The "Clover Leaf" Horn

[phonogfp]

 

One of the oddest talking machine horns ever offered to the public was Hawthorne & Sheble's "Clover Leaf Horn."  For lots of detailed information on this horn, refer to the article that appeared in the December 2018 issue of the APS magazine.

 

Here's what the horn looked like when discovered in a small Pennsylvania auction in November 2017:

 

 

 

 

 

This picture (above) shows what to me is a very important part of this Clover Leaf Horn.  The original price tag!  Apparently, this one never sold, and was hung up in some out-of-the-way spot where it passed the years unloved and neglected.  The tag is now carefully preserved in a plastic sleeve.

 

 

 

 

 

[Fran604g]

An impressive and imposing trio of horns, George. I truly wonder what exactly the designer was trying to achieve. I'm trying to remember the result of the sound comparison of the Cloverleaf and a "single bell" horn you, @NateO and I conducted. I do recall there was a distinct difference but to what end I cannot recollect.

 

Should've taken notes.😎 

Edited yesterday at 10:15 AM by Fran604g
Spell check

[phonogfp]

Fran,

 

The Clover Leaf Horn, for all its crazy visual effect, has a subtle effect on the sound.  While a single horn has a "sweet spot" for listening or recording, the Clover Leaf disperses the sound so that people in different room positions can hear the same thing.  To my ear, it feels a bit "smoother," without the differences in sound so obvious when walking in front of a single horn.  Apparently, most potential buyers of 1900 didn't think it was worth the fifteen dollars!

 

George