Fed Labs "Federal Gas Bandit Protection" Sign - Really Cool�

[dalbert]

I just acquired an item that I'm pretty excited about adding to my collection. It's a vintage brass sign, as can be seen below. I love the "Bandit" reference...it hearkens to the fun Auto-Ordnance slogans of the 1920's.

 

I'm sure this sign was part of a larger scale installation of tear gas protection by Federal Laboratories, maybe in a bank, but I certainly don't have any specifics. Does anyone have any literature, or other information covering larger scale tear gas systems installed by Fed Labs?

 

Your thoughts are welcomed on this subject.

 

http://www.sturmgewehr.com/dalbert/MGBoards/Fed_Labs_Sign_Web.JPG

 

Thanks!

 

David Albert

dalbert@sturmgewehr.com

[CPD1975]

Great sign. Nice addition to your collecction.

[Chief762]

Nice sign, David. In a similar vein, I have seen 1 or 2 old safes, maybe from the 30's of 40's that had vials of a liquid (purportedly a noxious gas) that would shatter if the door or wheel pack was attacked. On the front of the safe was the warning "Danger-Poison Gas". I guess it wouldn't pay to lose that combination. Any locksmiths out there seen anything similar?

[dalbert]

Nice sign, David. In a similar vein, I have seen 1 or 2 old safes, maybe from the 30's of 40's that had vials of a liquid (purportedly a noxious gas) that would shatter if the door or wheel pack was attacked. On the front of the safe was the warning "Danger-Poison Gas". I guess it wouldn't pay to lose that combination. Any locksmiths out there seen anything similar?

 

Chief762,

 

Yes, I used to have 2 vault doors from the 1930's that had tear gas vials in them. They were in a removable box that slid in behind the combination dial and door opening lever. I ended up giving the doors away after holding onto them for 18 years, and I assume they are in use now, as that was the intent.

 

Very interestingly, this post has resulted in a lead from someone who read it...Their company just purchased a building where a utility company used to handle a lot of cash in the 1930's and 40's. They had a Fed Labs Tear Gas system installed. It's still in place, but was deactivated in 1945. So, I just received some images of the system, and will probably end up writing an article about it.

 

Thanks!

 

David Albert

dalbert@sturmgewehr.com

[nevadablue]

David,

Here's the link to the thread at Weaponsguild. Hopefully we can get a template for this sign.

 

http://www.weaponsguild.com/forum/index.php?topic=41624.0

Edited June 23, 2013 by nevadablue

[emmagee1917]

link is for thier members only.

Chris

[nevadablue]

Feel free to join us Chris, it is free and we love company. (and Thompsons and gas launchers and... )

Ken

[gunhistorian]

David

While the testimony before the Senate subcommittee on Violence. . .etc, that I referred to in the gangster TSMG thread, this reference source being on hathitrust, has some good info on Federal Labs installations (banks, etc) but not specifically naming them. Also, good info on the danger of the gases use by Federal. Seems they used both tear gas and a vomiting gas! Some banks refused to use the system because of injury or death resulting from the discharge of tear gas in confined spaces. (It CAN be lethal!) Just a bit more trivia for your files! LOL Oh! The material is in Part 15. This will come up as Part 15A, but do an search of this Part and you will find the material. The actual part might be 15D.

[inertord]

I just picked up one of these signs today still sandwiched between 2 pieces of cardboard. It appears that it hasn't seen any use.

[sherman3]

Very cool Frank.