Phew, that is quite a mouthful! Happy Artifact Friday everyone!
Today we are highlighting one of our most popular artifacts! Any guesses?
If you have been around on one of our field trips or visits to the Fayetteville Farmer’s Market, you will notice that we carry this artifact with us! It is our air raid siren.
For hundreds of years, people have used some sort of signal to warn civilians and military alike about impending attacks. When nations began using aircraft to initiate attacks, air raid sirens were born.
They were introduced to the world during the First World War, and they were constantly changed and modified to accommodate the users and the areas in which they were being used.
Air Raid sirens came in all shapes and sizes. The one we have in our collection is small. It is not electric, like the larger sirens used in places such as London.
Typically, they had a cloth strap for transport, a leather cover to protect the mechanics, and a crank that one turned clockwise to sound the alarm.
This hand-cranked siren was created by the Federal Electric Company in Chicago (also known as the Federal Sign and Signal Corporation) This company was founded to create lighted signage for gas stations, department stores, and other businesses in the area.
Like most companies, when World War Two started, the Federal Electric Company switched to wartime production supplying the U.S. military with signal lamps and air raid sirens.
These sirens were used in every theater of the Second World War and even stateside during Civil Defense drills.
Our siren can be seen upon request and may even be
tested so you can hear what it sounded like eighty years ago!
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