Whistory
Few whistles are known that are stamped for Carlos Rasetti of Buenos Aires, Argentina. The history of this company dates back to 1857. Perhaps because this company of 110 years, dating from 1857 to 1967, was mainly a distributer, their main wares being arms, munitions and cutlery, has kept them in the fringes of the whistle world.
The main outlet was in Buenos Aires, but a factory through which they imported, was in France – the Armes De France. What was manufactured there is unknown, but it appears to be mainly cutlery including straight razors.
A Unique Carlos Rasetti Whistle
A unique whistle in the shape of a policeman’s face was manufactured in France possibly at the Armes De France factory. If it was there, that would date the whistle no earlier than 1906? It was stamped with Rasettii Buenos Aires in an oval ring on the back and then lower down on the whistle was in small letters, France.
In this article, 5 whistles and one siren are examined that are stamped for Carlos Rasetti distribution. More will be added as they surface. Why so few whistles ? Perhaps because they were mainly distributers.
Catalog Distribution of Carlos Rasetti Whistles
The 1905 catalog reveals the distribution of merely three whistles, two from the USA and one from the UK or possibly Germany. The 1917 catalog relists just two whistles, dropping the F.L. Johnson Surprise squeeze whistle. The 1927 catalog advertises two whistles and a case siren, introducing a Mauser whistle and a siren.
At the time of this writing, we have not yet obtained a Mauser with the Rasetti stamp ( if one exists ) and the case siren. Additionally, a 1931 catalog exists that has not been obtained to examine for whistles.
Whistle Classification
| Category | Varietal Round Oval Mauser |
| Order | Carlos Rasetti (distributor) F.L. Johnson (designer) Hudson Signal Sonder |
| Type | police |
| Class | nickle plated brass |
| Subclass |
Whistle Archelogy
- 1905 – 526 Rivadavia
- 1917 – Sarmiento esquina Maipu
- 3 Rue Lentonnet Paris
- 1924 – same address – F.C. Rasetti & Cia ( successors )
Catalogs extant are 1905, 1917, 1927 and 1931.
In the 1905 catalog we find 3 whistles.
- BGI ( Bridgeport Gun Instrument ) model 601 patented 1893 by Beardsley & Moulton
SEE SPOTLIGHT # 44 - Surprise whistle manufactured by American Pin Co, designed & patented by F.L. Johnson
SEE Spotlight # 94 - model 182 Hudson round
SEE Hudson 1935 catalog
In the 1917 catalog, we find just two whistles at this time. The Surprise whistle is no longer for sale.
Lastly in 1927 ten years later, two whistles and a siren
- The 1895 patented design by Hudson of the UK. However, note the vents are the floral design.
SEE SPOTLIGHT # 42, indicating another manufacturer - Model 182 Hudson round
SEE Hudson 1935 catalog - Mauser model
SEE SPOTLIGHT # 72
Whistology
The police FACE whistle although small at 1 1/8 inch long and one inch wide remains one of the most striking whistles.
It has a stop hole for variance of the sound, is rather scarce to almost rare and expensive when found, especially if the back part is not too dented being its Achilles’ heel.
Oval ‘round’ whistle model 177 French catalog for Hudson 189, Faubg. St Donis Paris
Model 175 ½ in the 1935 catalog for Hudson, 7 years after appearing in the Carlos Rasetti catalog
Photo Credit Unknown
This whistle is not pictured in the 1905, 1917, or 1927 catalog for Carlos Rasetti.
It could be model 180 in a French/Hudson catalog and again in 1935 in the Hudson UK catalog.
Photo Credit Unknown
Next pictures are of Model 182 Hudson round
SEE Hudson 1935 catalog, but more likely the 1910 catalog model 026 ( stamped Policia De La Capital )
The Mauser – no picture with the Rasetti stamp
The case siren – no picture with the Rasetti stamp
Conclusions:
The study of Carlos Rasetti whistles continues to open up. Presently the 1931 catalog or another, as also the French factory catalog, may reveal more about distribution of the oval whistle and likewise the enigmatic FACE shaped whistle, even possibly other models.
The Rasetti stamped whistles were mainly for a distributer advertising their munitions and cutlery and still yet the police issue differs.
Were the many Buenos Aires policia whistles issued through Rasetti and unmarked as such ?
TWG
First Printing November 11, 2022
Posted May 5, 2023
Bibliography:
The Whistle Gallery Reference Collection
Hudson 1935 Catalog
Carlos Rasetti Catalogs 1905, 1917, 1927
Razors Blog: http://hojasdeafeitarargentinas.blogspot.com/2015/04/casa-carlos-rasetti.html
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