# Squeeze bulb horn - history?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/squeeze-bulb-horn-history/816104>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [June 14, 2018, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/squeeze-bulb-horn-history/816104 "2018-06-14T19:07:10Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![mixdenny](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mixdenny/32/2962_2.png) [@mixdenny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mixdenny)\
**Post date:** [June 14, 2018, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/squeeze-bulb-horn-history/816104/1 "2018-06-14T19:07:10Z")

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When did the familiar squeeze bulb horn develop? Were they not used until vehicles other then horse drawn brought about their use? The rubber bulb would need vulcanization, but perhaps a bellows might have been an earlier method. Bagpipes use a bladder to work a small wind instrument, perhaps that is the genesis but bulb horns are a reed instrument, I believe. Maybe some automatons?

Dennis

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**Author:** ![Ignotus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/ecc23a/32.png) [@Ignotus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ignotus)\
**Post date:** [June 16, 2018, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/squeeze-bulb-horn-history/816104/2 "2018-06-16T17:04:13Z")

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Never heard of these before; but it seems like bellows horns actually were a thing at least at sea. This clip claims to be of an authentic 18:th century specimen: [Original British 18th Century Naval Foghorn of HMS AGAMEMNON - YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Az6H90zohc8)

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**Author:** ![mixdenny](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mixdenny/32/2962_2.png) [@mixdenny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mixdenny)\
**Post date:** [June 16, 2018, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/squeeze-bulb-horn-history/816104/3 "2018-06-16T21:25:06Z")

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Now we’re talking! Good find. But no actual use for music that I could find, just signaling.

Dennis

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**Author:** ![bob\_2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bob_2/32/3341_2.png) [@bob\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bob_2)\
**Post date:** [June 16, 2018, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/squeeze-bulb-horn-history/816104/4 "2018-06-16T21:26:34Z")

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Coach drivers in the 18th c used bugles to clear the way; bulb horns were a natural development but as you say, would have had to wait for vulcanised rubber.

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**Author:** ![Ignotus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/ecc23a/32.png) [@Ignotus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ignotus)\
**Post date:** [June 16, 2018, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/squeeze-bulb-horn-history/816104/5 "2018-06-16T22:01:54Z")

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> [@bob\_2](#):
>
> **Coach drivers in the 18th c used bugles to clear the way** ; bulb horns were a natural development but as you say, would have had to wait for vulcanised rubber.

But sometimes the tunes got stuck due to frost, only to be released when the horn was brought indoors to thaw!

(Don’t tell me the noble baron ever told a lie!) 🙂