Doug Rhodes wrote in Digest 961210 about Canada tuning locomotive horns in
a minor key and the US tuning them in a major key.  I forwarded his
comments to the Big Trains mailing list, and it prompted quite a bit of
discussion, including the following note. It just goes to show, that if
there is an interest in something, there is probably an organization of
enthusiasts.

> If you are interested in more information about horns and whistles --
> tuning, collecting, etc. -- you may want to subscribe to and become a
> member of the "Horn & Whistle Enthusiasts Group".  The Annual
> subscription is $14.00.   Contact Larry Spreckelmeier,
> 1043 Richwood Ave., Cincinnati, OH 45208.
>
> Keep your steam up!

Bob Conant¶
Endicott, NY

 [ Now I've heard everything!  In high school (behind their backs) we
 [ called the Drum & Bugle Corps the "Beat & Blow Boys"!    -- Robbie

 [ A new subscriber, who will be introducing himself shortly, also asked
 [ me privately about the Horn & Whistle group:
 [
 [ > You have triggered my curiosity again, what is the Horn and Whistle
 [ > Society ?  I chose the name screen name "whistles" because my collection
 [ > of whistles includes hundreds of different individual whistles, some are
 [ > disguised as organ pipes, some as bamboo flutes, etc.  I dunno about
 [ > horns, are these like trumpets, Tuba,  trombone, or is there some hidden
 [ > meaning?
 [
 [ I responded:
 [
 [ They are a group of air-driven noise-maker enthusiasts.  Whistles are
 [ air or steam driven and have no mechanical interruptor.  Horns have a
 [ mechanical interruptor).  I believe an air raid siren constititues a
 [ horn by that definition.  These guys actually get together and have
 [ "rallies".  Always in a remote location, and ear-protection is
 [ manditory.  A 180 HP Chrysler Air Raid Siren graced the cover of their
 [ journal a few years ago.
 [
 [ Their "journal" has had mechanical drawings of whistles and horns
 [ (July/Aug 1986 Issue #25 and probably others).  I'm going to join
 [ some time and check into the availability of back issues.  I want
 [ to build a calliope and need mechanical drawings for omni-directional
 [ whistles, advice for sizing a boiler, etc.
 [
 [ I'm going to have to put a reference to them on my Web page.
 [
 [ The founder's e-mail address is:
 [
 [ 	JackHardman@WorldNet.ATT.Net
 [
 [ Jody