Uploaded March 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago

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For more than a century, mechanical heat-activated alarms dominated the fire safety market, only being fully replaced by modern electronic smoke detectors starting in the 1980s. In this episode, we look at two different models - the Guardsman and the Vanguard - the latter of which conceals a fascinating history of false advertising and the rise and fall of a major - but forgotten - American corporation.


0:00 Intro
0:41 Guardsman Alarm
3:44 Vanguard Alarm: Intro
4:00 Interstate Engineering
6:30 Figgie International
8:34 Vanguard Models + Prices
9:45 Vanguard V5-40FT Disassembly
11:51 Downfall of Figgie International
14:26 Outro


SOURCES

patents.google.com/patent/US1987590A/en?inventor=Grison+Joseph
cleveland.com/obituaries/2009/07

harry_e_figgie_deat_at_85_buil.html

cpsc.gov/Newsroom/News-Releases/1993/Owners-Of-The-Vanguard-Thermosonic-Heat-Detectors-Are-Encouraged-To-Purchase-Smoke-Detectors

ftc.gov/sites/default/files/documents/commission_decision_volumes/volume-107/ftc_volume_decision_107_january_-_june_1986pages_313-409.pdf

patents.google.com/patent/US3192890A/en

patents.google.com/patent/US3460124A/en?inventor=Randolph+J+Smith&page=1

ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/1995/06/figgie-international-inc

ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/1997/02/figgie-international-pay-150000-civil-penalty-settle-federal-charges

chicagotribune.com/1997/08/03/fiasco-at-figgie-international

zippia.com/figgie-international-careers-23303/history

encyclopedia.com/books/politics-and-business-magazines/figgie-international-inc