The Soundmaster 125 is a rare rotational electromechanical siren that was produced by Soundmaster Signals, Inc. during the 1960s and early 1970s. It was designed as a rotational alternative to the Soundmaster 115, but was never very popular.
The Soundmaster 125 is a Soundmaster 115 that has had a large projector placed around it, with two large horns. Each horn corresponds to one of the two rotors. Unlike most rotational sirens, the projector rotates around the siren while the siren itself remains stationary. It uses a worm gear type of mechanism to rotate the projector around the siren, but this proved to be incredibly faulty. When functional, the rotator would rotate at 3RPM.
There was 2 options (A coded one, or none coded one).
The siren was intended to compete with ACA's SuperBanshee, alongside the Soundmaster 115. Their designs are incredibly similar to the SuperBanshee, and ACA considered suing them because of it. However, nothing ever came of this.
A gray Soundmaster 125. Note that this unit is not coded.
The siren only comes in 8/12 port dual tone, using a dual rotor setup similar to the SuperBanshee. Most Soundmaster 125s are coded as well, though none have been seen utilizing their dampers, most of the dampers would get stuck, and it is likely that all of them have seized by now. They were rated for 125db at 100ft.
Production of the Soundmaster sirens, including the 125, ended in the early 1970s when the company's founder, Jim Morgan, died. Between his death and the discontinuation of the motors that Soundmaster relied on, the company went under, spelling the end of Soundmaster. Today, a few Soundmaster 125s still stand, most inactive. The few units that are still active all have broken rotators, due to their poor design. Some municipalities have resorted to turning it into a bi-directional siren, facing the two horns in different directions to make the siren at least somewhat effective.
The Soundmaster 125 rotator broke commonly. Wilburton, OK Soundmaster 125 still rotates after being
dormant for long.
A green Soundmaster 125, with its horns configured to face two different directions due to rotator failure. It is also missing a shroud.