I've noticed that a lot of you have made negative comments regarding sireno lights. Why is that? I don't know anything about them other than how they look in photos, but I'm wondering why you guys don't seem to like them.
I don't remember anyone here poking at Sireno products, but I don't claim to have read every post!
Sireno was around for a long time and made a good product, generally mirroring that of Federal, Dietz, and Whelen. All four companies advertised nationally and offered similar products such as rotating, oscillating (except Dietz), and "hill" style (except Whelen) beacons as well as speaker/lights.
Federal dominated the US warning device market after WWII and through the 1970s. Federal's purchase of Emergency One (now E-One) in 1979 caused many apparatus manufacturers to start using other brands in order to keep from "feeding" a competitor. That one event allowed Whelen, Code 3, and Southern Vehicle Products to significantly expand their business, especially in the electronic siren market. Although still healthy, Federal never recovered their position of dominance (now held by Whelen, both lights and electronic sirens).
The popularity of warning devices was largely based on three factors:
Geographic: They were usually popular in the regions in which they were manufactured such as Whelen in New England, Dietz in NY, Mars in the Chicago area, and so forth. While CAM and B&M were basically west coast sirens, B&M
Siro-Drifts were seen nationwide from the '30s through the '60s. The Tulsa F.D., for instance, had them installed on at least 30 new vehicles between 1948 and 1959. Some were moved from rig to rig as they were replaced and served well into the '90s.
Manufacturer's standard: As an example, the standard warning device on an American LaFrance from 1938-58 (500 through 800 Series products) was a Sterling #20
Sirenlight, which amounted to thousands of these sirens being sold. ALF went to Sireno as the standard siren on the 900 and 1000 Series, and to Whelen for the
Century products. The standard beacon on a Mack fire truck and Holmes wrecker in the '60s and '70s was a Dietz 211. Look back through your S&S photos and literature from the '60s; almost every hightop had a 211 on it.
Local or regional dealer: Sometimes emergency vehicle dealers sell a certain brand of warning devices and consequently specify as many customer vehicles as possible with that product. For instance, Sireno's popularity in NJ can be attributed to Ernie Day, whose New Jersey Fire Equipment (Pirsch and Oren dealer) started using them in the early 1950s. Many auto and truck supply houses sold Dietz and K-D beacons because they also carried their lines of signal, marker, DOT, and safety lighting. Emergency vehicle operators would often buy locally (or specify a product sold locally) to get good parts and service access.
Federal products continue to be popular with emergency vehicle collectors because (a) their toy likely originally had Federal products, and (b) Federal parts are generally available; some new, mostly used. Parts for Sireno products - especially domes and
Gyro-Ray components - are hard to come by.
While there is much more to tell about warning device history, I hope this helps with your Sireno query. Sireno was later purchased by ITT and then Jabsco before disappearing in the 1980s.