One of the many cool objects you can find in Gruene Antique Company is an antique Tyfon foghorn. Made of brass and mounted to a wood base, this unique find would be stunning for decor. However, not only would it look good, but it also works! Pulling the handle in a quick upwards motion, the horn will create a deep and classic foghorn sound. These particular horns served quite an interesting purpose.

A marine foghorn gives a signal to warn ships of hazards, dangers and the presence of other vessels in foggy conditions through the use of sound. These horns were used in WWII mostly to warn of sub or ship sightings. A series of long and short sounds with short or long pauses between them is a foghorn signal. These signals are code conforming to the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea. When a signal is made it may tell whether a ship is at anchor or aground, under sail or motor, small or large.

Kochums Mechanical Workshop manufactured the Tyfon foghorn in or around 1910 in Malmo, Sweden. Kockums Mechanical Werkstad, Ltd. was established in 1840, and established a shipyard at the Port of Malmo in Sweden in 1870. As well as building marine goods, such as the fog horns, the company built ships and large industrial and agricultural machinery. The ship production in Malmo came to a halt in 1987.