As vehicle electrics improved during the 20 th century and vehicle numbers increased on roads globally, the car horn needed to be even more effective to cope with the demands of the modern motorist. The answer was the ‘vibrating diaphragm electric car horn’, which was in development as early as the 1930s. Despite what you might think, these were intended to produce a more socially-acceptable noise, compared to the rubber-bulb and klaxon variants. In the first klaxons, the wheel was driven either by hand or by an electric motor. American inventor Miller Reese Hutchison (later chief engineer of Thomas Edison) patented the mechanism in 1908. [7] A klaxon is a type of an electromechanical horn or alerting device. Mainly used on cars, trains and ships, it produces an easily identifiable sound, often transcribed onomatopoeiacally in English as "awooga". Like most mechanical horns, it has largely been replaced by solid-state electronic alarms, though the memorable tone has persisted. Klaxon was originally a brand name. Several languages have either borrowed or transcribed the name into their lexicons. In Japanese, the word "klaxon" ( クラクション, kurakushon) refers to car horns in general. This is also true in languages such as French ( klaxon), Italian ( clacson), Greek ( κλάξον), Dutch ( claxon), Russian ( клаксон), Polish ( klakson), Spanish ( claxon), Romanian ( claxon), Czech ( klakson), Turkish ( klakson), Indonesian ( klakson), and Korean ( 클랙슨). A traditional style automobile horn includes an expansion chamber cast into its body, once spiral shaped, to better match the acoustical impedance of the diaphragm with open air, and thus more effectively transfer the sound energy. Sound levels of typical car horns are approximately 107–109 decibels, and they typically draw 5–6 amperes of current.

It didn’t take long until motorists were calling for more powerful warning devices to alert others of their presence. Manufacturers agreed, and soon took it upon themselves to develop different kinds of solutions such as chimes, whistles, sirens and of course new takes on the horn itself.For serious volume from your horn, you need to add air. A compressor and an array of four horns like this one will give you train-like levels of noise. We wouldn't use full pressure, because you might blast everyone else off of the road, but it's there when you need it. If you want to ensure you're noticed when engaging your car's horn, this is the kit for you. The English company Klaxon Signals Ltd. has been based in Oldham, England for the last 80 years, [ when?] with premises also in Birmingham. The French Klaxon company was acquired by the Italian Fiamm Group in the 1990s. In 2005 Klaxon Signals sold the rights for the hooter or klaxon range to Moflash Signalling Ltd., based in the original Klaxon Factory in Birmingham, England. [ citation needed]

Most cars, motorcycles, and motor scooters have for some time used a cheaper and smaller alternative design, which, despite retaining the name "horn," abandons the actual horn ducting and instead relies on a larger flat diaphragm to reach the required sound level. Sound levels of such horns are approximately 109–112 decibels, and they typically draw 2.5–5 amperes of current. Again, these horns can be either single, or arranged in pairs; typical frequencies for a pair are 420–440Hz and 340–370Hz (approximately G ♯ 4–A 4 and F 4–F ♯ 4) for this design. The Lovell-McConnell Manufacturing Company of Newark, New Jersey bought the rights to the device and it became standard equipment on General Motors cars. [8] Franklyn Hallett Lovell Jr., the founder, coined the name klaxon from the Ancient Greek verb klazō, "I shriek". [9] Signalling Methods Definitely Cared for". Automotive Industries magazine. Vol.22. New York: Chilton company. January 13, 1910. pp.125–126 . Retrieved January 20, 2011.

Horns for vehicles are even older than the invention of the motorcar itself, as an idea which started on steam-powered carriages here in the UK. The ‘Red Flag Act’ dictated a person should walk ahead of the steam car, waving a red flag and tooting a horn. Thankfully that idea was short-lived and soon horns were being mounted directly to the vehicle and operated by the driver. Portable air horns driven by canned compressed air are also used, as well as for officiating sports events and recreational activities. Ships signal to each other and to the shore with air horns, sometimes called whistles, that are driven with compressed air or from steam tapped from the power plant. Low frequencies are used, because they travel further than high frequencies; horns from ships have been heard as far as fifteen kilometres (ten miles). [1] Traditionally, the lower the frequency, the larger the ship. The RMS Queen Mary, an ocean liner launched in 1934, had three horns based on 55Hz (corresponding to A1 ), a frequency chosen because it was low enough that the very loud sound of it would not be painful to the passengers. [2] Modern International Maritime Organization regulations specify that ships' horn frequencies be in the range 70–200Hz (corresponding to C ♯ 2-G 3) for vessels that are over 200m (660ft) in length. For vessels between 200 and 75m (660 and 250ft) the range is 130–350Hz and for vessels under 75m (250ft) it is 70–700Hz. [3] Rubber-bulb horns’, which featured on the earliest vintage vehicles, were made from brass and operated by hand. These started to appear on motor vehicles in the USA in the early 1900s, the idea spreading to other continents soon afterwards. However, these horns only produced a shorter tone, unless you were repeatedly squeezing the rubber-bulb.

that are both louder and lower in frequency than motor vehicle horns. Operated by compressed air from the train's air brake system, their sound level is 146–175dB. In the United States, train horns are required to have a minimum sound level of 96dB and a maximum sound level of 110dB at 100ft (30m) in front of the train. Klaxons were first fitted to automobiles and bicycles in 1908. They were originally powered by six-volt dry cells, and from 1911 by rechargeable batteries. Later hand-powered versions were used as military evacuation alarms and factory sirens. They were also used as submarine dive and surface alarms beginning in the Second World War. We’ve come along way since the Red Flag Act – but as we enter the age of the silent vehicle, what do you think is next on the evolutionary path of the humble car horn? The Moflash Company discontinued the Klaxet hooter in 2013, but continued to produce the A1 hooter, the only original Klaxon left in production.

Almost all cars of the last century have featured horns that produce a continuous sound, usually activated via the driver’s steering wheel. In this explainer, Footman James is exploring more about the history of car horns and how they have evolved throughout automotive history. Dr. Richard E. Rodda (11 August 2012). "The Peninsula Music Festival - 60th Season 2012 - Program Notes". Archived from the original on 22 August 2012 . Retrieved 5 December 2012.