Saw a weird alarm setup at a small bank in Springfield

I was in Springfield last week for a family thing and walked past this old bank downtown. The building is from like 1920. What caught my eye was the alarm bell box. It was this huge, round, cast iron thing, still mounted up high on the brick. Looked original. But right next to it, someone had drilled in a brand new cellular communicator, maybe a Telguard. The wires were run in a clean conduit, but they just looped around the old bell. It was such a clear picture of the old and new tech slapped together. Made me think about how many of these legacy systems are still out there, just getting patches. I wonder if they even disconnected the old bell or if it would still go off. Has anyone else had to work around a vintage bell like that? What's the best way to handle it?

2 comments

2 Comments

margaret_kelly555d agoTop Commenter

Leave the bell, it's free history.

the_cameron5d ago

My buddy found an old train bell in his grandpa's shed. He cleaned it up and hung it on his porch. Now every time the wind blows, it rings with this deep, rusty sound that feels like a hundred years old. He says it's the best free piece of the past he's ever gotten.