Posted by Mark Heter on October 14, 2003 at 01:53:14:
In Reply to: Re: Tuned bulb horns posted by Wade on October 12, 2003 at 10:07:45:
Carroll Sound in NYC is still the best source on the East Coast for this kind of stuff.
For those who care - the "Desmo" auto horn was Spike Jones' preferred bulb actuated auto horn, because it could be "tuned" to different pitches. These are rare as hens' teeth today, and Jones actually employed agents who toured the country snapping this stuff up, along with tuned frying pans, cow bells, etc.
Orchestras are usually looking for the "French Taxi Horns" for American in Paris; Carroll probably has more than one set of these.
Carroll sounds was started by a guy named Carroll Bratman - he supplied the radio and recording industry with all kinds of wierd stuff over the years, branching out into actual instruments. His inventory was immense - if someone called for a "boat whistle", Bratman's question in return was "how big of a boat?" - and he meant it!