounder with a lock and a house. • Spotted: Borough High Street, Southwark, London, SE1, England, 2011 • Politics: In the Liberal Democrat...
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CMR Electrical, Bristol: tiny
“CMR Electrical Telephone Bristol” burglar alarm, Bristol • A tiny, tiny old logo with a giant telephone number. It’s too small to make out here, but the logo is a wee house surrounded by a giant...
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Seceurop Group, Southwark: pan-European
“Seceurop Group” burglar alarm, Southwark • Nice monogram logo, which suggests a chain. The name suggests some major pan-European security corporation, but this is the only one of these I’ve ever...
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Modern Alarms, Camden: algae
“Modern Alarms” burglar alarm, Camden • As you can see, I’m posting a run of these clear-capped Eurobells at the moment. Not only does this have the logo both above and below the lid, there’s a...
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Modern Security Systems, Glasgow, 2012
“Modern Security Systems” burglar alarm, Glasgow • I always like a Modern alarm – and I’ve never published one in this shape before. • Spotted: Brook Street, Glasgow, G40, Scotland, 2012 • Politics: In...
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Modern Security System, Coventry, 2013
“Modern Security Systems” burglar alarm, Coventry • Bottle of grog on drunken-looking bell box. • Spotted: towpath, near Coventry Canal Basin, Coventry, Warwickshire, CV1, England, 2013 • Politics: In...
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Modern Alarms, Camden, 2004
“Modern Alarms” burglar alarm, Camden • I’m not sure if this is faded from yellow, or whether Modern actually did have some beige bell boxes. • Spotted: Covent Garden area, Camden, London, WC2,...
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Modern Security Systems, North Shields, 2013
“Modern Security Systems” burglar alarm, North Shields • Well and truly caged, above an equally un-modern shopfront. • Spotted: Union Quay, North Shields, South Tyneside, NE30, England, 2013 •...
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Modern Alarms, Southwark, 2010
“Modern Alarms” burglar alarm, Southwark • Tilted in sympathy with its arch, and lassooed too. • Spotted: Arches, Ewer Street, Southwark, London, SE1, England, 2010 • Politics: In the Liberal Democrat...
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Modern Alarms, Hackney, 2006
“Modern Alarms” burglar alarm, Hackney • Always got room for another Modern alarm, this time by dint of having a sort-of-circle on it (it’s hanging downwards, too). • Spotted: Old Street, Hackney,...
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PACC Security, Lambeth, 2012
“PACC Security” burglar alarm, Lambeth • Ir was a bit dark when I photographed this, but it’s basically a logo made out of two chain links. Looks like an expensive bell box, but I haven’t seen many of...
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Modern Alarms, Southwark, 2010
“Modern Alarms” burglar alarm, Southwark • It may seem like I’ve featured about a squillion Modern bellboxes over the years, and indeed I have. But never a bright yellow rectangular one before; the...
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Securaplace Alarms, Southwark, 2011
“Securaplace Alarms” burglar alarm, Southwark • A chained house, a bit the worse for wear. I’ve featured older but better condition Securaplace boxes here (white plastic) and here (a vintage turquoise...
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Mayfair Selby, York, 2011
“Mayfair Selby” burglar alarm, York • Starting today I’m revisiting a few shield alarms. This is an oft-seen firm in York, where I am today – it’s similar to this from a while back. • Spotted: Minster...
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“Modern Alarms”, East Grinstead: faded optimism
“Modern Alarms” burglar alarm, East Grinstead • This week I’m looking at what I think of as Modernist burglar alarms: those with an unusual rigour of form and branding. They are few in number, and seem...
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