Where the heck is Big Jim?

[DDC]

It has actually been back for about a month per channel 4 and my own ears. I live on E 10th and had been missing my 7AM alarm to let me know it was about time to leave for work. Several weeks back I started hearing him again. Glad he is back. And the report said that it was a lightening Strike that took him out.

[Ocklawaha]

Damn shame that none of you Millennial's will get to hear what it REALLY sounds like. Saturated steam would completely change the tone of the old boy. Any other city on earth and they purchase a small electric steam generator and keep it real.

The whistle at the waterworks first sounded a fire alarm July 21, 1886 (though some texts date it to 1890). Big Jim sounded all fire alarms in the city and the alarms were coded (rather morris code style) depending on which neighborhood the fire call came in from. It was found that the whistle wasn't loud enough and the engineer at the water works increased the steam pressure by 30 pounds per square inch. On April 19, 1887, the young fire department was tested by the Continental Insurance of NYC, Springfield Fire and Marine Insurance of Columbia, SC, Southern Board of Fire Underwriters and the Southeastern Tariff Association.

A few minutes after 8 (we assume AM) the alarm was pulled on 'Box 23,' on the corner of Hogan and Duval Streets. The Fire Chief arrived in 35 seconds, the Western Division on a minute and 15 seconds, the Central Division on a minute and 30 seconds and the Hook and Ladder unit was on scene in a minute and 40 seconds. The first water stream was hooked up within 2 more minutes, and the second stream a few seconds later.

The tests were a smashing success and the officials immediately certified Jacksonville's efficiency and lowered the insurance rates in the city, saving the citizens $30,000 dollars annually to property owners and businesses.

Now to hear what a steam whistle sounds like as God intended it, take a 36 second listen to this sweet sound:

http://www.youtube.com/v/BgNX-PFE-nY?version=3&hl=en_US

Shall we start a movement? BRING BACK THE REAL BIG JIM!