Wednesday, April 21, 2010

A bit of the past...

...on W. Chase Avenue in Rogers Park intrigued me, so I did a little research.

The Gamewell Company continues to exist as Gamewell-FCI, and is owned by the Honeywell Corporation.

From Gamewell-FCI's website:

Our History

From building and installing the first municipal electric fire alarm system using telegraph wires in 1852 to developing self-programming, networked, and sophisticated voice evacuation systems, Gamewell-FCI’s history in rich in industry firsts and technological advances.

1800s

1852
In Boston, MA, Dr. William Channing and Moses Farmer develop the first, practical fire alarm system using the telegraph system to pinpoint the location of and communicate a fire alarm.

1854
Dr. Channing and Mr. Farmer apply for a patent for the “Electromagnetic Fire Alarm Telegraph for Cities”.

1855
John Nelson Gamewell, a South Carolina postmaster and telegraph company agent, attends Dr. Channing’s lecture on the Fire Alarm Telegraph at the Smithsonian Institution.

1855
John Gamewell purchases the regional rights for marketing the Fire Alarm Telegraph in the south and southwest United States.

1859
John Gamewell purchases total rights to the Channing and Farmer system.

1865
After the Civil War, the U.S. Government seizes the Fire Alarm Telegraph patents and auctions them off.

1867
John F. Kennard of Boston purchases the Fire Alarm Telegraph patents and returns them to John N. Gamewell, forming a partnership. Kennard and Company is established in Newton Upper Falls, Massachusetts to manufacture the fire alarm system.

1879
Gamewell Fire Alarm Telegraph Company formed with John N. Gamewell, proprietor with the fist holding lightning bolts as registered as trademark.

1886
Gamewell systems installed in 250 cities across America, and in to Canada.

1890
Gamewell systems installed in 500 cities. New factory opened in Newton Upper Falls, Massachusetts.

If you're a history buff, continue reading here.

Mo' new money comin' up!

Government goes high-tech to redesign $100 bills

Click to enlarge


WASHINGTON (AP) — The folks who print America’s money have designed a high-tech makeover of the $100 bill. It’s part of an effort to stay ahead of counterfeiters as technology becomes more sophisticated and more dollars flow overseas, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke says.

The makeover, unveiled Wednesday by Bernanke and Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner, may leave people wondering if there’s magic involved.

Benjamin Franklin is still on the C-note. But he has been joined by a disappearing Liberty Bell in an inkwell and a bright blue security ribbon composed of thousands of tiny lenses that magnify objects in mysterious ways. Move the bill, and the objects move in a different direction.

The new currency will not go into circulation until Feb. 10 of next year.

That will give the government time to educate the public in the United States and around the world about the changes.

Read more here.

This is the Vice President...

...of these United States, surrounded by females.

Did the Viagra kick in, or what?

And wouldn't it be fun if his face 'froze' just like that?