My top 7 sirens

I am going to tell you in reverse order, the reason is because every siren has it’s own sound.  But number 1 is so harsh, loud and vibrating sound that’s what should stay with you.

7. Century 20v40

This is a large horned directional siren.  Directional means you can hear the sound all the way around it, and this is the loudest directional sound available.

6. Delta 6 Electronic Siren

These are sirens that are in Switzerland, they are for emergencies.  They still test them for air raids and bomb alerts, and might use them for an avalanche if they are by mountains.

5. Federal Signal 612 Electronic Siren

It is used to say that a tornado is coming.  Most of these have voice before the siren starts – which can be digital or a recorded spoken voice.

4. Toshiba Compressor Siren

This is from Japan, used in many rural areas for tsunamis, calling volunteer fire fighters and any general emergency.

Compressor siren means it doesn’t just work by electricity.  It has a rotor that pushes air out through the ports.  Air is forced into this rotor or ‘air chopper’ as they call them in America, then the compressor moving the air is what makes the sound.

3. American Signal T135

This is the worlds loudest rotating siren.  It has a pole with a base, on the base there is a motor which makes the siren rotate.  The siren is a large horn a bit like a barrel but more open at the front.  Again, used for any disaster.

As it turns round, when it’s pointing at you it gets louder because the sound is beaming at you.

2. Federal Thunderbolt

Another rotating siren, but the horn of the siren looks like a big air horn.  Instead of the horn being round, it’s elliptical.

1. Chrysler Victory Siren

Yet another rotating siren.  The world’s biggest, loudest engine driven siren; it’s driven by a big Chrysler V8 petrol engine.  And it has got both a compressor and a disc.  So the compressor takes air to the disc which takes it to the horns at massive velocity.  You can’t get these in the UK, you couldn’t even during the Second World War.  Trust the Americans, they know how to make an absolute monster.

This has a rotor and 6 horns.  The sound is so powerful it would turn fog to rain because of the pressure.  The power judders your whole body!