114 Hudson Dual Tube (Special Edition)

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Whistory

First described in 2000 in the initial book of Martyn Gilchrist Whistles on page 5 was the first of a series of duple whistles by Hudson. In 2017 that first known Hudson duplex whistle was described as a SPOTLIGHT. It is mono typical. See SPOTLIGHT 78.

July 16, 2020 the second mono-typical dual tube sold on auction for 1,379 gbp. and described. See SPOTLIGHT 113.

August 28, 2020, just 42 days later a third mono-typical duplex Hudson sold on auction. Separate SPOTLIGHTS have described the first two, however SPOTLIGHT # 114 is a comparison of all three for study purposes.

It had been thought for years that only three makers in the UK manufactured duplex heavy wall constructed whistles ( i.e. Ward, DeCourcy and Barrall ). There is a Hudson whistle ( see below ) displayed in the display case at Hudson’s that comes close, yet is more like the common thin wall duplex whistles – see SPOTLIGHT 48. Typically, these however, have heavier cast/handmade mouthpieces.

For historic background Simon Topman ( current CEO at J. Hudson whistles ) stated on the second whistle described, “I have seen one other identical whistle 20 years ago ( possibly # 1 duplex ), but I am certain that it was never a production item. This style was made c 1890 maybe earlier by B Lilly ( in fact made by John Barrall ). They called it the speedwell (I think but am not quite certain) and I think we were looking to copy it. It is made up of a number of elements from other whistles. This has all the hallmarks of a prototype right down to using stamp marks from other products, Metropolitans. The mouthpiece is hand made. – italics added.

So, side by side let’s examine the three models now known. The picture to the left is from the Whistle Gallery reference collection. The middle and right pictures are by permission of the sellers. The first whistle is described courtesy of the James Guttridge collection.

Whistology

Features include:

The discs are stamped Hudson’s on one disc and Patent on the other disc. Therefore dating is based on patent # 435 spanning 1885 – 1899, possibly later.

Both #1 and #2 have wire rim mouthpieces, which unfortunately is missing in the second whistle. Whistle #1 has a nickel silver wire rim. The #3 whistle mouthpiece may be cast or hand made, as the opening seems to be very thin metal which is damaged. Closer examination would be revealing.

The first two have single cast knops, while the third has hollow knop tops on both tube ends.

Notably, the windows vary, with #1 having half round windows and #2 & #3 have squared windows.

Whistle #1 is not stamped, #2 & #3, as Simons describes are stamped using stamps from other whistles.