History Of The AirChime Train Horns
AirChime Train Horns History
1949 was the year AirChime stepped into the world of commercial train horn production. They started their career with the H5, the 1st 5-chime horn in the world. Before this, the founder of AirChime, Robert Swanson had produced four Hexatone H6 horns. Service lives for these 6-chime horns were not long. 3 lives on though. Basically, the H6 was the essential factor that got AirChime up and running. More than 50 yrs now, for air horns applied in railroads, AirChime leads the pack. They have continually refined their horns, and the K5LA is considered perfection. Nathan, take note, is only AirChime’s US licensee.
The goal of AirChime LogoBob Swanson was the creation of a train horn that bears the closest resemblance to a steam whistle. It was thought the K series was the closest. The K series was hoped to have its pitch rise higher, once more air is applied. This was not achieved, yet the pitch drop that has plagued other air horns so far has vanished with the K series. This was done by incorporating what K5H (first 5-chime K horn) plays- D# minor 6th chord.
1949 was the year the H6s got made. In total, there were 4 H6s. Serial #1, the original, was cast iron. Its fate: scrapping and destruction. 3 aluminum H6s were then made by Swanson- Serial #s 1-3. Today, all these aluminum H6s are present. Cast iron #1 was replaced by aluminum #1. Not long after, Swanson started creating the H5s (5-chime). It was started as serial #4. All in all, 88 H5s were created. Today, there are still 9 existing.
Things get puzzling during the introduction of the N3s. 20 N3s were made in total. The N3s started at #88 as serial. Currently, #88 and 95 still exist. During the creation of the N3s, the same numbering system was entered. And the H5s went out of sequence. Swanson was starting an H5 refined version which was planned to become the N5. That refined model though ended up becoming a whole new model, the M5. M5 was then introduced in 1950. The earliest ones had serial #s similar to the N3s, H5s, and H6s.
The same numbering system was also used for the M5s which furthered making everything not in sequence! Serial #125 is known the highest H5 and it is youngest of the existing 9 today.
Below is an uncomplicated timeline for Swanson horns production:
1949: Introduction of Models H6, H5, and N3.
1950: The putting into service of the last of the produced H5s. The rounndbase prototype- Model M was also introduced.
1951: Model M, the round base model was continued in production.
1952: Dropping of Model M (round base), the model M that was scallop base was then introduced. Today, Nathan still offers the same model. This year was also when Swanson worked on the T5, his new model.
1953: The Model J3 was introduced by AirChime. It was intended for Canadian snowplows. Swanson also introduced Model P, the new model that resulted from his T5 work.
1954: The Model K was introduced by Swanson.
1956: Model MK was introduced by Swanson. This possesses a back cap that is M-like, allowing variable operating pressure adjustments. Turning that adjustable MK back cap takes a 1½” socket!
1957: Model MK was dropped by Swanson. The replacement was the new adjustable K back cap that requires only a ¾” wrench.
1969: Production drop of K adjustable back cap.
1976: For Amtrak’s 1st F40s order which had P5As, Nathan added the bell P#4 for every D.H. Ellsworth. L manifold was designed by Swanson. The bells #4A and #3A were added by Swanson to the latest American tuned K5LA catalog. His K5 designation was changed to the currently known K5H, K5La, K5L, and K5HA. The decision was made to have Model K die-cast. Swanson bought an $80,000 die-cast machine. Model K sand cast production was ended by that machine.1977: Deane H. Ellsworth was sent by Swanson on January 25, 1977 the 1st die-cast K5LA produced. The casting on Nathan Ps was changed by Nathan.
