Changing pitch of old school Lionel whistles

I don't believe I have seen this question asked before either. You new comers are really thinking outside the box. My answer to your question is NO, but you could.

Take a whistle unit out of the tender and experiment with it. Change opening for air flow maybe. But I believe the "air chamber", its size and shape has a large influence on the whistle sound. This would be a good project for someone.

TEX
Steve

I have toyed around with the same idea in the past.As a part time pipe organ builder,the science is the same,basically,the plastic Lionel whistle chamber consists of two stopped flutes at two different pitches.What you would need to do is put a rubber stopper that was movable connected to a "tuning" wire at the end of each chamber,the wire would stick out of a hole just large enough to move the stopper.You don't want any air to leak around it.With this set up you can raise the pitch of each note a few steps until you found something that was pleasing to the ear.

To lower the pitch you will have to extend the pipe chambers.

I think it can be done with a little effort an experimentation.

Ricky

You can apply some stiff adhesive tape partially across the air outlet, it will raise the pitch.

Oldpappy, I looked on the bay and several whistle units only are up for bid or place a wanted post on OGR forum. I believe this is a great project for you to take on and let us know the results. A higher pitched whistle on steam switchers would be great.

TEX
Steve

quote:

Originally posted by Dave Allen:
You can apply some stiff adhesive tape partially across the air outlet, it will raise the pitch.

I think some folks used a similar solution a few years ago when there was some concern about the Hogwarts train not having a British sounding whistle. I seem to recall they used some tape and got a higher pitched whistle.

What a lot of folks did on the Hogwarts was put tape of the the lower note mouth and you just hear the single higher pitch note.

Placing tape over the mouth will cause the pipe to overblow and raise the pitch
like Dave said but I think this affects the tone as it interferes with the windsheet over the languid.The best way IMHO and if you want something really shrill carefully open up the ends of the two little folded whistles(pipes).The pitch will go up exactly one octave.

Ricky

Thanks to all for the very helpful and educated responses. I took your advice and have bids in on several whistle units on Ebay. If I come up with anything useful I will certainly let everyone know. Thanks! Michael in Penn Laird, Virginia

oldpoppy, I found air whistle for sale on OGR sale forum that might be good for your project, good price also. Here is the link:

http://ogaugerr.infopop.cc/eve...9103053/m/7442945327

TEX
Steve

Thanks Steve, I sent for his PayPal address. Michael

I wouls actually like to make mine sound deeper, more bass. If partially blocking the hole raises the pitch, I wonder how well hogging it out would work.

quote:

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I wouls actually like to make mine sound deeper, more bass. If partially blocking the hole raises the pitch, I wonder how well hogging it out would work

springoflife, I believe the tone of the air whistle would change also in relation to the size of the plastic air box which surrounds the fan. The problem with this box is the top (holding the motor) is glued on.

If I were to experiment to obtain both a higher and lower pitch to the whistle, I would cut off the top of the air chamber and make various size chipboard, or heavy cardboard air chambers with cut outs for air intake and outlet and see what whistle sounds like and what has to be done to get various tones. When you make the cardboard air chamber you can also change air exit (whistle) opening also.

TEX
Steve

I wish that Lionel would digitally reproduce the old air whistles in their postwar cc units. Same goes for the desires horn

quote:

I wouls actually like to make mine sound deeper, more bass. If partially blocking the hole raises the pitch, I wonder how well hogging it out would work.

The best way to vary the pitch will be to lengthen the "Flues,pipes or whistles"
-what ever you want to call them to lower the pitch.Opening the flue completely will raise the pitch 12 notes or one octave.I would use square styrene tubing and experiment with that.Covering up the intake on the little fan or covering the "mouth or languid" of the flue will affect the quality of the tone.

Ricky