Oldies but Goodies: Security Devices from the 60s, 70s and 80s
John Potthast was the first, and for some time the only, employee of SCI Alarm, South Bend, Ind. He recently retired as the company’s vice president of operations, but not before leaving a big history lesson behind for the company’s next generation of security experts. This photo gallery shows 37 devices commonly used in the 1960s, 70s and 80s that now comprise SCI Alarm’s new “museum” collection, curated by Potthast. The devices were collected by the company throughout its 32 years in operation as its customers upgraded old systems.
Novar #980
Novar #980 Self-contained ultrasonic unit with siren and flashing lights upon alarm condition Circa 1970.
Robotguard #RK-30
Robotguard #RK-30 Main CPU with mechanical telephone dialer Circa 1960
A.W. Fruh #101
A.W. Fruh #101 Single zone CPU. Circa 1960
Novar #980
Silent Watchman #CCA-50 Keyed guard tour control Circa 1970
Moose MPI-25
Moose MPI-25 Main CPU with instant and delay zones Circa 1980
Ademco #AD
Ademco #AD UL listed single zone CPU Circa 1960
Ademco #342R
Ademco #342R Single zone CPU Circa 1970
Ademco #AML
Ademco #AML UL listed single zone CPU Circa 1970
FACP
FACP Single zone
FACP
FACP Three zones Circa 1970
Ademco #612
Ademco #612 Tape dialer Circa 1960
NONE
Ademco #618 Tape dialer programmer Circa 1960
Napco #500R
Napco #500R Tape dialer Circa 1970
Napco #PG-1
Napco #PG-1 Tape dialer programmer Circa 1970
Ademco #690
Ademco #690 Prom chip programmer Circa 1980
Acron DD-1PC
Acron DD-1PC Prom chip programmer Circa 1980
Napco #PRO-410M
Napco #PRO-410M Prom chip programmer Circa 1980
Radionics #5000
Radionics #5000 ‘Plug in’ CPU programmer Circa 1980
Radionics #DCT-7B
Radionics #DCT-7B Telephone number dial out verifier Circa 1980
Ademco #660
Ademco #660 Central station receiver Circa 1970
Aritech #101
Aritech #101 Ultrasonic motion detector Circa 1970
Radionics #4012/8012
Radionics #4012/8012 Eight zone programmable CPU Circa 1980
Sescoa #A-1200
Sescoa #A-1200 Main CPU with instant and delay zones Circa 1980
ITI #SX-V
ITI #SX-V Wireless multizone CPU Circa 1990
Fortress #N/A
Fortress #N/A Self-contained single door CPU Circa 1980
Colorado Electro Optics #80AP40
Colorado Electro Optics #80AP40 ‘Portable’ wireless passive infrared motion detector Circa 1980
C & K #8225
C & K #8225 Dual Tech motion detector (affectionately known as the “toilet roll”) Circa 1980
McCulloh Loop Transmitter
McCulloh Loop Transmitter
Alarm Electronics #WW-101
Alarm Electronics #WW-101 ‘Wrist watch’ wireless panic transmitter Circa 1990
Aritech # DR-485
Aritech # DR-485 Passive infrared motion detector Circa 1980
Colorado Electro Optics #PIR-79
Colorado Electro Optics #PIR-79 Passive infrared motion detector for harsh environments Circa 1970
Racal #IR738
Racal #IR738 Passive infrared motion detector for wide angle view Circa 1970
Ademco #652
Ademco #652 Passive infrared motion detector for harsh environments Circa 1980
Molex
Crimping tool called a ‘Molex’ used by ADT to make wire harness plugs Circa 1970
Faraday #241
Faraday #241 Manual fire alarm pull station Circa 1980
Couch
Couch # (?) Manual fire alarm pull station Circa 1970
ADT Salesman's Display Kit
ADT Salesman’s Display Kit Manual fire alarm pull station with coded transmission wheel Circa 1950
John Potthast & Karen Kemp
John Potthast and Karen Kemp of SCI Alarm show off the new device display at the company’s headquarters in South Bend, Ind.