Buell Mfg. Co.

Buell Mfg. Co. – Over a Century of American-Made Air Horns

Buell Manufacturing Company has been producing powerful, reliable air horns from Lyons, Illinois since 1912. Buell Mfg. Co. is now led by its third generation of family ownership, and that heritage shows in every horn that leaves the shop — hand-crafted with the same dedication to quality that earned the brand its legendary reputation over more than a century of continuous production.

Built From the Ground Up With Premium Materials

What sets Buell air horns apart from the competition starts with the materials. Each horn is constructed entirely of brass and bronze, featuring hand-spun bells and a stainless steel diaphragm. A thick, heavily chromed mirror finish isn't just for looks — it provides genuine corrosion resistance capable of standing up to saltwater exposure and the rigors of daily heavy-duty use. Buell's exclusive "free-floating disc" diaphragm design is a key engineering detail that contributes to the brand's signature tone and long-term reliability.

A Horn for Every Application

Buell's catalog spans a remarkable range of industries and use cases, reflecting more than a century of real-world problem solving. Their core product lines include:

• Emergency Air Horns – Purpose-built for police cars, fire trucks, and ambulances, where an unmistakable audible signal can be a matter of life and death.
• Marine Air Horns – Buell's Strombos line is one of the most recognized names on the water, delivering the classic deep blast that mariners associate with authoritative vessel signaling.
• Auto Air Horns – From vintage car restorations to modern trucks, Buell's Classic horn series brings a distinctive, period-correct look and a commanding tone to personal vehicles.
• Industrial Horns – Engineered to cut through ambient noise in demanding plant and facility environments, delivering clear audible warnings where reliability is non-negotiable.
• Railway Horns – Heavy-duty horns designed to keep locomotive operations safe and audible signals consistent across long distances.

The Strombos Legacy

Many Buell horns are sold under the storied Strombos name, a designation that has been trusted for over 75 years. Operating on 50–150 PSI of air pressure, Strombos horns produce mid-to-high range tones that can be combined in pairs or sets of multiple lengths — each horn producing a different frequency — to create a rich, chimed signal that is virtually impossible to ignore. This scalability makes Buell horns equally at home as a single-note truck horn or a multi-horn emergency vehicle installation.

American Craftsmanship, Enduring Value

In an era of disposable products, Buell air horns stand apart. Customers frequently report horns lasting decades, even through the kind of demanding daily use that would destroy lesser hardware. The combination of premium raw materials, proven design, and meticulous American craftsmanship means that a Buell horn is not just a purchase — it is a long-term investment in audible safety and performance.