Guardsman and Vanguard Alarms: A Technology's Last Gasp

Video Description

For more than a century, mechanical heat-activated alarms dominated the fire safety market, only being fully replaced by modern electronic smoke detectors starting in the 1980s. In this episode, we look at two different models - the Guardsman and the Vanguard - the latter of which conceals a fascinating history of false advertising and the rise and fall of a major - but forgotten - American corporation. 0:00 Intro 0:41 Guardsman Alarm 3:44 Vanguard Alarm: Intro 4:00 Interstate Engineering 6:30 Figgie International 8:34 Vanguard Models + Prices 9:45 Vanguard V5-40FT Disassembly 11:51 Downfall of Figgie International 14:26 Outro SOURCES https://patents.google.com/patent/US1987590A/en?inventor=Grison+Joseph https://www.cleveland.com/obituaries/2009/07/ harry_e_figgie_deat_at_85_buil.html https://www.cpsc.gov/Newsroom/News-Releases/1993/Owners-Of-The-Vanguard-Thermosonic-Heat-Detectors-Are-Encouraged-To-Purchase-Smoke-Detectors https://www.ftc.gov/sites/default/files/documents/commission_decision_volumes/volume-107/ftc_volume_decision_107_january_-_june_1986pages_313-409.pdf https://patents.google.com/patent/US3192890A/en https://patents.google.com/patent/US3460124A/en?inventor=Randolph+J+Smith&page=1 https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/1995/06/figgie-international-inc https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/1997/02/figgie-international-pay-150000-civil-penalty-settle-federal-charges https://www.chicagotribune.com/1997/08/03/fiasco-at-figgie-international/ https://www.zippia.com/figgie-international-careers-23303/history/ https://www.encyclopedia.com/books/politics-and-business-magazines/figgie-international-inc