The Howler

The  Howler iHorn is made from a Western Electric Telephone Howler which was made in 1913.  The Howler was an add on wall mounted telephone ring amplifier which was used in very noisy environments (such as near railroads) to amplify the phone ringing so that people could hear the signal.  Interesting, the howler tone was later incorporated into corded telephony to alert that the telephone had been left off the hook.  Western Electric was a big player in the early telephone industry.  Western Electric was the exclusive manufacturer and supplier of telephones and telephone equipment for the Bell System from 1881 to 1984. Founded in 1869, it evolved into a manufacturing arm for the Bell Telephone Company, producing nearly all the telephones used in the U.S. and driving innovation in the field. The company's operations ceased with the AT&T and Bell System's breakup in 1984.  The Howler was just one piece in that production dominance.  Today, its presence can be clearly heard reminding you that The Howler is off the hook!