Low Head Lighthouse and Foghorn

The Low Head Light house at the mouth of the Tamar river in Tasmania Australia was built in 1833, it was replaced in 1888 by the present 21 metre brick structure.

In 1929 the 'G type Diaphone' fog horn was installed and in 2001 it was successfully re sounded. It is operated most Sunday's of the year. It is the only operational G type Diaphone in the world.

Under ideal conditions it can be heard up to 20 miles out to sea.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• Lighthouse
• Foghorn
• Diaphone
• Low
• Head
• Tasmania
• Chance
• Bros
• Reavell
• Gardner
• engines

[KnittingPasta]

You know that stereotypical OOOOOOooooooo sound that cartoon light houses make? how is that sound made compared to the ones I hear now which have only one tone?

not sure if anyone can answer this

[D9magestic]

@KnittingPasta

I now the sound your describing a higher note followed by a longer lower note. I think in Canada Fog horns used that sound and that is the sound that Looney tunes, most movies and the BBC goodies used that is why it is mostly thought of in popular culture as the sound all old fog horns used.

[wobblefluff]

Why are they sounding it when there's no fog?

[D9magestic]

@wobblefluff Thankyou for the question. It is sounded every Sunday morning as a tourist attraction by a small group of enthusiasts.

[Moosup44]

Great vid, thanks for sharing.

Are there/were there any of Kockum's Tyfons in Australia? And this diaphone, is it some sort of two-tone verison, with a lower tone first, and a higher tone later? (Apart from the distinctive closure sound of a diaphone)

[D9magestic]

Hello Moosup44 I don't actually know about Kockum's Tyfons. The lower tone part wasn't actually all that loud in real life and I think is was something to do with the timing gear. But the Higher and closure sound definitely were loud to the point that I nearly dropped the camera when I first recorded them (edited that bit out).

[ANDREWLEONARDSMITH]

Is this the same as the Diaphone of the organ?

[channelschmannel1]

@KnittingPasta The sound we think of as a fog horn from Saturday morning cartoons, the deep 2 tones is made by a Diaphone. It's actually 2, 1 for each note. Look up Diaphone on Wikipedia for more info. They've been retired because they require HUGE amounts of compressed air. Modern electronic fog horns are much cheaper to operate. The one in this vid is a single diaphone, but it takes a second to settle in, then speaks its main note, then has sort of a gulp at the end. They're unbelievable loud.

[TIMMEH19991]

This is without doubt the most awsome sounding and loudest foghorn in the world, and just my luck I live as far away from it as you can get! I'd love dearly to hear this in action for real.

[manga12]

what you are refering to is called an f type 2 tone, or f2t to hear a real one type in east brother lightstation on youtube, its a lighthouse in richmand california it has the only working one I know of they have a range I think of about 10 miles out to sea, and another working diaphone is grand harbor in traverse city in michagan but its just a regular f type they put there and blow from time to time for the visiters.

[FEDERALSIGNALTECH]

Is the main compressor driven by a westinghouse telsela motor?

[v8luver64]

3:36 it sounds like your in a UFO

[38Squid]

WOW! thats loud. would have loved to see the horn producing this noise.

[pharmajoe990]

My dad took me to see a Fog Horn at the mouth of Port Phillip Bay in Victoria when I was young. It was so loud... I actually was down that way the other day and saw it (wasn't operating), but there is a room with machinery similar to this close by. Thanks for the great video!

[Umpqua1012]

@andyknight1 Yes; and sadly it is the last of it's kind still working on earth today! There are three Type G Diaphones in U.K. at Bull Point lighthouse; but they don't work anymore; but the equipment is still inside the building and the horns are still in place. It shouldn't be a difficult task in getting them to sound again.