MTFCA Forum

Found this set of all brass air horns at our local antique mall and wonder what they were used on. Did early trucks use something like this?

Thanks for any help,
Howard Dennis

May have come off a diesel locomotive.

With all the parts appearing to be brass, not steel, I think it may be powered by steam instead of air.
Wrong shape for a river boat horn.

FWIW, I've never encountered a steam horn. All manner of steam whistles were once common, but never a steam horn that I know of. I'd guess these are air or vacuum operated horns for some kind of vehicle. Diesel and electric locomotives used air horns, and they can still be found for sale. Search: "Locomotive air horn"

Did a bit of searching the web to see if the construction of the horns might point to an answer.
-The aesthetics of the base would lend itself to a train or truck. not fancy enough for a motor boat & larger boats had deeper sounding tones.
Air horns also used by emergency vehicles and in sports arenas too
-The short length of the trumpets would give a higher pitch sound. From the internet: Originally, diesel locomotives were equipped with truck horns. After an accident in which a driver mistook a train for a truck, the need for a unique-sounding train horn became clear. Consequently, North American trains now have at least two horns with different tones forming the airhorn, that sound simultaneously, creating a harmonic interval or chord. Currently Train horns have a deeper sound than truck horns.
-The fitting for the air hose connection may be a clue. Looks like its for a hose. That may make it more likely to be for a truck than a train. From the internet: In trucks and buses, the air horn is powered with compressed air from the vehicle's air brake system.

I'd hook it up to a compressor to see what sound it would make (wear air sound protection).

If polished up would look just fine on a boat!

The small diaphragms, tone adjustments, and bell size are very indicative of truck air horns. Air pressure and tone adjustment would give a wide range of sound options.

Thanks guys for all your help. Once again you guys come thru! Wasted my time over at AACA site, 105 views and not one response! I may just quit going there at all.

Howard Dennis

Way too small for a railroad locomotive. Im thinking a boat might be a good guess