Sterling Model M

**Company** | Sterling Machine Company (1911-1913)

Inter-state Machine Products Company (1913-1925)

Sterling Siren Fire Alarm Company (1925-1973)

 **Type of siren** | Omnidirectional Electromechanical

The **Model M** is a horizontally oriented, electric siren manufactured by The Sterling Siren Fire Alarm Company, of Rochester, New York. These sirens were primarily marketed for fire alarm and general alarm use, intended to serve as a more distinct and efficient alternative to fire bells and steam whistles. The Model M is believed to have started its production in 1912, and was quickly and widely successful, so much so that it is believed almost every volunteer fire department in the New England area had one at some point.

Model M's were offered in a single and double head configurations, Single and dual tone configurations were also offered, with the Sterling Model M being among the first double toned sirens manufactured.

## History and Design

The Model M was designed in the early 1900s by Merton C. Armstrong, superintendent and lead designer of the Sterling Siren Fire Alarm Company, with the goal of creating a new and distinct fire alarm signal to replace antiquated methods such as the use of Air/Steam Whistles and Bells. The Model M does this by employing the same principles used on Sterling Siren's smaller vehicular models, but at a substantially larger scale.

The design of the Model M centers around a modular unit construction, consisting of an electric motor on a cast iron base, and two "Heads", consisting of a 14-inch aluminum impeller that rests in front of a cast iron backplate and within a cast iron fan housing. A sheet metal hood shields the motor from the elements, while a semi-circular hood known as a "sounder" serves to both keep the head assembly safe from the weather and guide sound that would go sideward back down to the ground. Most models feature spun aluminum projectors on each end of the siren, intended to tighten intake airflow and better project intake sound, which makes up about half of the Model M's overall sound output.

The cast parts of the Model M were designed very carefully, such that many of them fit tightly within eachother, making the siren nigh-immune to damage through misalignment. This resulted in the Model M being among the most robust and reliable siren designs to ever be produced, easily beating its primary competitors in this field.

Sterling Model M sirens have four distinct variations that were produced over the span of their production:

## Pre-1928

Pre-1928 models encompass all variants of the Model M produced before 1928, which use a distinct, perfectly cylindrical head design, giving the siren an overall narrower profile. While all of them share distinct characteristics, there are various known inconsistencies and differences between pre-1928 models. Pre-1928 models, like all variants of the Model M, were offered in single and double head configurations. Single heads are commonly 1.5HP and 3HP, while double heads are usually 3HP or 5HP. While most commonly being 16 port, 8 port and 8/16 port pre-1928 units are known to exist, though pre-1928s with an 8 port heads are extremely rare.

## Gallery

A 1948 dated, Post-1928 siren core.This pattern of nameplate is what is most commonly seen on post-1928 and later Ms. This one is from a 1945 unit.Uncommon pattern of badge, most commonly seen on Vertical Sterling Sirens.Pre-1928 Backplate Serial stamp.Post-1928 Backplate Serial stamp.Advertisement illustration for pre-1928, double head Model M sirensRare, elongated variant of the Pre-1928 M.