These old electro-mechanical sirens bring back some old memories. I worked on the ambulance in Los Angeles in the 1970s when the B&M and Federal C5 & 66 were popular and the Federal Director and Interceptor were coming in and taking their places. My opinion was, and still is, the B&M and Federal electro-mechanical sirens were more effective in LA traffic. For a number of years, our ambulances had both installed. I used the electronic in conjunction with the B&M and used the YELP mostly.
sounds similar in pitch to the Sireno Mechanical sirens used by San Francisco Dept . of Public Health ambulances on their 1966 International Metro vans . If you want to hear an example of it , go to Bullitt Part 3 where the spectacular hotel hit scene is . They also have a Travelall type unit with a Federal Model 28 or maybe a CAM .
That rotor bearing is 25 years old and well broken in. I hate to restore a vintage coaster siren with bad rotor bearings because the new bearings are packed with grease and do not coast well. It takes hours of use to break them in. I will pay double for a good well used bearing over a new one. By the way, this C5 is the favorite of my collection, sorry Q lovers, they are just to high pitched.
Hey I'm looking for a siren just like this, any idea where I can get one. I saw above you said check ebay but I wasn't finding anything. How much can you expect to pay for one? Thanks!
I sure wish police cars would go back to using this type of siren...I can barely hear the modern electronic sirens they use now, but I can sure hear this one coming from pretty far away! Alas, this type has just been relegated to old movies and re-runs of the Andy Griffith Show ha ha ha
I totally agree. I have an old Federal model 28 thats puts a Unitrol Touchmaster to shame. Sure wish Federal would come back with the behind the grill mechanical sirens. Much better then a electronic one any day....
I looked at ECTO-1 from Ghostbusters and if you look at the car real close you can see this type of siren on top of the car. Can you imagine if they used this siren instead of a fake one like in the movie?
The siren you hear in the movie was dubbed in over this one. Not sure why they did that, but in the behind the scenes featurette on the dvd there is a deleted scene where you can hear the real Ecto-1 siren before it was dubbed in for the movie.
It sounds similar to a Q but has a different quality. I don't know how else to describe it except it sounds "older" than a Q. To see a C-4 or very similar C-5 in action, watch "Barn Fire Response." The Ford Rescue has one on it.
@Henry455 I am a huge Q fan, however the newer ones sound higher pitched, coast down too fast, and don't have the "growl" of older ones. To my ears, the C5 sounds more like what a Q "should" sound like at its best. I can't find any information online about these sirens though, just some excellent youtube videos like yours. I wish someone would write a book or at least devote a webpage to the evolution of electro-mechanical sirens!
This was the largest siren Federal made before coming out with the Q. Very popular for ambulance use, it did not have an irritating tone, easier on crew and patient.
Thats one bad siren
badrob2011 1 week ago
Have the same thing on the mack in our fire dept.
jaredbrockwayable 1 month ago
there is nothing better than old school
18melkev 1 month ago
how much does the C5 go for?
stevo03lw 4 months ago
would you sell this siren? IF YOU DO, HOW MUCH?
TNX IN ADVANCE
sonlatino1904 10 months ago
These old electro-mechanical sirens bring back some old memories. I worked on the ambulance in Los Angeles in the 1970s when the B&M and Federal C5 & 66 were popular and the Federal Director and Interceptor were coming in and taking their places. My opinion was, and still is, the B&M and Federal electro-mechanical sirens were more effective in LA traffic. For a number of years, our ambulances had both installed. I used the electronic in conjunction with the B&M and used the YELP mostly.
Code3forever 10 months ago
One of the best sirens Federal ever made. Wish they would come back and start producing them again. Better tone and sound than a Q2.
copper2150 1 year ago
sounds similar in pitch to the Sireno Mechanical sirens used by San Francisco Dept . of Public Health ambulances on their 1966 International Metro vans . If you want to hear an example of it , go to Bullitt Part 3 where the spectacular hotel hit scene is . They also have a Travelall type unit with a Federal Model 28 or maybe a CAM .
Medic83301 1 year ago
I have owned a C4b for over 30 years that works great but I would like to dismantle and restore. How can I contact you in regard to proper process???
Thanks Larry
Supermoto55 1 year ago
It's probably STILL coasting, isn't it Henry? What an outstanding piece of history. Sure sounds good.
tornspeedo 2 years ago
That rotor bearing is 25 years old and well broken in. I hate to restore a vintage coaster siren with bad rotor bearings because the new bearings are packed with grease and do not coast well. It takes hours of use to break them in. I will pay double for a good well used bearing over a new one. By the way, this C5 is the favorite of my collection, sorry Q lovers, they are just to high pitched.
Henry455 2 years ago
Hey I'm looking for a siren just like this, any idea where I can get one. I saw above you said check ebay but I wasn't finding anything. How much can you expect to pay for one? Thanks!
blackstang2k6 2 years ago
great siren
ihfan29 2 years ago 6
Nice long wind-down! Good sound! We still have ours off of our 57 Seagrave City Service Ladder.
seagraver 2 years ago 2
This was probably the best siren for ambulance use. Had enough volume to move traffic, but did not have an irritating tone to bother the occupants.
This was the biggest siren Federal made before coming out with the Q.
k0smon 2 years ago 2
WoW Nice Video!
Crazy Sound! Where can i buy this siren for my silly neibourths
Eisenbahnfan 2 years ago 2
You can find them quite often on Ebay, C5's chrome or C4's painted and no rear cover and C6's chrome with solar ray light on front.
Henry455 2 years ago
OMG THAT SOUNDS AMAZING!!!!! i want one so bad!! its like an orgasm for my ears hahaha!!!!!
bossman380 2 years ago 8
Dang I want one!!! I want it for my 1959 Impala.
funkstergrooves 3 years ago
this siren has a nice winddown
Heyde1979 3 years ago
I sure wish police cars would go back to using this type of siren...I can barely hear the modern electronic sirens they use now, but I can sure hear this one coming from pretty far away! Alas, this type has just been relegated to old movies and re-runs of the Andy Griffith Show ha ha ha
dakota975 3 years ago
I totally agree. I have an old Federal model 28 thats puts a Unitrol Touchmaster to shame. Sure wish Federal would come back with the behind the grill mechanical sirens. Much better then a electronic one any day....
copper2150 3 years ago
Good lord thats a pretty siren, sounds amazing.
Firemedic712 3 years ago 2
I looked at ECTO-1 from Ghostbusters and if you look at the car real close you can see this type of siren on top of the car. Can you imagine if they used this siren instead of a fake one like in the movie?
jammer96 3 years ago
uh that is a real siren in the movie an american made siren. yes that one really exists
JRussoBuffaloNY 2 years ago
The siren you hear in the movie was dubbed in over this one. Not sure why they did that, but in the behind the scenes featurette on the dvd there is a deleted scene where you can hear the real Ecto-1 siren before it was dubbed in for the movie.
jammer96 2 years ago
I have seen the sirne here on the tube. I thought it was a genuine siren
JRussoBuffaloNY 2 years ago
what a beauty!
thaboinger 3 years ago 2
Now that's a siren! Awesome!
jammer96 3 years ago 3
It sounds similar to a Q but has a different quality. I don't know how else to describe it except it sounds "older" than a Q. To see a C-4 or very similar C-5 in action, watch "Barn Fire Response." The Ford Rescue has one on it.
RDG484 3 years ago
It sounds different because the C series sirens have 8 sator port openings and the Q has 14 ports. More ports, same RPM, higher frequency.
Henry455 3 years ago
@Henry455 I am a huge Q fan, however the newer ones sound higher pitched, coast down too fast, and don't have the "growl" of older ones. To my ears, the C5 sounds more like what a Q "should" sound like at its best. I can't find any information online about these sirens though, just some excellent youtube videos like yours. I wish someone would write a book or at least devote a webpage to the evolution of electro-mechanical sirens!
obxemt 3 months ago
This was the largest siren Federal made before coming out with the Q. Very popular for ambulance use, it did not have an irritating tone, easier on crew and patient.
k0smon 3 years ago
sounds like a Q siren this sound will get your attention very nice
Heyde1979 3 years ago
Was that siren used in 1959? That looks like Ecto-1's siern.
jammer96 3 years ago
Yes, they were available in the 50's.
Henry455 3 years ago
Plain... Nothing special at all. Sounds like a Q entirely.
CDPDPatrolUnit 3 years ago
outstanding siren!
This is a great example of the long-roll sirens of the period!
It's just a flippin' shame federal signal won't make these anymore...Love the sound!
stupullen 3 years ago
Amazing!!
911caddy 3 years ago 3
Awesome siren!
Siren1000T 3 years ago 2