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 Like most mechanical horns, it has largely been replaced by solid-state electronic alarms, though the memorable tone has persisted.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. Mechanically-actuated Acoustic Apparatus and Method US Patent 923,048. Applied March 14, 1908, granted May 25, 1909. Portable air horns driven by canned compressed air are also used, as well as for officiating sports events and recreational activities. The Klaxon Warning Signal". The Horseless age: the automobile trade magazine. Vol.21, no.15. April 8, 1908. pp.411–412 . Retrieved January 16, 2011. 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).

Trains, trolleycars and trams/streetcars [ edit ] The Leslie S5T, a locomotive air horn with five 'chimes' 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. 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] 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] Signalling Methods Definitely Cared for". Automotive Industries magazine. Vol.22. New York: Chilton company. January 13, 1910. pp.125–126 . Retrieved January 20, 2011.

4. PIAA Sports Horn

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. 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.

During the last ten years, some manufacturers have departed from the traditional car horn design altogether, but arguably the most significant recent development has arrived with the age of the electric vehicle. With EVs now being effectively silent, new legislation in some markets means manufacturers must design electric vehicle warning sounds which are played continuously when travelling at low speeds to warn pedestrians. Varying from artificial beeps and chimes, to drones and fake engine noises, the Acoustic Vehicle Alerting System (AVAS) could be considered as the most modern development in the history of car horns. 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. Motor vehicles [ edit ] Horn of Rolls-Royce Phantom I Open Tourer Windovers (1926) Modern electric horns mounted in engine compartment

A horn grille is a part of some designs of car or other motor vehicle that has an electric horn, such as a motor scooter. 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. Here’s a question for you – when is it acceptable to use your car horn? For those of you who said ‘to greet other road users’ or ‘signal your annoyance’, we’re afraid it’s a fail… According to the Highway Code, unless you’re alerting another road user of your presence while your vehicle is moving, you’re using the horn incorrectly. In countries applying the Vienna Convention on Road Traffic, usage of audible warnings is limited, and allowed only in two cases: [10] 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.