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This section will discuss various types of whistles and will then explain how various types of whistles lead to special applications. The first whistles developed were plain bell whistles, which consisted
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of a single hollow cylinder with some type of valve mechanism to control the flow of steam. These whistles sound a single note that is a function of the physical dimensions of the cylinder or bell, principally the length but also the diameter.
It was soon learned that by combining several whistles of different sizes together on a common manifold that a chord could be produced that was much more melodious and pleasing to the ear than the plain bell whistle. The whistles were designated as multi-bell chimes usually three chime.
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The William Powell Valve Co. and The Lunkenheimer Co., both of Cincinnati, Ohio manufactured and sold various sizes of three bell chimes mounted on cast iron or cast brass manifolds. Other manufacturers sold three bell chimes but used manifolds made up of various pipe-fittings.
In 1877 the Crosby Steam Gauge and Valve Co. of Boston was granted a patent for a single bell three chime whistle.
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This configuration of whistle had three separate chambers of varying lengths inside the bell and sounded a chord unique to its dimensions. This whistle would perform the same function as three separate whistles of a three bell chime in a very compact and more economic form. Three bell chime whistles were produced in sizes ranging from 1-1/2" diameter to 12" in diameter. While fairly scarce, there are still a few of these old 12" chimes in existence. Anything larger is a very rare commodity.
Continued at The Whistles, Part 2
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