“Blow Your Horn As Loud As You Can”: The Legacy of Robert Swanson
Photo Credit: Gavin Stevenson
Ever since Robert (Bob) Swanson passed away I’ve wanted to write a story about him. So now that I have this site dedicated to topics in Canadian heritage and history, I thought this would be the perfect opportunity to tell you a little bit about this remarkable man. His name might not be familiar if you live on the Prairies or even in Ontario or Quebec. Yet, if you’ve ever sailed on a coastal or lake ferry in foggy, rough water anywhere in the world, or heard a train’s shrilling horn as you approach a railway crossing, you have this man to thank. In 1949, Swanson patented the multi chimed air horn which revolutionised how horns are used on trains and ships around the world. This invention has saved thousands of lives worldwide and he was a Canadian from Nanaimo, British Columbia. (more…)
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