The Rizzoli Locomotive works was started in 1975 by a Tool and Die Maker in Northern California, that was trying to build a whistle for a 1.5″ scale 4-4-0 American. There were no good plans available and the “off the shelf” whistles that the locomotive suppliers were selling all sounded the same. So the challenge was to create a distinctive sounding whistle that would represent the locomotive well. After a lot of looking at full size blue prints, talking to others in the hobby and a shelf full of “research”, we realized that building a good sounding whistle that would fit a 1.5″ scale locomotive was not as easy as it sounded. There are quite a few variables that don’t scale and operating parameters that must be accounted for in the final design.
After all the research, testing and refining, The Rizzoli Locomotive Works is pleased to offer steam whistles for the Live Steam hobby.
In 1999, The Rizzoli Locomotive Works added a line of amusement railroad size whistles to the line card and changed the business plan to an “all custom” type product line. Every whistle is built to the clients requirements, and every one is a custom fabrication.
We take great pride in our products, and we are delighted to be able to now offer full size whistles as part of our catalog.