tˈɪpɪkli ɪnstˈɔːld ˌɔn stɹˈiːt kˈɔːɹnɚz ɔːɹ ɔnðɪ aʊtsˈaɪd ʌv kəmˈɜːʃəl bˈɪldɪŋz ɪn ˈɜːbən ˈɛɹiəz, ðeɪ wɜː ðə mˈeɪn mˈiːnz ʌv sˈʌmənɪŋ fˈaɪɚfaɪɾɚz bᵻfˌoːɹ ðə dʒˈɛnɚɹəl ɐvˌeɪləbˈɪlᵻɾi ʌv tˈɛlᵻfˌoʊnz.
Typically installed on street corners or on the outside of commercial buildings in urban areas, they were the main means of summoning firefighters before the general availability of telephones.