QE2 Whistles

[highlander0108]

I feel like that sounds familiar nigelrob ... which leads me to my question:  What note is QE2's whistle.  I know I've read about it but just can't find it.  There's loads of info about QM2's whistle being a "deep bass A" but I can't find a stich about  the note of QE2's whistle.

Anyone know off hand?

I too have been searching for the actual octive of Qe2's whistle.  I suspect it is lower than the 70hz of the current regulations, another reason why her sound is so unique among the current crop of cruise ships.  Would she have been grandfathered in for compliance with this regulation?  I do have mixed emotions regarding whether her whistle should be given to the new QE, even if there was a way to get around the new regs.  QM2's sound of the original whistle is complicated with the sound of the newer horns.  I also read on the wearecunard site that Cuanrd confirmed that there will be no whistle donation from QE2 for the new QE3 and she willhave her own "unique" sound, which i suspect will sound jsut as tinny as QV's.

[Twynkle]

Isabelle - that was a truly great Fix
Thank you - and to Hythe eye!

Have you heard this one?

[highlander0108]

Here is what I have found so far, which may add some insight and/or further confusion regarding the whistles.  From the Kockum website, there are two sizes of the Tyfon style whistle currently available.  Whether or not these are the exact same units that were put on QE2 is one question.  There are two Tyon whistles built into the forward mast.  They are both air horns.  From this pic I took on her final departure from NYC, it is clear that they are of differing diameters. 

The larger diameter whistle, which is the lower mounted unit, has the deeper sound, from the website.  Perhaps the unique sound of QE2's horn is the fact that they used two different octave sounding whistles.

Here are links to the two different air powered whistles from the Kockum website.
http://www.kockumsonics.com/pdf/marine/KSM267E_MKT_15090.pdf
http://www.kockumsonics.com/pdf/marine/KSM_268_MKT150110.pdf

The whistle mounted on the foredeck is an electric unit.  It appears that the electric units are rectangular shaped, as illustrated here.  Photo courtesy of former safety officer Ashley Allen posted on RMSqueenelizabeth2.com website.  I just love this picture. 

http://www.kockumsonics.com/pdf/marine/KSM_602_MTX150120.pdf
Perhaps others have found the actual frequency of the whistles used on QE2.  Maybe the sound can still be duplicated today and meet current IMO regs.   

[citrail]

Not sure if  this one should be in here, but there is plenty of "QE2 horn fix" at the beginning of this one

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=6113154463286775489

[Louis De Sousa]

The whistle mounted on the foredeck is an electric unit.  It appears that the electric units are rectangular shaped, as illustrated here.

They can also be round as you can see on this link.That whistle is used mostly as the Fog Horn.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/ex-crewmember/3553974185/in/pool-qe2-the_legend


Louis

[Isabelle Prondzynski]

Another discussion of the QE2 whistles here... with some familiar faces    ...

http://hornwhistleboard.com/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=2433

[Twynkle]

Thank you, Isabelle and 'The Others!'
That's the best thing that's happened for some time....!

[PJtheMuppet]

QE2 sounding her horn before leaving Rotterdam in 2007. Probably one of the few videos where I actually shut up and didn't add any smart alec comments to. I do admit I was waiting for Queen Victoria to 'reply' but sadly I didn't hear anything.

Another slightly off topic question, does anyone use the recording of the whistle for their phone ring tones or anything? I use a recording of the whistle for my Skype ring tone - shocks me every time someone calls. And also as the alarm tone on my iPod. The whistle is the perfect way to get me out of bed. Only because it shocks me and then I can't get back to sleep.

I do I have it as my message tone!!!

[highlander0108]

I found a forum for all you "whistle" enthusiasts that makes very interesting reading. I joined and posted questions on the "horns" used on QE2 and here is the response I got from the expert.  So it is the two horns on the foremast, one air driven, and one electrical, slightly off tune, that produce that wonderful mellow tone.

http://www.hornwhistleboard.com/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=2433&hilit=

I was corrected on another board once, referring QE2's horns as whistles.  Technically I was correct. All of the sound producing devices on QE2 are "air horns."  Titanic has whistles, which were accurately reproduced for the movie if you recall that poker scene in Southampton.  Whistles use a pipe with an orifice that is tuned to produce a sound when steam or compressed air is driven through it.  Air horns use a  diaphragm which produces occillation in a power chamber that when air is applied, the diaphragm vibrates against a nozzle. The oscillation of the diaphragm against the nozzle produces sound. The configuration and overall dimensions of the bell , which is what we see in the mast on QE2, determines the frequency produced (measured in hertz).  There is a post on the above mentioned board that explains this probably better than I attempted.

From now on I will refer any discussion on the voice of QE2 as her "horns."

Ken

[Twynkle]

Thank you, Ken
Interesting stuff!

About the QE2, her horns and particularly the vibrations
At times, they sound as if something is actually 'moving' more slowly;
it seems as if these are more pronounced now than earlier in her career
Could this be to do with the atmosphere, wind direction, sound recording etc
Or...is this just imagination...?!?

[Bob C.]

Rosie,
  I think what you are referring to is caused by a slight offset of the frequencies of the two horns.  When the two sets of sound waves interact the resulting combined sound wave gains and loses energy causing the cyclic variation in sound volume.  A bit scientific, my apologies, but that's what I hear when the horns blow.

[Twynkle]

Thank you, Bob.C
I wish they were here now - if you know what I mean!
Or at least hope for the possibility of hearing them live - resonating deeply -
it was wonderful in the Fjords last August

[Twynkle]

Thank you, Ken
This is a very good site
http://qe2-prideoftheclyde.blogspot.com/2009/09/tyfon-horns-update.html
 
Longing to hear her again....

[Isabelle Prondzynski]

Longing to hear her again....

Here you are, Rosie!
And by the way, I was on QE2... in Zeebrugge on 19 July 2008...   ... and the Captain was Ian McNaught    !

Enjoy!!

[Isabelle Prondzynski]

And another question :

                                     Is this how it's done??