1930s Schwarze Horns Don't Work- What is the problem?

[sirendude2012]

'I bought these at a local "antique shop" if you will. I doubt the short side works as it was full of water from being outside horn up, but it looks like all wiring is present for both horns. I think they are Vibratory and I've been told they are truck horns, but these are electric and require no air. In the picture, they are sitting next to my Vertical Ademco siren for size comparison.'



So now after getting a 6 volt power supply to test the horns, I've run into an issue I knew was coming- neither of the horns actually work. I opened up the covers and it appears the diaphragm moves out, but never spring back in until power is cut. I read some 1950s literature for similar horns and discovered that somehow the electrical connection must be internally broken when the diaphragm is pushed outward to make it spring back and repeat. The connection appears to never be broken, thus they doesn't spring back and repeat. All of the electromagnets definitely work on them both, though.

I'm not an expert on these things, so if it is a simple problem that can be found and fixed in 5 minutes, I apologize. I can record a video of the problem, but only if absolutely necessary because my camera is as good as filming with dirt.

[Daniel]

I couldn't tell you the manufacturer, but horns like this were common on trucks and even some cars in the 1930's and 40's, replacing the motor-driven klaxons of earlier vehicles. By the 60's, the "snail" horn became popular, and these are basically straight snail horns. There was even an early-50's version of these horns that came with three horns and a three-button controller to play like an organ.

[sirendude2012]

I couldn't tell you the manufacturer, but horns like this were common on trucks and even some cars in the 1930's and 40's, replacing the motor-driven klaxons of earlier vehicles. By the 60's, the "snail" horn became popular, and these are basically straight snail horns. There was even an early-50's version of these horns that came with three horns and a three-button controller to play like an organ.

I found an ID tag on both of the horns that says *unreadable something* - Schwarze - Model 444 - 6 Volts. I tried to do some research on the horn make and model, but there is near nothing about them. The long horn is all shiny and new-looking inside, and the short one has some rust issues inside because of water-induced corrosion.

If they were common in the 30s and 40s, I probably should have paid more than 20 dollars for them. I'm not kidding, that is what the store set the price to. I wonder how much these are worth in their condition. All original hardware, paint, wiring, etc. and there are patches where the paint is not worn.

[Daniel]

Schwarze was a manufacturer of alarm devices dating from the early 1900's. They seem to have disappeared in the 40's. One of the dorms I lived in at college was built in 1920 and had Schwarze alarm bells in the hallways. They mainly built electric horns and bells, but also provided horns for several auto manufacturers.

[JasonC]

Those electric horns aren't really worth much, but if they work then you got a good deal and something to play with for $20.

[SirenTech Ind.]

I guess I have one of those horns too. Schwarze, I couldn't find any markings on mine but I'm sure it's similar. There were several at the flea market.
By any chance, was that a German Company? Schwarze means black in Deustch.

[sirendude2012]

By any chance, was that a German Company? Schwarze means black in Deustch.

Who knows, the company's history in documented form hasn't been found. Nobody has a set date where they disappeared either. All of the reference we have of Schwarze is that they came around in 1900ish and disappeared near 1940.

[Daniel]

Schwarze was an American company. Germans remain the largest ethnic group in America.

[sirendude2012]

Sorry to bump this thread, but I've run into an issue I knew was coming- neither of the horns actually work. I opened up the covers and it appears the diaphragm moves out, but never spring back in until power is cut. I read some 1950s literature for similar horns and discovered that somehow the electrical connection must be internally broken when the diaphragm is pushed outward to make it spring back and repeat. The connection appears to never be broken, thus they doesn't spring back and repeat. All of the electromagnets definitely work on them both, though.

I'm not an expert on these things, so if it is a simple problem that can be found and fixed in 5 minutes, I apologize. I can record a video of the problem, but only if absolutely necessary because my camera is as good as filming with dirt.