AIR RAID SIREN Walk around tour...(The worlds loudest siren ever made..CHRYSLER-BELL AIR RAID SIREN)
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- Опубликовано: 3 апр 2009
- Located at the Cerro Negro lookout in Glendale/LaCanada Flintridge. The Chrysler Air Raid Siren was the most powerful and loudest air raid siren ever made.Known as "Big Red" and built during the post-World War II Cold War era from 1952-1957 by Chrysler, its power plant contained a newly-designed FirePower Hemi V-8, 331 cubic inch 180 horsepower (130 kW) engine.
Its six horns, produced by Victory Sirens, were three feet long and produced a sound that some say caused a fire in a Detroit testing facility The siren had an output of 138 dB and 30,000 watts. It is 12 feet (3.7 m) long, built atop a quarter section of a Dodge truck chassis rail, and weighs an estimated three tons.
In 1952, the cost of a Chrysler Air Raid siren was $5,500.00. The United States government helped buy sirens for selected state and county law enforcement agencies around the country. In Los Angeles County, six were placed around key locations of populated areas, and another ten were sold to other government agencies in the State of California. Most of these "Big Red Whistles" (as they were nicknamed by civilians) were only used for test purposes. Some were located so remotely that they deteriorated due to lack of maintenance.
Some sirens are still located above buildings and watchtowers. However, many of these are rusted, and in some cases the salvage price is less then the cost to remove them. Some have been restored and placed in museums or on trailers to exhibit to the public
Adding my vote to the hope that you restore this thing. Seattle has two Chryslers left, one restored cosmetically, but the other just rusting away, and there's a possibility that one or two others are still there, too.
My wife remembers that going off around 1963, hopefully that wasn't the last time it went off. Very cool history and video, thanks for posting it!
Yessir! Loudest airraid siren in the world.
its the loudest device that emits sound ever built, with a massive chopper, big engine, 6 horns slots, and a 23-25 mile radius, it kicks the mental ass of other sirens
There were seven in Seattle. Two remain for certain, three are gone for certain, two are unknown.
I grew up listening to one of these, as it was ran at 11 AM on the last friday of the month..the one I heard was at a fire station on rosemead blvd...such a beautiful, haunting sound..what a shame that most are just sitting and rusting away...
Jshaw6000: in LA there were this one plus Lomita Park (restoration attempted, failed), Hansen Dam (removed, now in Texas), Sherriff's Stations in Lakewood, Lennox and West Hollywood (all removed after quake), Fire Station 5 in San Gabriel (removed), Fire Staton 73 in Newhall (Santa Clarita), Dominguez in Carson, and at Firestone Rubber, South Gate. There were more Chrysler sirens like this in Oakland, San Fran, and all over the country in small groups. Oh, and these used to rotate while running.
@BIGMIKESOCAL Any word on it yet? It would be cool to see this thing up and running! Your other video on this particular restored siren was AWESOME! Perhaps, if you get a "yes," you could do a restoration video series!
dam...i wish we could wind this bad boy up and hear what it sounds like... but by the looks of it....id say its got a pretty powerful voice!!
good luck man, great video. hope you can get your hands on it. take care
gajda1984, I was talking about Chevy small block engines. 265, 283, 302,305, 307, 327, 350, 400,
and then there are many combinations, here are a few, a crank from a 400 and some machine work will turn a 350 into 383 stroker, or a 327 bored 30 thousands over is a 331, and there are more combinations. GM also manufactures a 427 small block, that is the motor in the new ZO6 vette.
Chrysler should make these sirens again
Mike- Long time enjoyer of your videos here. Please keep on the city. I really hope to one day hear that siren from San Diego and soon afterwards see a new video pop up on your page!
Keep it up Mike!
i woukd give everything to hear this beast^^
here in sacramento ca, they test em every last friday of the month at 11 am sharp
Never had that experience, but I remember when air raid drills were converted to "disaster drills" in the late 70's, and noon siren tests.
I lived on Ruberta street in Glendale circa 1962, I was 5 years old. I remember hearing an air-raid siren tested every Saturday (I think it was). I wonder if this is the one I heard. I also remember, during the missile crisis, seeing army tanks on railroad flatbeds stretching as far as I could see.
What a shame the spark plug holes are open. Thanks Mike!
Did you ever get to run this siren?
They haven't tested these things since the mid to late 80s. And then that was monthly. When I was a kid they were tested every Friday at 10AM sharp. Especially during the Cuban Missile crisis.
@FEDERALSIGNALTECH ,The Chrysler-Bell air raid siren is the loudest siren ever made.The Federal Signal Corporation Thunderbolt Model 1000,1000T,1003 put out 125 dB at 100 feet. Falsely advertised as a 131dB siren in the 80's. The Chysler-Bell air raid siren has a proven output of 138 dB at 100 feet. which is much much and way louder that any Thunderbolt siren model ever made.
Thunderbolts have one projector the Chrysler has 6 and a very small chopper compaired to the Chrysler siren.
yeah, man! thats a dream of me to hear that monster live!!!!!!
Hey man, I live in Culver City. If you get that thing restored by 7/4, I might come out and go see, either that or I'll stay home and comment on your page if I hear it lol. Ive had a recent interest in horns and sirens lately so it should be interesting. Thanks for posting this vid though. I had no idea that LA holds the worlds largest air raid siren...and we dont even need it!! It needs to be respected and sent to the science ctr or another museum. Keep up the good work though. Im listening
i know the dB raing from 100ft 138dB, but what is the dB rating at 10ft or closer?
I hope you can get it!
@BIGMIKESOCAL I was wondering if by any chance the Big Red was active to this day could we hear it here in Hollywood?
i don't know much about sirens in general but i know my way very well around V8's and if that old hemi that you stated has been sitting for 30 years plus.....it is gonna be one hell of a re-build and will cost around the 6500-7500 bucks range .....good luck
@GeneralBurkhalter1 , The siren sits on the boarder of La Canada and Glendale. I have writen a proposal and submitted it to both cities. In the proposal, I offered my services for free including all parts that may be needed. I've been getting the run around buy both cities. I'm still hoping to get a final answer, and I hope it's a yes!
OMG I WANT 1 SO BAD!!!
can you show us what the chopper looks like if you can go in?
so how many desibles would this be?
Well will you be conducting the reach around tour?
i wonder if the siren will be turned on and is it on the rotating base?
138db on what mic?
What frequency tone does it play?
I have a turn key 383cid small block sitting in my garage right now that I could throw in place of the Hemi V-8, 331 cid that is in there right now just to test if the choppers still operate. Thats after I have checked the air gaps of the choppers manually of course....
What was the dB SPL?
Hi Big Mike, I'm new to sirens but not unknown to them. Any word of restoration?
does it rotate?
looks like something out of Star Wars
have you gotten a chance to?
@ExpertOfSound he did mention 100ft..(30.48m)
@justwired , I've been getting a lot of red tape! The city of Glendale tells me to contact the city of La Canada and vise versa. I'm still trying, but in the mean time I got myself another Chrysler-Bell air raid siren without the motor. I will be restoring that one soon.
this things on wikipedia of like the biggest siren evar!!!!!!!!!
did this siren survive the major fires of 2009?
Nice job. I would really like to hear it, not from where you were standing though... lol
It really depends on where the siren is situated. This was painted green to blend in and not stick out like a sore thumb. If you are on the Glendale freeway 2 near Mountain exit, you could look up towards the mountain and not even see it (unless you know what you are looking for) If it was painted red, it would serve as a distraction to motorists.
Coool
Hey BIGMIKESOCAL, awesome video! Have you thought to contact Los Angeles County about the siren? I believe they were the actual owners of these, just a thought! Hope you can get your hands on this beast!!
i wonder what it was like to be there
see it operational
back then
wow that is really cool. So, How long has it been there?
@bait28 Hell it might still be there, last time I heard the Chrysler dealership did work on it. They might have it in their back lot. I highly doubt it, but for a chrysler...id drive up there myself.
what state is this in?
2 freeway, exit Mountain, head up towards the mountain till you get to the very top, you'll see a fire trail before making a right at the top of the hill, hike up the trail for about an 1/8 of a mile...you can't miss it on you right.
Question, why are some of these chrylser sirens painted red and some green like this on in your video ?
Thanks for the upload Chris
Have you gotten permition from the city yet?
FirePower Hemi V-8, 331 cubic inch 180 horsepower (130 kW) engine.
Nice siren! It's a shame that it was left go.hopefully they will let you get it going,or give it to you
@BIGMIKESOCAL , BTW, the bell/projector is just a measure of distance, the chopper size and speed dictates power/dB. The Chrysler-Bell wins on both. I have a Tunderbolt 1000T that's why I know which one is louder.
i really want to see the chopper of this
Let me know if you get it working, I want to be there.
In regards to your description, "However, many of these are rusted, and in some cases the salvage price is less then the cost to remove them," don't you mean the salvage price is MORE than the cost to remove them? Thereby explaining why so many are taken down as opposed to restored?
383s are big blocks. that would be cool if you could rig it up eventually.
hey mount that jet engine you have in your car on it, make it really scream with even more power, lol
looks like its a project and a half for you mike.
any word on yes or no?
What! No mufflers on the engine!! :)
subscribed..:) hope u're given permission to restore that beast...n when u do..PLEASE TAKE A VID N UPLOAD IT :)
this is a nice siren. i read on here that a thunderbolt is louder... no it's not. the single tone verson carries further then a dual tone and the dual tone carries further then any siren... except for this one. where exactly is this siren? the cerro negro lookout doesn't come back with anything on google maps.
I GOT BORD OF WAITING FOR IT TO TURN ON!
get one and make it dual-toned! lol
THE BELL DESIGN IS BASEICS OF THE THUNDERBOLT.WITCH IS LOUDER AT 139 DBC THAN 138DBC
@BIGMIKESOCAL il be right there!!!!!!
good luck if u ever get to restore it, that thing weighs over 5000 pounds!
Ive tried contacting the city. It doesnt work.
Yes, I know the siren is not operational. I live 10 minutes away from this siren. I know someone in the chamber of commerce for the city of Montrose (the next city to La Canada Flintridge). We are trying to get permission to fully restore the siren. I am a Automotive Master technician for Mercedes-Benz buy trade and have worked on different makes and models of engines. So rebuilding or if I have to replacing the engine would not be a problem.
In America even the air raid siren has a V8 engine in it :)) !
Sadly, I have a chrysler loctation to remove from the list. Rockford IL.
@eap13 its nothing, my headphones are pretty much the exact same! Lmbo
Southern California
A mate of mine in Australia here has a hemi V8 that powered a siren.. ( so he sayed) He says its a 354cui.. I thought he was bullshitting about it .. but i stand corrected...
i hate to be in that watchtower imagine how loud it can be.
@BIGMIKESOCALyou need to automate it so they can use it!
OHHHHHHHH!! Sorry man, I misunderstood. I thought you were referring to chrysler engines. Yeah I didn't know you meant a stroker. That would be pretty neat to rig it up with.
American Blower
Three stage centrifugal type compressor stiff shaft unit
43 inch OD cast iron housing
22-3/4 inch OD cast aluminum heat treated alloy impellers
Rated speed 4,600 RPM
Discharge volume 2,610 CFM
Discharge pressure 6.95 psig
Discharge velocity 35,000 fpm (400 MPH)
171 dBC at Throat
138 dBC at 100 feet
Single Tone, 460 Hz
Just a few of the Official Specifications for the chopper/blower. Enjoy :x
I need to get one of those so I can drown out all the Whelens and Model 2s in my area!
i heard one before i almost went def
I'm not an official fan of big horns but I think you have a neat hobby and appreciate the time and trouble you took to post this video and supporting history.
Cheers
It seems that you are quite affected about the state of the horn ,))
@triggerdance , That's right! Check out the video I have of a fully restored Chrysler-Bell air raid siren running full force on my YT channel
Have you gotten permission to Repair it yet, or?
great stuff, hope it gets restored and fired like it's the end of the world coming.
SHIT. SHIT SHIT SHIT. i was going to grab that one. i'm only 1 hour away. WHAT THE FUCKING SHIT
turn it on XD
Would have been 138 dB @ 100' from the horns.
So, any luck on getting permission? If not, get a petition going. It is ludicrous in this country to be so lax on alert systems. I face a similar situation where I'm from.
Yup, a lot of guys come up here to fly rc planes.
can't. has to be manually started
@BIGMIKESOCAL hell, they'd have to be stupid to refuse, your offering it for free!
wtf we never get to hear it?
seriously. if i can. my cousin has a truck that could remove it to save me the money
HEMI
That belongs in a '57 not a horn