Klaxon Automobile Horn, circa 1908

01

Artifact Overview

Klaxon horns produced noise via an electrically operated vibrating metal diaphragm. They were a significant improvement over basic bulb horns. Drivers only needed to push a button to sound a warning -- easier than squeezing a bulb. Franklyn Lovell, founder of the Lovell-McConnell Manufacturing Company, coined the term "klaxon" from the Greek word "klazo," meaning "to scream."

Artifact Details

Artifact

Vehicle horn

Date Made

circa 1908

Location

On Loan - Shanghai Auto Museum (Anting, Shanghai, China)

Object ID

63.122.20

Credit

From the Collections of The Henry Ford. Gift of Samuel L. Scher, M.D.

Material

Brass (Alloy)

Dimensions

Height: 9.5 in
Width: 8.25 in
Length: 5 in

Inscriptions

On back: THE/KLAXON/ TRADE MARK REG'S'D/ PAT'D MRA 31 1908 OTHER PATENTS PENDING/ LOVELL-MCCONNELL MFG. CO./ 30989/ NEWARK, N.J. U.S.A.
Klaxon Automobile Horn, circa 1908