Rare Vintage 1950's Red Cast Iron ADT Fire Burglary Holdup Alarm, 8" Bell

Good condition, tested and works. This was in a load that came from NYC. No provenance. I have never seen one with the word "HOLDUP". This was for a bank or a small town police station that had it hooked up to the bank.


ADT was founded in 1874 by Edward A. Calahan, a telegraph operator in Baltimore, Maryland. After years of working in the telegraph industry, Calahan decided to create a company that would specialize in the installation and maintenance of fire alarm systems. Calahan’s innovative system was a combination of a telegraph and an alarm bell, and was the first of its kind.

The company originally went by the name American District Telegraph Company, as it focused on providing telegraph services to multiple districts in the Baltimore area. However, during the late 1800s, the company began to expand its services to include fire alarm systems, and changed its name to Automatic Fire Alarm Company (AFAC).

In the early 1900s, the company introduced the first automatic fire alarm system. This system was designed to detect and alert the fire department of a fire before it spread, allowing for quick and effective response. This system was a major breakthrough in the fire safety industry, as it allowed for more timely responses to fires.

In the 1940s, the company introduced the first voice-activated fire alarm system. This system was designed to detect smoke and alert those in the home to evacuate. This system was a major advancement in the field of home fire safety, as it allowed for quicker responses to fires, as well as providing a more reliable form of warning.

In the 1950s, ADT expanded its services to include the installation of burglar alarms. This allowed the company to diversify its product offerings and provide customers with a complete home security system.