Black-and-white photo of a two-story brick building with a "Federal Electric Company" sign on the roof, vintage cars parked along the street, and leafless trees in front.

Our History

How we got to where we are today.

For more than a century, Federal Signal has been in the business of keeping people safe.
Today, our commitment stays on course, engineering and manufacturing products to keep first responders, workers, and communities safe.
1901
Founding in Chicago
Black and white photo of a building with a sign reading "Federal Electric Company" above the entrance, featuring large windows and detailed architectural features.

Founded in 1901 as Federal Electric Company in Chicago, Illinois, by brothers John and James Gilchrist and partner John Goehst.

Illuminating City Streets
Workers in a factory assemble and paint large commercial signs, including ones reading "GAS" and "The Brooklyn Union," on metal frames.

The company focused on electric store signs to help illuminate streets for its communities.

1909
Expanding Home Appliances
Black and white photo of an old industrial dough mixer with large gears, labeled “Federal,” and a tilted metal lid, on four small wheels.

Federal Electric adds a line of vacuum cleaners, washing machines, irons, and other household devices, expanding innovative devices for residential use.

Legacy Logo Endures
Legacy Logo Endures

The Federal Electric logo was the first logo graphic and continues to be in production on the Q-Sirens that appear on modern-day fire trucks for over 75 years.

1915
Federal Electric Siren
Black and white advertisement for the Federal Electric Siren, showing the siren installed on a building and a close-up of the device, with descriptive promotional text.

Acquired patents for an electrically operated siren, marking its first step into emergency warning equipment and public safety signaling.

1920
Chicago Growth Symbol
Black-and-white photo of a two-story brick building with a "Federal Electric Company" sign on the roof, vintage cars parked along the street, and leafless trees in front.

The Federal Electric Company building becomes a visible symbol of the company’s growing presence across Chicago and the broader Midwest.

1930
Formation of Federal Enterprise
Two women work on assembling or inspecting large round metal parts on a factory production line, surrounded by equipment and various tools.

Sign and siren operations were separated from Samuel Insull’s Commonwealth Edison group to form Federal Enterprise, continuing electric and neon sign production while expanding into signaling devices.

1940
World War Supply
A vintage-style illustration shows an airplane above, red clouds, and the words "Air Raid Sirens" with a loud siren depicted below.

Federal Electric supplies World War II air-raid sirens to U.S. civil-defense and military forces, reinforcing its emerging leadership in public safety warning systems.

1950
Tornado Warning Expansion
Workers assembling large industrial machines in a factory setting, with tools and equipment visible throughout the workshop.

Communities began installing Federal sirens for severe weather alerts, transforming them into essential natural disaster warning systems.
Shown: Thunderbolt, electro-mechanical sirens in production from 1952 to 1990.

Expanding into Warning and Signaling Solutions
Logo for Federal Sign & Signal Corporation featuring a red stylized "FS" monogram on the left and the company name in cream capital letters on a dark background.

Officially renamed Federal Sign & Signal Corporation to reflect an expanded portfolio of police and fire products, community warning systems, and industrial signals.

1955
Beacon Ray Innovation
Black-and-white image of a vintage Missouri State Highway Patrol car parked on grass, equipped with roof sirens and a loudspeaker.

Federal Signal’s first police car light was the Beacon Ray. This iconic, rotating “gumball” warning beacon became the standard for emergency vehicles, paving the way for the invention of the world’s first completely enclosed light bar.

Critical Communication Solutions
Black and white advertisement for Vibratone Bells showing various bell models, emphasizing their new, modular, heavy-duty design and revolutionary features in the bell market.

Our visual and audible signaling solutions for factories, offshore platforms, and school campuses provide clear communication to workers and communities when it matters most.

1958
Blue Island Relocation
Black-and-white photo of a mid-century modern office building with a curved entrance, parked cars in front, and leafless trees on the right.

Moved the main plant from 87th & State Streets on Chicago’s South Side to Blue Island, Illinois, establishing a major manufacturing hub through the 1960s and 1970s.

1970
Corporate Name Adoption
Federal Signal logo with a red geometric "FS" symbol on the left and "FEDERAL SIGNAL" in bold white capital letters on a dark blue background.

Adopts the name Federal Signal Corporation, signaling a shift toward advanced signaling, safety, and security technologies and solutions.

1982
University Park Expansion
A large industrial building with a circular driveway, surrounded by trees and an empty parking lot under a blue sky with a few clouds.

Moves manufacturing and operation to University Park, Illinois, where it resides today, strengthening the production base for essential safety and security systems.

2026
Who We Are Today
Person with long blonde hair in a ponytail, wearing a bandana and a "Protect Honor Serve" T-shirt, works at an industrial machine with blue and silver components.

A leading innovator and manufacturer of visual and audible warning systems, delivering integrated technology-driven solutions to enhance operational efficiency and support safer communities.

TODAY

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Our Legacy Continues

More than a century of experience has built the foundation for Federal Signal today. Watch how our history of innovation, quality, and commitment to safety continues to guide the solutions we develop for the future.

Explore Our Solutions