I am not much into whistles, but trying to assist a friend with information regarding the Kinsley Company.

Did they make steam whistles for railroad locomotives?

Any information is appreciated.

MD Ramsey

The evidence is circumstantial, but most likely not at all.

Edward A. Fagen's The Engine's Moan: American Steam Whistles (2001) indicates the Kinsley company records did not survive, and from personal knowledge we know "big" Kinsleys--big enough for steam locos or boats as opposed to steam tractors or industry use--are exceedingly rare, almost apocryphal. Fagen had given me standing orders in the 1980s to snatch up any "big Kinsley" I might find on his behalf, and I attended several auctions with Kinsleys listed--but, as is typical, the auctioneers/sellers listed the whistles by length and not by diameter as collectors typically classify whistles.

In over 25 years dabbling at the edges of the whistle and horn fraternity, I have never heard of a railroad-used Kinsley--but we can't prove a negative. Fagen has, last I knew, liquidated his substantial collection, and I never heard him cancel his bounty, so I assume the "big Kinsley" remained his "great white whale"..............

I think Kinsley was more known for four chime whistles, and I don't think any railroad I know of used four chimes. Seems like either single, three, five & six. Could be wrong, but a Kinsley railroad four chime would be rare.

Locopilot is correct, Kinsley was well known for its offerings of 4 chime whistles. Most of these were smaller diameter, but I have seen a couple that were larger.

McMillan Bloedel 2-8-2T 1055 on Vancouver Island had a 5" flat top 4 chime in the late 60s/early 70s. It may have been a Kinsley. I've got a little one that was given to me by a friend who also was also a collector. The edges on the bottom of the bell are set down really close to the languid plate. You can blow it successfully with just a couple of lbs. of air pressure.

As an aside, some really beautiful whistles were home made 4 chimes on N de M standard gauge locomotives. The late Virgil Staff dubbed me an audio tape that had one on it. Raises the hair on the back of ones neck, it does.

All - This has been very helpful.....Thank You!

MD Ramsey

The only widespread railroad applications of Kinsleys I'm personally aware of were on early electric traction, including the first-generation New York Central MUs operated into and out of Grand Central and I believe some of the city's subway/elevated cars as well. Perhaps someone from the trolley community has other examples. That said, they were quite possibly the most prolific commercial manufacturer of four-chime whistles out there, though they seemed to cater primarily to the marine and stationary markets (which makes sense for a company based in Bridgeport, CT).

A few of the smaller/air specimens turn up at live steam clubs from time to time; none of them sound particularly good. The best one I've heard is a 4" dia. from the 1890s at the 18" gauge Billy Jones Wildcat Railroad in Los Gatos, CA, which has now been on the engine (ex-Venice Railway No. 2) for 45+ years — photo below from Chris Rizzoli, who rebuilt it not long ago.

The rest of that whistle may be Kinsley, but not the acorn on top. Kinsleys had an odd square-nut bodied acorn.

Indeed—definitely not original. I was never sure if the replacement was done by this whistle's owner (a skilled machinist) or before he even got it. In any case, it's not a bad sound to hear echoing off the hills from your house on the complete other side of town.

Here's an old ad for Kinsley 1902

https://images2.bonhams.com/image?src=I ... osizefit=1

Here is a Kinsley whistle (6" dia.) which was used on Hillcrest Lumber Co Shay #1 during the 1990's, it did not carry this whistle during it's working life. We are not sure where this whistle came from but it is entirely possible it is the same one Tom mentions above on 1055. It had been painted silver overall before we put it on the Shay, the bell on this whistle is steel, I'm not sure if that is original or a repair. We also had some oral history that this whistle may have come off a CNR engine, though I find that doubtful. This is an absolutely lovely sounding whistle so I think we will be putting it back on the Shay when it returns in the near future.

Pat

Is it true that a chime whistle can be heard over a longer distance than a single note whistle?

That was the allegation made by early patent seekers for the first multi-chime whistles. Your mileage may vary.

The true function of any chime whistle is to be more melodious and less irritating to those forced to hear it on a regular basis--workers, neighbors, etc. What truly makes any whistle audible over a longer distance is sheer volume, increased by higher working pressure. In addition, the pitch of the tone is a factor as well; note that large ships have a deep "honk" to them (see the intro to any episode of "The Love Boat" for a sample), and the record for modern-day noisemakers would have to be the modern "booooooooooooooooop" foghorns in use in foggy locations to this day.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C3BJ8DsJdVE
SS Normandie's triad whistle on steam, 2010

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iHCmzvzCmhI
Sounding the Sumburgh (Scotland) Foghorn

The loudest whistle I have personally experienced has been N&W 1218's single-note "hooter," which allegedly could work with up to the loco's BP of 300 PSI, and I once heard over Interstate highway noise at a distance I later calculated to be 4.5 miles............