History of Burglar Alarms
Have you ever wondered about the history of burglar alarms?
Burglar alarms have been used, in some form or another, since time began. The closest thing that resembled what we know today as a home burglar system resulted from endless attempts at creating a solitary unit. English inventor Tildesley is credited with the first creation of an intrusion, door alarm by using a set of chimes mechanically linked to the door lock. When the intruder used a skeleton key or other device to try to open the door, the chimes would sound, alerting homeowners of the intruder. Tildesley claimed, “It would doubtless prompt him to take precipitate flight.”
In 1850, Boston inventor, Augustus Russell Pope, discovers how to use electricity, magnets, and a bell to create an early version of the modern burglar alarm. “It operated off of the use of a battery and was an individual unit for each window or door. The bell, which rang from an electric current streaming through a magnet causing it to vibrate, was mounted on top of the door frame into the wall. Wires ran from a spring “key” in the door/window through a circuit breaker near the bell, allowing the current to run constantly once the door/window tripped the spring.”
A gentleman by the name of Mr. Edwin Holmes managed to obtain the patent on this invention, and brought the entire business to New York. He hoped to find a bigger market for the home alarm system in that location, but people were cynical at this time for using any of their electricity for burglar alarm systems.
People began to have a change of heart about the usage of electricity once street lights began to use it for their power in or around 1880. This made a big difference on everyone’s perspective, especially when the Holmes Burglar business was bought by the telephone company in 1905. Their plan at this time was to link to an emergency call system to notify both police and fire fighters.
Following World War II, the number of inventions and revamps to the home burglar system brought the entire industry to a new level. The expense involved, as well as the versatility became more acceptable to the masses by the 1980’s, with home burglar systems becoming more commonly found in homes all over since approximately the mid-1990’s.
In this decade, wireless systems are the most popular. As of this time, with the highest levels of technology available, many more homeowners are opting for the protection provided with the use of surveillance equipment and motion detectors, added to the upgraded style of the original contacts used one doors and windows.
There are also a number of home security companies who offer monthly programs with the installation of burglar alarm systems, who take take of notifying the proper authorities in times of emergency. These systems are now available with other home security features such as fire department contact, as well as emergency medical services should they be needed.