Rocky Hill, CT Diaphones

[atiblaster]

The Chief recently brought to my attention that their set of 2 diaphones have stopped working. They have been restored once before, but the valve broke. They are still tested daily, but the tests are inconsistent, so they do not successfully sound every day. Is this really a valve problem, or may this be something else? I was also considering asking about repairing them. What would be involved in repairing those?

[Jim]

Type B Gamewell Diaphones will sound reliably for years if, as the manuals suggest, they are tested regularly, with daily being best. They are tough.
The Smith Valves were much more complicated than the horns. Their eventual failure is probably the most common reason individual Diaphone systems went out of service. They are hard to repair.
Your Diaphones could be tested with a simple manual (ball) valve.
If they go back to satisfactory TOOTing, then an electric solenoid system can be used to replace the Smith Valve for ongoing, automatic use.

[Gamewellforever]

I heard Asco values can replace smith valves and have the horn operate normally.

[hagfirefighter]

Friends, it has been a long time since I’ve posted here. And I can’t remember how to start a new thread. The only thing I could figure out is how to reply to this thread and I apologize if I upset anyone. Was hoping to ask a question about several air raid sirens I have acquired from the city of Hagerstown Maryland