early optonic bite alarms

[Mikey11]

Good evening everyone.

I'm after some advise and general knowledge on the early optonic alarms. Firstly, What des the D stand for on all the early models?

Secondly what were the main differences between all the models that look almost identical, such as:

Les bamford conversions
Super compact
Sunridge mangnetonic hi and lo
Delkim conversions
efgeeco
Optonic super XL's


Mainly looking for a bit of history as they all look so similar!

Kind regards,

Mike

[Tengisgol]

I have a pair of very early original Bamford conversions sourced for me when I was about 15 by a neighbour, a chap called Derek Stritton. And I still use them!

I can probably put up photos if you wanted but they have a volume button and a big speaker on them.

[Tony.J.Newman]

I think the D symbol was for Dellareed, they made some good banksticks and buzzer bars at that time too.
I also think that Efgeeco took over the distribution rights from them as they had the marketing power.

[Tony.J.Newman]

By the way, have you read Derek's book, Too Many Rods? Got a photo of him fishing Eagle Pond which brought many memories for me.

[Tengisgol]

By the way, have you read Derek's book, Too Many Rods? Got a photo of him fishing Eagle Pond which brought many memories for me.

Yes, and I bumped into him at Collier Row a few weeks ago and couldn't believe he recognised me from all those years ago! Fascinating book and many memories for me too, places like South Weald etc.

[Aitch]

These are mine... I got them second hand circa 1988
They are Efgeeco Dellareeds Hi Lo Compacts
Still working after all these years

[Aitch]

The Eagle, Fairlop Waters, Hainault and the Hollows were my stamping ground when I lived in Loughton... then latterly South Weald, which is a stones throw (a big throw mind you) from my house... I think Fairlop is a bird sanctuary nowadays... and fishing has been stopped on the Eagle... not sure about the Hollows not been there for 30 years... (Phil I bought one of my Mordex Merlins from Derek Stritton just over a year ago... lovely bloke)

[Olly]

To answer your question - it was mostly the internals that were different and the external switches - volume etc.

Dellareed made & sold by Effgeco. Compacts Hi/Lo external battery - Compacts with internal battery - XL with variable volume/tone - etc.

TheN with the demise of Effgeco, taken over by Sundridge, who sold Optonic Magnatonics - serviced by Dellareed in Ramsgate.

Delkim altered innards - huge upgrade of circuitry!

Les Bamford also amended internals.

I have XLs - Les Bamfords - & original Delkims - plus Delkim converted Herons.

I have found plenty of pictures of some internals on that "selling site" plus some of the variations.
I am only au fait with the ones I currently own!

[Tony.J.Newman]

I remember seeing the originals being demonstrated at a show hosted by Simpsons of Turnford.
Think the guy who invented them was Frank Samms?
The wires were permanently fixed into the heads and had quite chunky plugs at the end that plugged into quite a fragile sounder box.

[Barbulus]

Slightly off at a "wee" tangent but I believe there is also a Company in Kent (?) that will take your basic ( ! ) Heron indicator and put all kinds of "wizzy stuff" inside them so you get arguably the best of both Worlds; emphasis there on "best of both Worlds" ............ Sweetcorn Kid I know has some converted but i think there are others on TFF who have them. Retro with a twist !