Air raid sirens came into wide use during World War II when we were threatened by enemy attack.  Both military installations and civilian communities needed a means to give rapid outdoor warning of menacing aircraft. 

Only a few years later began the Cold War and missiles became our greatest threat. 

With the development of the Inter-Continental Ballistic Missile (ICBM), the threat moved into the heartland.  Accordingly, more of the nation's population needed air raid warning sirens.  All large American cities had air raid sirens during the Cold War years.  Federal law required these cities to conduct routine air raid drills. 

From 1952 to 1957 many communities purchased Chrysler Air Raid Sirens.  Those sirens remained in service for the next 10 to 20 years.

Chrysler Sirens were installed in Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, Seattle, Detroit, Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, Kansas City (MO) and Miami among others.

The VictorySiren™ was originally installed atop the three-story Carrick High School in Pittsburgh, PA in the early 1950's by the Pittsburgh Civil Defense.  The Pittsburgh Civil Defense had another Chrysler Siren atop Prospect Middle School.  That siren is now owned by Mr. Harry Barry of Pennsylvania. 

In 1953 Pittsburgh had spent $100,000 for ten sirens to warn their 700,000 citizens.  However, a year later Pittsburgh had neither a civil defense budget or a Civil Defense Director.  Despite their lack of direction or preparedness, Pittsburgh tested it's air raid sirens every Monday morning.