General Information

Serial #

50001

Part Number

1

Total Parts

1

AKA

N/A

Patents

N/A

General Description

Brass

Dimensions

Note: These reflect the general size for storage and are not necessarily representative of the object's true dimensions.

Length

84.0 cm

Width

10.0 cm

Height

10.0 cm

Thickness

N/A

Weight

N/A

Diameter

N/A

Volume

N/A

Lexicon

Group

Motorized Ground Transportation

Category

Automotive parts

Sub-Category

N/A

Manufacturer

AKA

GABRIEL

Country

United States of America

State/Province

Ohio

City

Cleveland

Context

Country

Unknown

State/Province

Unknown

Period

Unknown

Canada

Unknown

Function

A device that produces a loud sound to signal an audible warning to other motorists and pedestrians of a car's presence.

Technical

Type sample of an exhaust whistle that was externally mounted and connected to the exhaust pipe of an automobile, producing a musical horn blast. Exhaust whistles were introduced c. 1902 and were produced in various forms. Many whistles were operated by foot lever, which limited their usefulness because they could only be operated when the driver's feet were not used to operate the gears of the vehicle (McMurtry: 7, 21). In 1906, Claude Foster established the Gabriel Company in Cleveland, Ohio to market musical accessory horns for automobiles; he named the company and the horn after the angel Gabriel (Schultz: 66). Foster was a trombone player and thus was inspired to create musical auto horns based on the instrument in order to replace the unreliable bulb horns of the era ("Big Giveaway": 34). Gabriel horns were used as a warning device and were popular because they produced music, as well as could be attach to vehicles with ease. Each horn was composed of musical pipes of varying lengths and when activated they warned pedestrians and motorists that a vehicle was approaching ("Automobile Notes of Interest"). The horns were operated either by foot lever or by pressing a button on the steering wheel, which caused the ho¬¬rn to blow air from the exhaust of gasoline engines; the horns could also be attached to steam engines ("Automobile Notes of Interest"). First automobile horns were bulb horns and hand klaxons of various designs, mounted conspicuously. Electric automobile horns replaced manual models c. 1920s. Towards the end of the 1930s automobile horns began to be utilitarian only, and were hidden beneath the hood (KE – notes: 2002.0190.001).

Area Notes

Unknown

Details

Markings

Plaque 'GABRIEL, [TRADEMARK], GABRIEL HORN MFG. CO. CLEVELAND, USA./ PAT'D 24, 1905, OTHER PATD PEND.'

Missing

none

Finish

Tin plated surface/ tin surface worn, brass showing through

Decoration

Shield shape, raised letters, raised dotted edge, raised logo of Gabriel blowing his horn.