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First Alarm company history timeline

1966

An early advancement was made in 1966, when nurse Marie Van Brittan Brown invented the first home video security system.

1967

Originally designed for commercial use, the BRK smoke detector was redesigned for residential use in 1967.

1970

In 1970 Pittway Corporation purchased BRK Electronics from the original owners.

1976

In 1976 BRK introduced the First Alert brand battery-operated residential smoke alarms and entered the home safety market.

1990

First Alert, together with BRK brand alarms, sold primarily to electrical contractors, combined to make BRK Electronics the leading manufacturer of residential alarms; in 1990 First Alert sold its 100 millionth smoke detector.

1993

Carbon Monoxide Detectors, 1993

1994

First Alert declared a 2-for-1 split of common stock in November 1994.

1995

In June 1995, James Amtmann, a 25-year veteran of Stanley Works Inc. in New Britain, Connecticut, joined the company as president and chief operating officer, a position that had remained open for the previous two years.

Although First Alert manufactured more than half of the 5.2 million total carbon monoxide units shipped in 1995 in the industry, sales became sluggish even for the market leader, due in part to the seasonal nature of CO detector sales.

1998

In April 1998 the company was acquired by Sunbeam Corporation, who purchased First Alert's stock for $5.25 per share.

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Founded
1966
Company founded
Headquarters
Aptos, CA
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First Alarm competitors

Company nameFounded dateRevenueEmployee sizeJob openings
Guardian Protection1950$54.0M750-
Security Professionals1978$1.0M10-
Security-$26.7M100182
Titan Security Group1977$20.0M35051
Allied Universal1957$18.0B700,000-
Triton Security1996$13.5M100-
American Security1959$52.0M1,05537
Whelan Security1949$212.8M5,000-
G4s Secure Solutions International Inc.1979$12.0B38,425-
NW Alarm Monitoring-$1.6M1513

First Alarm history FAQs

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First Alarm may also be known as or be related to First Alarm, First Alarm Security & Patrol Inc and First Alarm Security & Patrol Inc.