WW2 Civil Defence Hand-Operated Air Raid Sirens
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Little evidence exists of the use of hand-operated air raid sirens (also called hand-wound, cranked, portable and manually-operated sirens) outside of businesses during the second world war. The majority of people lived in urban areas which had electrically-powered sirens - in catalogues these are often called "electro-motor syrens" (syren was an alternate spelling of siren during the period). Many large businesses and factories also had electrically powered warning systems of connected sirens.
According to records (e.g. EPRG Pub. No. 1/94) hand-operated sirens were issued to some rural areas during the war. However, the Ministry of Home Security stated the use of air raid sirens in rural areas was not required as these areas were not a target and there were no air raid shelters for people to go to. British manually operated sirens had a crank that revolved in a clockwise direction. A twist grip on the top was used to steady the siren and also to operate the opening and closing of a vent that changed the siren's tone. A rising and falling tone to alert people to 'Take Cover' for an impending raid and a continuous siren tone for the 'All Clear' signal. There were a number of manufacturers of hand-operated sirens with Carter of Nelson in Lancashire being the most frequently seen. Leach of Leicester also produced sirens which are often painted red. A branch of Leach in London may also have produced sirens. Smaller hand-held sirens from a company called Klaxon are known but their usage appears to be for commercial purposes such as in smaller-sized factories. |
Hand-operated syren (siren) from Roberts, McLean & Co Ltd (1938 catalogue)
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It has been suggested that hand-operated sirens were issued to Observer Corps posts (later the Royal Observer Corps (ROC) from 1941) but this is incorrect. The ROC did get sirens as a post-war measure.
Electro-Motor Air Raid Siren (or Syren)
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Local authorities installed electric-motor syrens (sirens) that would alert the populace to an incoming raid. Most were installed in the late 1930s as the country prepared for war. Various sizes of siren were available from various manufacturers with the largest used for urban areas as they could cover the greatest area.
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1939 advert for electro-motor siren (syren) and time switch |
Carter Hand-Operated Air Raid Sirens
Carter air raid siren maker's plate.
Hand-operated sirens by Carter of Nelson in Lancashire are frequently encountered. It appears they made sirens from the late 1930s. Carter sirens appear on two distinct types of stand; a tubular frame tripod and a later angle iron stand (see examples below). The angle iron stand is thought to be post-war manufacture.
Carter sirens have been found with two types of name plate: one, showing CARTER & CO (NELSON) LTD.; and a second bearing a HOME OFFICE PROPERTY plate with a number stamped.
A few examples have had a War Department acceptance stamp added. One example shows the broad arrow symbol (upward pointing arrow), with a year date letter of 'T' and Inspector Number '212'. T was unfortunately used for two years, in 1937 and 1956. Given that the siren in question with this mark was on an angle-iron tripod, it is most likely a post-war example (see below).
A large number of Carter sirens are claimed to be Second World War vintage but may actually be from the Cold War. Examples from the war appear to have a three-legged tubular stand (see below). It would appear that Carter sirens carrying the "Home Office Property" or "Scottish Home Office Property" plates may have been issued post 1945, but documentary evidence for this has yet to come to light.
It's currently unknown if pre- and wartime Carter sirens were refurbished with a new stand attached and reissued in the post-war period.
Carter sirens have been found with two types of name plate: one, showing CARTER & CO (NELSON) LTD.; and a second bearing a HOME OFFICE PROPERTY plate with a number stamped.
A few examples have had a War Department acceptance stamp added. One example shows the broad arrow symbol (upward pointing arrow), with a year date letter of 'T' and Inspector Number '212'. T was unfortunately used for two years, in 1937 and 1956. Given that the siren in question with this mark was on an angle-iron tripod, it is most likely a post-war example (see below).
A large number of Carter sirens are claimed to be Second World War vintage but may actually be from the Cold War. Examples from the war appear to have a three-legged tubular stand (see below). It would appear that Carter sirens carrying the "Home Office Property" or "Scottish Home Office Property" plates may have been issued post 1945, but documentary evidence for this has yet to come to light.
It's currently unknown if pre- and wartime Carter sirens were refurbished with a new stand attached and reissued in the post-war period.
Carter siren with War Department stamp - year letter T
Wartime Carter air raid siren with tubular tripod legs |
Post-war Carter siren with angle iron stand
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Post-war Carter Siren Instructions
Carter sirens manufactured in the Cold War have the iron-angle stand as evidenced by this original operating card (note the GREY WARNING for nuclear fallout).
Post-war Carter siren instructions
Gents Hand-Operated Air Raid Sirens
Gents of Leicester were and remain a business making electrical equipment. They made a series of hand-operated sirens called "Tangent". They were painted grey and those in red may have been for use by fire services. These Tangent sirens had a four-legged base.
"Tangent" air raid sirens made by Gents of Leicester
Hand-operated sirens in use
There are hardly any period photographs of hand-operated sirens being used or stored during the second world war. As previously stated, the Ministry of Home Security stated the use in rural areas was to be discouraged as they were not a primary target of the Luftwaffe and people had no air raid shelters to visit.
A number of manufacturer's catalogues of ARP equipment list the electro-motor versions and hand-operated versions. The majority of the hand-operated sirens are thought to have been bought by businesses that did not have an electrically powered siren installed.
There is one pre-war photo of an air raid exercise that shows a hand-operated siren being used by someone dressed head-to-foot in anti-gas oilskins; it appears they are using a Carter-style siren with the tubular legs.
If you have any information on the use of hand-operated sirens during the war or any photographs, please drop me a line via the Contact page.
A number of manufacturer's catalogues of ARP equipment list the electro-motor versions and hand-operated versions. The majority of the hand-operated sirens are thought to have been bought by businesses that did not have an electrically powered siren installed.
There is one pre-war photo of an air raid exercise that shows a hand-operated siren being used by someone dressed head-to-foot in anti-gas oilskins; it appears they are using a Carter-style siren with the tubular legs.
If you have any information on the use of hand-operated sirens during the war or any photographs, please drop me a line via the Contact page.
Hand-operated siren being used in a pre-war exercise
Cold War Home Office Type 447 Air Raid Sirens by Secomek
All Secomek type 447 air raid sirens date from the Cold War, most manufactured in the 1950s and 1960s. The Secomek sirens can be unscrewed and stored in the stand and can sometimes be found still packed in a wooden crate.
Secomek Type 447 air raid siren and crate
