There is probably not a child anywhere in America, who doesn’t love the sounds of a steam train rolling down the tracks. It’s all the noise that just adds so much anticipation. When you see the steam — and hear the whistle, well you just stop what you’re doing and enjoy the experience. It’s the same for 5 year olds, or 105 year olds: age does not matter.  It’s those whistles — the sound of stream pushed through pipes — that can just take us back a century. It’s a sound that is just so pure Americana.

You find them on trains — but also in factories, lumber mills,  on steam powered paddle boats and old Navy ships. We have even spotted them on old steam tractors that are still running. But the of course purists really love them on the old steam trains that have been restored. It’s why three generations of a Westminster, Maryland family began making smaller, home versions,  of the whistles.

Inventor Stephen Mintz developed the small aluminum whistles back in the 80’s. He even delivered three to the White House for a Super Bowl Party. Why develop the  whistles,  well he says “It’s just a fun thing.”

Now his two sons, Ron and Michael,  work away in the garage — making and selling thousands of them each year.

They’re called Mintz Whistles — but we call them magic. If you have to have one, check out their website: Mintz Whistles. They are a big hit, and come with or without a screw mount — so you can actually hook them up to an air compressor. In its own way, the Mintz family is Saving Americana, just by keeping the sounds of our past alive.