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Alerting Communicators of America, commonly referred to as ACA for short, was a siren manufacturer preceded by Biersach & Niedermeyer Co., and succeeded by American Signal Corporation, which still manufactures sirens today.
{{Infobox manufacturer
==Background==
|image=
|established=1967
|defunct=1994
|preceded=[[Biersach & Niedermeyer Co.]]
|succeeded=[[American Signal Corporation]]
|sucdate=1994
}}


===Early Models===
'''Alerting Communicators of America''', commonly referred to as '''ACA''' for short, was a siren manufacturer in existence from 1967 to 1994, when the company was reorganized as [[American Signal Corporation]].
==History==
===1960s-1970s: Reorganization===
In 1967, Biersach & Niedermeyer Co., faced with dwindling sales of their flagship [[Mobil Directo]] due to withering competition from a wide variety of [[Federal Signal Corporation|Federal Electric]] models saturating the market, split off their siren business into a new division in a bid to regain a share of sales. This lead to the creation of Alerting Communicators of America, and over the next few years the new company introduced a variety of new models to challenge Federal's dominance, including the [[Allertor 125]], [[Hurricane]] and [[Banshee]].


Following 1967, Biersach & Niedermeyer Co. changed over to full time siren manufacturing, and became Alerting Communicators of America, selling the following sirens, with their given port ratio: Allertor 125 (9/12, 8/12, 10/12, 8), Banshee (8, 9/12), Screamer (8, 9, 9/12), Cyclone 125 (8/12), Sentry 95 (5/5), and Hurricane 130 (8/10). Some of these, namely the Sentry 95, the 10/12, 8/12, and 8 port Allertor, and Hurricanes in general are very rare to find, as they were produced in little numbers, or purchased in small numbers. Also, some sirens, such as the 10/10 and 10/12 port Hurricane and the 12 port Allertor are rumored to have existed, but have yet to be found.
===1980s: The new generation===
In the late 1970s and the early 1980s, the Allertor and Hurricane sirens were discontinued, succeeded by a new lineup, known as the [[Penetrator series]]. This series consisted of three models, each denoting the horsepower of their motor: [[P-10]], [[P-15]], and [[P-50]]. The P-10 and P-15 were sold in single tone 8 or dual tone 9/12 port configurations, but the P-10 was much more commonly dual tone, due to the load of the 8 port rotor tending to place undue stress on the motor, leading to burnout. The P-50, on the other hand, shared a rotor and stator assembly with the new large omnidirectional [[Cyclone]], and was only available in an 8/12 port configuration. Also made during this time were ACA's first electronic sirens, the [[Alertronic Series]].


===Later Models ===
===Decline & bankruptcy===
By the late 1980s, ACA's golden age was at an end. With dwindling interest in electromechanical sirens, and skepticism over the then-new idea of electronic sirens, sales slowed. Over a five year period from 1989 to 1994, the Banshee, Screamer, Alertronic series, and Cyclone were all discontinued, while only three new models entered production: the PN-20, considered to be part of the Penetrator series, and battery backup versions of the P-15 and Banshee, known as ''Performance Plus''. These were the last hurrah for ACA. Their parent company, Biersach & Niedermeyer Co., went bankrupt in November 1992, and was forced to sell ACA to [[Hörmann GmbH]], who soon reorganized the company into [[American Signal Corporation]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.thesirenboard.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=19595&p=170495 |title=Re: Why did ACA change to ASC? |date=March 9, 2016 |work=SuperBanshee |publisher=The Siren Board |accessdate=July 24, 2016}}</ref>


In the late 1970s and the early 1980s, the Allertor and Hurricane sirens mentioned above were stopped from production. However, a new lineup, known as the Pebetrator series, was put on the market. This series consisted of three sirens, all denoting their horsepower in their name: P-10, P-15, and P-50. The P-10 and P-15 had the port configuration of 8 or 9/12, but the P-10 mostly came in 9/12, due the the load of the 8 port rotor burning up the motor. The P-50, on the other hand, shared a rotor and stator assembly with the Cyclone, and was only available in 8/12 port. Also made during this time was ACA's first Electronic sirens. The Alertronic 4000 was an omnidirectional siren, the 5000 was a short lived rotational siren, and the 6000 was the replacement of the 5000, coming in either 4 or 8 driver options.
==Notable models==
* [[Allertor 125]]
* [[Alertronic Series]] (4000, 5000, 6000, RE-1600)
* [[Banshee]] (110, Perf+)
* [[Cyclone]] (120, 125)
* [[Hurricane]] (Mk. I, Mk. II)
* [[Penetrator series]] (P-10, P-15, P-50, PN-20, Perf+)
* [[Screamer]]
==References==
<references>


===Final Years===
[[Category:Siren Manufacturers]]
 
The 1990s saw the end of many of the remaining sirens from ACA. From 1990-1994, the Banshee, Screamer, Alertronics, and Cyclone were all taken out of production. However, ACA made the PN20, considered to be part of the Penetrator series. It came in a 9 port configuration, and were made in 1992. Also around this time was a battery backup version of the P-15: the Preformance + Penetrator siren. These also came in 9 port and were sold only to Dane County, Wisconsin. Unfortunately, ACA went bankrupt around this time, and were bought by Hörrman, a German siren manufacturer. From there, ACA was once again bought by Dale Moeller, who created American Signal Corporation, still manufacturing sirens to this day.

Latest revision as of 20:31, 1 December 2023

Alerting Communicators of America
Established 1967
Defunct 1994
Preceded by Biersach & Niedermeyer Co.
Succeeded by American Signal Corporation (1994)


Alerting Communicators of America, commonly referred to as ACA for short, was a siren manufacturer in existence from 1967 to 1994, when the company was reorganized as American Signal Corporation.

History

1960s-1970s: Reorganization

In 1967, Biersach & Niedermeyer Co., faced with dwindling sales of their flagship Mobil Directo due to withering competition from a wide variety of Federal Electric models saturating the market, split off their siren business into a new division in a bid to regain a share of sales. This lead to the creation of Alerting Communicators of America, and over the next few years the new company introduced a variety of new models to challenge Federal's dominance, including the Allertor 125, Hurricane and Banshee.

1980s: The new generation

In the late 1970s and the early 1980s, the Allertor and Hurricane sirens were discontinued, succeeded by a new lineup, known as the Penetrator series. This series consisted of three models, each denoting the horsepower of their motor: P-10, P-15, and P-50. The P-10 and P-15 were sold in single tone 8 or dual tone 9/12 port configurations, but the P-10 was much more commonly dual tone, due to the load of the 8 port rotor tending to place undue stress on the motor, leading to burnout. The P-50, on the other hand, shared a rotor and stator assembly with the new large omnidirectional Cyclone, and was only available in an 8/12 port configuration. Also made during this time were ACA's first electronic sirens, the Alertronic Series.

Decline & bankruptcy

By the late 1980s, ACA's golden age was at an end. With dwindling interest in electromechanical sirens, and skepticism over the then-new idea of electronic sirens, sales slowed. Over a five year period from 1989 to 1994, the Banshee, Screamer, Alertronic series, and Cyclone were all discontinued, while only three new models entered production: the PN-20, considered to be part of the Penetrator series, and battery backup versions of the P-15 and Banshee, known as Performance Plus. These were the last hurrah for ACA. Their parent company, Biersach & Niedermeyer Co., went bankrupt in November 1992, and was forced to sell ACA to Hörmann GmbH, who soon reorganized the company into American Signal Corporation.[1]

Notable models

References

<references>

  1. ↑ "Re: Why did ACA change to ASC?". SuperBanshee. The Siren Board. March 9, 2016. Retrieved July 24, 2016.
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