MMD > Archives > December 1996 > 1996.12.18 > 02Prev  Next


Horn and Whistle Enthusiasts Group
By Bob Conant

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

(Message sent Wed 18 Dec 1996, 16:40:22 GMT, from time zone GMT-0500.)

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