AirChime H5 Train Horn

The horn H5 was first built by AirChime with a sizable production figure. It also bears the record for the first five chime horn in the world. It basically is a five note version of the H6, also with 5 bells. The original tuning of Swanson was C#, D#, F#, A and C#. Other common chords produced by H5 horns were A Major 6th (C# E F# A C#), C# diminished (C# E G A# C#) and A major 7th (C# E G A C#).

The H5 horn also has the same physical structure as the H6. The bells of the H5 are also welded around bell #1 and cannot be reversed. The length of the bells can also be attuned to modify the pitch of the bell and is locked in place by a bronze lock nut. A unique feature of the H5 is that the caps at the back do not need a wrench in removing them. There are six protruding tabs at the back of the caps along the outside ring that were used as grips to rotate it.

The H5 have several runs and all of which have distinguishing factors. The first batch has “Hexatone H5” cast at bell #1. The next batch has “Nathan Airtone H5” cast at the bell #1. The third batch have “Nathan H5 Five Chime” cast. The first batch has serial numbers 4-40, the 2nd batch have serial numbers 41-50. The third batch has serial numbers 51-87. The next four H5 horns have serial numbers in the rage from 108-125, it was mixed with the M5 horns produced at that time. The last H5 (88th) produced was given a 125 as the serial number.

The H5 horns were widely used on various tracks. Western Maryland bought a lot of H5s. They had two H5 horns paired and installed on their selected engines; one is facing the front and the other one facing the back. Few of these horns had lived up to the 1980s. Since that time, the only recorded H5s that survived are taken cared for by the collectors.