Chrysler air raid siren
Encyclopedia
The Chrysler Air Raid Siren, Or commonly known as the Chrysler Bell Victory Siren was an air raid siren produced during the Cold War
era that had an output of 138 dB
at 100 feet (30.5 m).
Cold War era
from 1952-1957 by Chrysler
, its power plant contained a newly-designed FirePower Hemi
V8 engine
with a displacement
of 331 cubic inches (5.43 l) and producing 180 hp.
Its six horns were each 3 foot (0.9144 m) long. The siren could be heard from a distance of 4 to 5 mi (6.4 to 8 km) away and had an output of 138 dB
C and 30,000 watts
. They were 12 feet (3.7 m) long, built atop a quarter section of a Dodge truck chassis rail, and weighed an estimated 3 short tons (2.7 t).
In 1952, the cost of a Chrysler Air Raid siren was $5,500.00. (Approximately $43,966.48 in 2009 dollars. ) The United States government helped buy sirens for selected state and county law enforcement agencies
around the country. In Los Angeles County, six were placed around key locations of populated areas, and another ten were sold to other government agencies in the State of California
. These "Big Red Whistles" (as they were nicknamed) were only ever used for test purposes. Some were located so remotely that they deteriorated due to lack of maintenance.
The main purpose of the siren was to warn the public in the event of a nuclear attack by the Soviets, during the Cold War. The operator's job was to start the engine and bring it up to operating speed, then to pull and release the transmission handle to start the wailing signal generation. The Chrysler air raid siren produced the loudest sound ever achieved by an air raid siren.
ed, and in some cases the salvage value is less than the cost to remove them. A majority of these sirens have been moved to museums. Some of them have been restored to fully functioning condition. However, there is an operable one in Seattle, Washington, although it is rarely used.
Cold War
The Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...
era that had an output of 138 dB
Decibel
The decibel is a logarithmic unit that indicates the ratio of a physical quantity relative to a specified or implied reference level. A ratio in decibels is ten times the logarithm to base 10 of the ratio of two power quantities...
at 100 feet (30.5 m).
History
Built during the post-World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
Cold War era
Cold War
The Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...
from 1952-1957 by Chrysler
Chrysler
Chrysler Group LLC is a multinational automaker headquartered in Auburn Hills, Michigan, USA. Chrysler was first organized as the Chrysler Corporation in 1925....
, its power plant contained a newly-designed FirePower Hemi
Hemi engine
A Hemi engine is an internal combustion engine in which the roof of each cylinder's combustion chambers is of hemispherical form.- History :...
V8 engine
V8 engine
A V8 engine is a V engine with eight cylinders mounted on the crankcase in two banks of four cylinders, in most cases set at a right angle to each other but sometimes at a narrower angle, with all eight pistons driving a common crankshaft....
with a displacement
Engine displacement
Engine displacement is the volume swept by all the pistons inside the cylinders of an internal combustion engine in a single movement from top dead centre to bottom dead centre . It is commonly specified in cubic centimeters , litres , or cubic inches...
of 331 cubic inches (5.43 l) and producing 180 hp.
Its six horns were each 3 foot (0.9144 m) long. The siren could be heard from a distance of 4 to 5 mi (6.4 to 8 km) away and had an output of 138 dB
Decibel
The decibel is a logarithmic unit that indicates the ratio of a physical quantity relative to a specified or implied reference level. A ratio in decibels is ten times the logarithm to base 10 of the ratio of two power quantities...
C and 30,000 watts
Watt
The watt is a derived unit of power in the International System of Units , named after the Scottish engineer James Watt . The unit, defined as one joule per second, measures the rate of energy conversion.-Definition:...
. They were 12 feet (3.7 m) long, built atop a quarter section of a Dodge truck chassis rail, and weighed an estimated 3 short tons (2.7 t).
In 1952, the cost of a Chrysler Air Raid siren was $5,500.00. (Approximately $43,966.48 in 2009 dollars. ) The United States government helped buy sirens for selected state and county law enforcement agencies
Law enforcement agency
In North American English, a law enforcement agency is a government agency responsible for the enforcement of the laws.Outside North America, such organizations are called police services. In North America, some of these services are called police while others have other names In North American...
around the country. In Los Angeles County, six were placed around key locations of populated areas, and another ten were sold to other government agencies in the State of California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. These "Big Red Whistles" (as they were nicknamed) were only ever used for test purposes. Some were located so remotely that they deteriorated due to lack of maintenance.
The main purpose of the siren was to warn the public in the event of a nuclear attack by the Soviets, during the Cold War. The operator's job was to start the engine and bring it up to operating speed, then to pull and release the transmission handle to start the wailing signal generation. The Chrysler air raid siren produced the loudest sound ever achieved by an air raid siren.
Today
Some sirens are still located above buildings and watchtowers. However, many of these are rustRust
Rust is a general term for a series of iron oxides. In colloquial usage, the term is applied to red oxides, formed by the reaction of iron and oxygen in the presence of water or air moisture...
ed, and in some cases the salvage value is less than the cost to remove them. A majority of these sirens have been moved to museums. Some of them have been restored to fully functioning condition. However, there is an operable one in Seattle, Washington, although it is rarely used.