True Tugboat whistles

tuggin' · Posted: Tue Jul 31, 2007 5:14 pm Post subject: True Tugboat whistles

I have mentioned whistles in most of my postings and love having the real sound of a tug whistle aboard. Most everyone within miles will verbally call out with a "toot toot" and of course I have to reply with the whistle. The only real brass tug whistle maker left is the Kahlenberg company and can be reached on line. I admit that I paid a handsome price for the brass whistle (about $225) along with the compressor and air tank (about $450.)

Now the good news! I have made a connection with a man that makes whistles from PVC pipe that can be powered (sounded) with something as simple as a good blower fan! I had one made for my rig that is a triple tone (three harmonic notes) in as deep of a tone as he could make. I am in love with this one because by using a fan, the cost is kept low and it sounds like an old Mississippi River paddle wheeler from the turn of the century. If any of you tuggers are interested in this whistle, give me an email or phone call and I will hook you up on the special delivery hot line and he will make you one for less than $200.

I agree with Capt D in that we need to keep this TUG site active.

Bob
on
Tuggin' Aweigh

Old Dog · Posted: Tue Jul 31, 2007 9:06 pm Post subject:

Agree completely. Keep the communications flowing.

But darn, all I don't need is another gadget for my tug. But a tug whistle - maybe that's a necessity not a luxury.

Will be in touch.

thataway · Posted: Tue Jul 31, 2007 9:40 pm Post subject:

There is a magazine dedictaed to whistles horns and sirens:
http://www.hornandwhistle.net/

One ad in this magazine is for PVC compressed air whistles. Of course you need compressed air source--many times a tank works fine--and avoids a large compressor.
3 1/4" dia. which sells for $150.00 plus shipping
The 5" dia. sells for $235.00 plus shipping
The 7 1/4" sells for $475.00 plus shipping
The 2 1/4" sells for $100.00 plus shipping
Most of the whistles come with a 3/4" threaded fitting or a 1/2" threaded fitting. The largest whistle comes with a either a 1" or a 1 1/4" threaded fitting.
(704)-573-9468 or (704)-421-0244
My mailing address is;
Dewey Wright
8331 Clear Meadow Lane
Charlotte, NC 28227-6477

Some really pricey steam whistles in the UK--maybe they still use them on the trains there!

Not sure if this is the same or different manufactuer than cited above.

SEA3PO · Posted: Wed Aug 01, 2007 12:07 am Post subject:

I bought a steam whistle from EBAY a while back....for my Seahorse tug... what I use fror air is a 12 volt air pump and a storage air tank from Harbor Freight .... the compressor and tank probably were under $75.... I plumbed the system using reinforced sink hose (with brass ends)

Sounds Great.... it's a neat little whistle about 6" high and solid brass...

Joel
SEA3PO (C-Dory)
KEA (22 Seahorse tug)

captd · Posted: Wed Aug 01, 2007 2:57 pm Post subject:

Bob,
You mean to tell me that you like the PVC one better than the brass one?
Explain....
I went from a one ton truck to a 1 1/2 ton. I had air lifts on the old truck. The compressor is mounted with a tank all in one unit. Pump and tank handles 100 psi to 150 psi. Now I need to find the whistle. Tell us more about the PVC.
Darrel

thataway · Posted: Wed Aug 01, 2007 9:11 pm Post subject: Whistles.

Darrel,
Not sure why you thought I would prefer PVC over brass--I would't but the PVC is much cheaper--$100 vs $800. Not sure about the durability.

There seems to be a sub culture on scaring people with air horns and whistles, and there are plans on the internet for making air whistles out of pvc.

Take care,

Bob

captd · Posted: Fri Aug 03, 2007 10:09 am Post subject:

Bob (On Thataway),
Sorry Bob, I was directing that post to Bob Guth ( on Tuggin). He had put in a really nice looking brass whistle. I been trying to sell My wife on the need for one like it. Now he said he bought a new pvc one that he likes better. I was hoping he would tell us why.
Captd