wingless' Kahlenberg Chimetone D-1 Air Horns

[wingless]

Here are my Kahlenberg D-1 Chimetone air horns that I purchased used off eBay.

The air horn did not include the factory mounting block. That was fine, because my application does not need that part.

The chrome surface finish was not good. I thought I would use them for a while, then get them refinished, but they polished up great!



Here are the links for my Kahlenberg Chimetone D-1 Air Horn.

These are on the Kahlenberg UK web site. For some reason the US web site does not have the information for this horn.


Kahlenberg D-1 Chimetone Specification Drawing

Kahlenberg Chimetone D-1 Web Page w/ Audio Clip

Here is a good link on marine signal regulations.

The horns were polished and now look outstanding. Boy, does Kahlenberg do a great job on chrome horns!

A cream metal polish was used and polished by hand (skin), rubbing in the polish to restore the finish. A soft rag was used to buff away the polish.

A rag was taped onto a narrow fiberglass rod to polish the depth of the trumpets.

There are some minor blemishes, but those only show up during the polishing. These cannot be observed when mounted. These are some serious eye candy on the boat.

The fiberglass / gelcoat arch is thick enough, plus I used an aluminum interior backing plate. This mounting method is plenty strong.

These horns will be there for the duration.

Here is a short clip of the horn test.

A/V Horn Test Clip



Here are some images of my Kahlenberg Chimetone D-1 air horns and Kahlenberg 117 whistle mounted onto the arch of my 2000 Searay 380 Sundancer.

This shows making the placement marks, so that my front-to-back and my side-to-side are identical for both horns. One of the important requirements was to position both horns over a reinforced area on the arch. The factory included two one-foot wide regions of thicker fiberglass on either side of the arch. The location of those reinforcements is not identical, so I needed to place the horns over both AND be symmetrical.

The fasteners used to retain the horns to the arch are ¼-20 bolts. I chose the uber expensive highly-polished bolts and washers, so that the surface finish would be similar to the chrome plating.

The length options for these bolts were limited. I got the longest available bolt, but the stack-up did not permit using the planned ¼" aluminum backing plate. I ended up using this 1/8" backing plate instead.

The mounted image shows the thicker fiberglass section that was selected for mounting the horns.

 

[wingless]

Fixed some of the links...

 

[jfm]

Very nice indeed wingless!

Poster on here DeGroot is the UK distributer of K horns

What did you do about the compressor and air tank? Did they come off ebay too? Have you mounted them in e/room?

It's interesting where you have mounted the horns. Do you find them so loud that they are too loud for passengers, and make people jump? I mounted mine in front of the flybridge windshield so that passengers are usually behind them, and I don't use them if folks are on the foredeck. Mine are a pair of D-330, pretty similar to yours I think, pic below

Very nice job anyway and welcome on here

 

[benjenbav]

Jaysus. Just played the clip. Sadly that was in the office, so I think I might have woken up one or two of my colleagues...

 

[wingless]

Very nice indeed wingless!

Thank you very much!

What did you do about the compressor and air tank? Did they come off ebay too? Have you mounted them in e/room?

eBay and Craig's List. The horn was eBay, but the seller was unwilling to ship and was over two hours away. I called to see if we could meet halfway and discovered he drives past my house once a week to visit his parents, so he dropped them off.

The compressor is a very highly customized high-volume high-pressure Oasis XD3000. This was on Craig's List in another part of the country. I convinced the seller to ship after I prepaid (totally not advised for Craig's List). This was an unused, years old, open box compressor.

The tank is a 15 gallon 200 PSI Manchester tank that I got used on eBay.

My boat has gasoline engines, so it is inappropriate to mount the compressor in the engine room.

The tank is suspended upside down from the ceiling, above the steering. The compressor is hidden behind my ice maker, force cooled w/ fresh air by a high volume blower.

It's interesting where you have mounted the horns. Do you find them so loud that they are too loud for passengers, and make people jump? I mounted mine in front of the flybridge windshield so that passengers are usually behind them, and I don't use them if folks are on the foredeck.

This is the only place available for the horns. They are VERY loud, but not unacceptable for passengers, below and behind. It is not possible to use the horns when passengers are on the bow.

Mine are a pair of D-330, pretty similar to yours I think, pic below

Nice job. My boat now also always has nice sunsets for the Kahlenberg horns.

Very nice job anyway and welcome on here

Thank you.

Jaysus.

No, wingless.

Just played the clip. Sadly that was in the office, so I think I might have woken up one or two of my colleagues.

Go back to streaming on-line porn. It is much quieter than on-line horn.

When I stood in-front of the horn to capture this clip, I was wearing my 21dB earmuffs.

The PC speakers do not do it justice. I was in the North Atlantic ocean for that clip and the echo was from the coastline.

 

[benjenbav]

Go back to streaming on-line porn.

I only visit here for the Wildean wit.

 

[Heckler]

Jaysus. Just played the clip. Sadly that was in the office, so I think I might have woken up one or two of my colleagues...

All this fuss over a pair of air horns! And then fit a compressor? Weird sense of priorities!
S

 

[prv]

All this fuss over a pair of air horns! And then fit a compressor?

Well, there wouldn't be much point in fitting the air horns but not the compressor, would there?

Pete

 

[wingless]

I only visit here for the Wildean wit.

His Oscar Gone Wilde DVD is very witty.

 

[Piers]

Here are my Kahlenberg D-1 Chimetone air horns that I purchased used off eBay.

The chrome surface finish was not good. I thought I would use them for a while, then get them refinished, but they polished up great!

The horns were polished and now look outstanding. Boy, does Kahlenberg do a great job on chrome horns!

These horns will be there for the duration.

Here is a short clip of the horn test.

A/V Horn Test Clip

Hi wingless. Just seen this post as well. What a great job! DeGroot is my son Toby who owns Kahlenberg UK Ltd. If ever you need spare parts (eg, new diaphragms), just call him.

Meanwhile, the best way to keep the horns looking good, is to use a chrome polish (not a stainless steel polish since it's too harsh) followed by a carnuba polish. Keep the cleaning regime up and they';ll look good for ever.

All the best - Piers

 

[wingless]

Hi wingless. Just seen this post as well. What a great job! DeGroot is my son Toby who owns Kahlenberg UK Ltd. If ever you need spare parts (eg, new diaphragms), just call him.

Meanwhile, the best way to keep the horns looking good, is to use a chrome polish (not a stainless steel polish since it's too harsh) followed by a carnuba polish. Keep the cleaning regime up and they';ll look good for ever.

All the best - Piers

Thank you!

Great tips!

These horns are great and are serious eye candy for my boat. Now others have to choose between looking at me or looking at these...

 

[Piers]

Thank you!

Great tips!

These horns are great and are serious eye candy for my boat. Now others have to choose between looking at me or looking at these...

As is often said, a chap is judged by the size of his horn....

 

[wingless]

DeGroot is my son Toby who owns Kahlenberg UK Ltd. If ever you need spare parts (eg, new diaphragms), just call him.

The Kahlenberg D-1 Chimetone horns are specified as virtually no maintenance and no tuning required.

Is periodic diaphragm replacement the only service required for this horn? Do I need to disassemble this periodically for cleaning or other service?

This is contrasted to the aluminum train horns, that need machining and other tricks to keep them operating properly.

 

[Piers]

The Kahlenberg D-1 Chimetone horns are specified as virtually no maintenance and no tuning required.

Is periodic diaphragm replacement the only service required for this horn? Do I need to disassemble this periodically for cleaning or other service?

This is contrasted to the aluminum train horns, that need machining and other tricks to keep them operating properly.

Apart from keeping the Kahlenbergs shining and gleaming, the only possible is cleaning or replacing the diaphragms - a really simple job. You'll know when this is needed because the sound changes. Undo the small bolts on the back of the horns, remove the diaphragms, clean them and reassemble. Job done. If they need replacing (this is rare), just call Toby.

Tuning will have been done in the original build. That's when the trumpets are screwed in or out to get the right pitch before fixing.

The only extra you may need is an auto controller for when in fog. Saves all the hassle of pressing the button yourself and let's you concentrate on managing the boat. I use the M-511C but the M-485A is good for when in restricted vis. It does Vessel underway (Rule 35a); Vessel underway but stopped (Rule 35b); Vessel restricted in ability to manoeuvre (Rule 35c)

http://kahlenberg.co.uk/marine-sound-signals/sound-signal-controls

Piers

 

[Groot T]

Hi Wingless,

From the accents & pics, I'm presuming you're based in Florida?

Great work in bringing the shine back to the horns, especially on the inside of the trumpets! Being chrome they are a real faff to keep bringing back to life, so in this situation offence is the best form of defence ('MURICA!), so apply plenty of carnauba wax. And yes, I did just tell you to wax your horn. This statement will certainly add to the Wildean wit of this here parish.

Maintenance wise, the horn bodies are cast bronze. They tend not to corrode though there is no harm in opening the backs of the horns up from time to time and cleaning out any salt residue, etc. We get a few calls per annum from customers who have a loss of sound. The common theme for this is after the horns have been re-plated and something has been plated to a sensitive part of the unit. At which point we suggest the horns go back to the factory for a full refurbish. We usual we get calls on horns between 10 - 25 years after initial purchase. I always enjoy hearing the customers reaction when they get the finished product back.

So, apply plenty of carnauba wax and clean the diagrams from time-to-time and you'll be golden.

Toby

 

[wingless]

The only extra you may need is an auto controller for when in fog. Saves all the hassle of pressing the button yourself and let's you concentrate on managing the boat. I use the M-511C but the M-485A is good for when in restricted vis. It does Vessel underway (Rule 35a); Vessel underway but stopped (Rule 35b); Vessel restricted in ability to manoeuvre (Rule 35c)

http://kahlenberg.co.uk/marine-sound-signals/sound-signal-controls

Those fog controllers look very nice.

My boating in southern Florida has been free of fog. If I got that controller I would need to go elsewhere to find fog to try that system.

 

[jfm]

Those fog controllers look very nice.

My boating in southern Florida has been free of fog. If I got that controller I would need to go elsewhere to find fog to try that system.

Haha! I have that very nice M-522C controller (GrootT upsold it to me!) but in two years I've used it only once, for 5 mins. We hit a small patch of slight fog last summer early in the morning, so I quickly engaged the auto foghorn before the fog had the time to clear. The rest of the time my Kahlenbergs have been used for after-fireworks, same as you Wingless.

 

[Piers]

Haha! I have that very nice M-522C controller (GrootT upsold it to me!) but in two years I've used it only once, for 5 mins. We hit a small patch of slight fog last summer early in the morning, so I quickly engaged the auto foghorn before the fog had the time to clear. The rest of the time my Kahlenbergs have been used for after-fireworks, same as you Wingless.

And I've only really used mine in the Chenal du Four. Every time the D1 horns blew both my wife and I would jump. It reached the stage where we prepared ourselves for the blast on a timer, but we still jumped! Maybe because they are above the pilothouse which is just above our heads....

 

[jfm]

And I've only really used mine in the Chenal du Four. Every time the D1 horns blew both my wife and I would jump. It reached the stage where we prepared ourselves for the blast on a timer, but we still jumped! Maybe because they are above the pilothouse which is just above our heads....

Yep Piers, in my whole project one of the most important bits of advice Toby gave me was to have them fitted to the apron (in front of flybridge windscreen) and not on the radar mast where the builder normally puts the Ongaro horns. This caused extra work at the builder but it is hugely important to be behind the things when they breathe their fire. If I had them on the mast I would hardly ever be able to use them

 

[benjenbav]

Yep Piers, in my whole project one of the most important bits of advice Toby gave me was to have them fitted to the apron (in front of flybridge windscreen) and not on the radar mast where the builder normally puts the Ongaro horns. This caused extra work at the builder but it is hugely important to be behind the things when they breathe their fire. If I had them on the mast I would hardly ever be able to use them

...no, I think you'd be fine: operation of airhorns via a remote, from a comfortable armchair in the cockpit, at the after-fireworks