Whistory
The history of ACME Boatswain pipes is scanty at best. Additionally, boatswain pipes, as a category were not covered under Police Whistles and Similar types by Topman and Gilchrist nor More Whistles by Gilchrist, possibly because they are not considered whistles per se.
Extant Acme catalogs known in the public domain are 1910 and 1935. These catalogs contained three standard models for civil, merchant, and military use. Of note, an American model was offered in the 1935 catalog.
The 1910 and 1935 catalogs list whistles & pipes that were noted as available in hallmarked silver. Furthermore, separate catalog pages were published for presentation pipes on single sheets only, the 1935 catalog states catalog number 36 was available. Some miniatures were made with tie pins and of gold, this article will not include them.
ACME Begins Producing Boatswain Pipes
Unearthed whistle archeology under the leadership of Simon Topman CEO at ACME presently, reveals that pipes were made as early as 1870, 13 years before moving into 84 Buckingham Street. This would be when Joseph Hudson first left Bent and Parker, even turning around and making pipes for them and other military accoutrement makers. Unfortunately dating Hudson made boatswain pipes remains a difficult task, unless hallmarked and even then, difficult, because they used the hallmark stamps of the outside company.
This of course also makes identifying who made the pipe if not marked by the manufacturer, elusive and can only be discerned by the design characteristics and ‘witness marks’. Were some of these made of sterling silver using someone else’s hallmarks? Yes, and done with their request/approval as can be still done to this day.
The first stamps on their own models/patterns of boatswain pipes of Joseph Hudson’s Birmingham Assay Office hallmark are from 1898. With the discovery and organizing of punches at ACME for various sponsors, this opens a door of research into how often this was done for various whistle designs. This is yet to be published.
Prior to this year 1898 for boatswain pipes, what models were made and for whom is not known. Miniature pipes show up in the 1910 catalog but were made from 1900 onward. Boxes of parts from that year are still at ACME and these small pipes appear in advertisements if not in catalogs.
Due to tooling costs the variation of models was limited. However, buoy (barrel) widths did vary for 2 models as well as the lengths of the guns in model 012. Buoys ranged from 18mm to 24mm in models 052 & 012. Gun lengths vary from 116mm to 136mm in four sizes of model 012.
Nothing has been found as to why some ‘guns’ were simple, some had two bands, some had 3 bands.
As far as the broad arrow mark … ‘became particularly associated with the Board of Ordnance, and later the War Department and the Ministry of Defense’. Because of the scope of the British empire, it appears around the world.
Three levels of silver hallmarked models/pipes were produced by Hudson.
Level 1 ) standard patterns – 052, 012, 012 ½ – nickel plated, nickel silver
Level 2 ) higher quality – 1898 till ? more ornate scrolling, standardized, silver hallmarked
Level 3 ) higher quality – 1870s till ? made for others, using their hallmark stamps
Whistle Classification
| Category | Boatswain Pipe |
| Order | Joseph Hudson |
| Type | nautical |
| Class | silver nickel silver silver plated brass nickel plated brass |
| Subclass |
Whistle Archeology
We have three catalogs featuring Hudson Boatswain pipes. They are a 1910 catalog, an unknown dated French Hudson catalog, and a 1935 catalog, additionally a single page 11 & 13 street catalog. All three feature the same models – 052, 012, 012 ½ plus the miniature ( model 368 ). 1935 adds an American model and a plain keel model.
Hudson catalog 11 and 13 Barr Street address c. 1908 or earlier. Note the unique keel pattern. This pattern has not been found.
1910 Hudson catalog.
Buoy stamps identified patterns ( descriptions courtesy Bruce Rolph )
- Victorian crown 1880s to 1901 – royal navy use
- Same
- Kings crown – royal navy use
- Broad arrow 1910/11 up to 1936 – navy
- Civil or merchant navy – common use
- Victorian crown – royal navy
- Same
- Same
Patterns of the three standardized models/patterns issued by Acme.
model 052 – Rt
model 052 – Rt.
model 012 ½ – Rt.
model 012 ½ – left.
Three levels of silver hallmarked pipes were produced by Hudson.
- standard patterns – 052, 012 ( A older, B later ), 012 ½
- higher quality – 1898 till ?? with more ornate scrolling, but again standardized.
- higher quality – 1870s till ?? made for others and using their hallmark stamps.
Whistology
Level 1 standardized base models of 05, 012a, 012b and o12 1/2
052
012 A earlier pattern
012 B later pattern
The picture of scrolling in the 11 Barr St and 13 Barr St catalog predates 012A, but has not been found.
12 ½ Rt. & Lt. keel patterns
Level 2 – three standard models, but hallmarked Hudson
Silver hallmarked Level 2 model 052
Silver hallmarked Level 2 model 012a
Picture Level 2 – hallmarked 012 B not found yet
Picture Level 2 – hallmarked 012 ½ not found yet
Level 3 – two models not found in catalogues.
Smallest size – no model number
Mid-sized – no model number, same pattern
Example of contracted out with another’s hallmark. Large size, very similar pattern and same construction. The hallmark is for EJH & NH Edward John Haseler & Noble Haseler 1908
Buoy range of sizes
Gun range of lengths
Conclusions:
This research was focused only on Hudson made boatswain pipes with very little known of the earliest history from 1870 to 1898. Most comparisons have been made from the reference collection at TWG. As pipes ‘surface’, revisions will be done.
Although limited in patterns and models, there was variation of buoy sizes, gun ribs, as well as gun lengths. The quality varied considerably from merely nickel-plated brass, silver plate, hallmarked silver to gold.
TWG
First Printing September 23, 2023
Edited May 04, 2024
Posted May 12, 2024
Bibliography:
The Whistle Gallery Reference Collection
1910 catalog J. Hudson Company
1935 Acme whistle catalog
Emails threads with Bruce Rolph – boatswain pipe stamps
Emails threads from Simon Topman – historical research at Acme
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Broad_arrow
https://silvermakersmarks.co.uk/Dates/Birmingham.html
https://williamwalter.co.uk/maker/e-j-n-haseler/
