Air horns??

[mulrik]

I have these horns (see pictures) on my car. It's an early 250 originally delivered in Africa. According to my datacard there were no such horns on my car from Mercedes. I was just curious if anyone else has them. They are compressor driven and the compressor sits on the right hand side fender just behind the airfilter.
BR,
Ulrik


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[al_lieffring]

Air horns were an after market accessory. Back in the 70's when I drove mostly MGs I always installed a set of these on my cars. A real life saver when driving a tiny Spridget between the huge land-yachts that were made in the US back then.

Of course my favorite were the sets that played a melody, like the General Lee's horn that played "Dixie" when Bo and Luke Duke went flying through the air.
Yeee Haaaw!

For a Pagoda, the original Bosch horns are plenty loud, Reproductions are available now through several sources.

[mdsalemi]

I can't tell you they were a documented or undocumented factory accessory, but I can tell you that Bosch had several "fanfare" horns in their catalog of this era in which our "normal" horns belong.

[Douglas]

Where's the switch to operate them? Is it under the steering column?

[mulrik]

Well they are actually operated by the normal hornring in the steering wheel. There used to be switch under the wheel when I bought the car 5 years ago, but the wire ended in nothing so I removed it. My original horns are not hooked up or they do not wotk, I don't which is the reason for the lack of sound from these guys.
Thanks for your answers.
Ulrik

[mdsalemi]

quote:Originally posted by Douglas

Where's the switch to operate them? Is it under the steering column?

It was not uncommon on many cars to replace (even augment) existing or conventional horns with either air horns, or the similarly loud (but not requiring a compressor) fanfare horns, including those made by Bosch.  Depending on how much current the compressor draws, aftermarket kits also included a relay which may be additional.  My Bosch catalog page of the era, showing conventional and fanfare horns (but no air horns) also has wiring diagrams for all their horns, and they all appear to be driven off a relay.  I guess you really don't want all that current going through the horn ring switch.

Air horns were also common as standard equipment on many European cars of the era.  My aunt's late 1960's Taunus (German Ford) sedan had them as standard.  Not only was the lighting brighter on European cars (what with H4 halogens etc.)of the 1960's apparently they were louder too!

[paults1]

My '63 230SL was deliverd to Italy & air horns were mounted on the passenger side inside the hood next to the voltage regulator.