Back in the mid 1970s, things weren’t as advanced as they are today, with security devices and Ring Doorbell Cameras.

We had a safety guy that doubled as a few other things. A plan runner, chased parts when he could find his way to the designated base pace and then he sold insurance on the side.

Bob had a little drinking problem at that point in his life. But visiting bars gave him a chance to run onto good deals that would help in his entrepreneurial spirit.

He came in all excited one morning with a great big box of these cheap looking aluminum holders and another one with a bunch of aerosol canisters with a bell shaped plastic bell looking deal on top. They were called Girl Guard.

The bonus is she would have it with her so if someone approached her out in public she could pull that out and scare the attacker away.

Some strong 2 sided tape would stick the aluminum holder to the door and a plate a chain on the door frame. When these college girls or other gals that were living alone could come in a take the canister out of their purse and clamp it into the holder, attach the chain over to it. Then when a mugger or rapist tried to open the door, I loud air horn sound would blast out for several minutes or until it was disarmed.

Bob rigged one up on the office door and several of us walked in, setting off the horn. It made the worst sound you could imagine.

Then our old accountant, GK, threw the door open. Did I tell you GK was bad about drinking his whole night away about 7 nights a week? That horn blasting off caused a major incident with a hungover GK.

Once things calm down Bob explained to GK how the whole thing worked and how he was going to make a million dollars.

GK looked Bob square in the eye and said “G…D…it Bob, any girl I ever knew would rather be raped than listen to that damn thing”.

Bob looked so deflated when we didn’t all endorse his new gimmick. I had it on very good authority that he never sold his first unit. But Bob was used to failure.

Of course making such a statement in the 1970s wasn’t as inflammatory as it is today.

What seemed almost high tech 50 years ago, like this device, are very common nowadays. Below is something similar that can be ordered from Amazon. I didn’t see the carrier that you can fit it into, but I’m sure there is one on there.