buying whistles over the net is great, but can really bite you if not careful. How is that you ask ??

PIX !! Pix !! Pix !!!

Can't really hold and try the whistle out — yah ?? Can't look inside of it either for the most part.

However, you can get those terrific digital pictures.:-)

Ironically we see a lot of whistles for sale with blurry pictures. Really goes against the nature of the whole thing doesn't it ?? We want a picture —  to see what we are buying,  but may only get a picture that is 75% clear.

That would amount to seeing 75% of the whistle wouldn't it ?? And yet it happens all the time but with a note that the seller couldn't take a good picture 'because of the camera' —– .FUNNY….

AND not your problem, UNNNNNLESS you buy it !!!

If you look no further and buy it anyway….. now it is gambling !!! And you really can't complain honestly can you, if the whistle has defects that are fuzzy in the picture 🙁

The answer ??

1) don't buy it !!!
2) ASK for clear pictures
3) roll the dice ( but be ready to eat it !! )

just some thoughts to mull over….

got an interesting email on a slider whistle the other day. Enquiring on what we knew about it.

Yeah, pretty cool looking and all. Mahogany and well built, perhaps pre 1900. Has what looked to be musical notes on the inside shaft.

So anyway we were asked what we could tell about it and since it is a slider and wooden we shared what we could. Always nice to hear from someone who values what they have.

Possibly gotten from a long time relative or someone else in the family.

May even have been cherished and handed down several generations.

Just love it when whistles are valued so much !!

You can see it for sale for 20gbp on eBay…..

Now that we have talked about geography and travel and expenses and time >>>>>>  In other words the contrast of hunting for rare whistles on foot or by sitting stationary and watching them march by — the question begs, why the internet ???

Because in a way they come to you !!!! What a concept !!!! The more people that you contact that sell whistles, the more that you will see. And that equates to variety and quality of which you likely won't come across at a garage sale, antique store, etc.

Consider that we had 25 whistles after 25 years and now with the internet we have over 1000. Yes we are selling them off constantly as we grow and change and that means we would have a lot more !!!!!. As our research grows we redirect and actually have to trim DOWN.

BUT,  how that could be done if there wasn't a constant flow of whistles ?? Couldn't.

Did you note that point earlier in this blog ??………….contact >>>> write,IM,text,email, write,phone…………

wouldn't it be grand if whistles were rated the same as coins ??

You know,uncirculated, extra fine, fine, good — all the way down to poor. It would make buying and selling them sooooo much easier !!! Wouldn't have to ask all the time — are there any hidden defects in the photos pleeeease ?? Bought one recently that was vracked and hidden in the pix.

Are there any scratches ??  Also got a B&R the other day that had no disc 🙁   I forgot to ask that simple question — does the whistle actually work !!!  —- Doesn't it make you wonder if the seller had his fingers crossed and was thinking " I hope he doesn't ask, I hope, I hope…. Really ?? Cheat someone for 10 dollars, where has integrity gone ?? On the other hand I have heard of buyers that buy a rare whistle, switch it and then return the crummier one !!! Got to admit it isn't always one way is it ??

So, once again I have shot off on a tangent. Back to my earlier tirade. whistle condition. Yup, it would be soooo much more sensible if all agreed to some guidelines. I have tried to explain it to a seller but it loses itself in the translation.

My favorite is the description that says…good shape considering its age. Yeah that really works for me. I go to buy an antique table and it is all scarred up and the seller says great condition for 75 years old !!! Just don't try writing a letter on it is all. How would that work with a muscle car from the 60s ?? Nice condition for its age. Yeah a few scratches and dents but hey, it is 50 years old. Now can I have my money please ??

I'd get off my soap box but it turned out that even though it was great for it's age it was broken and I fell off already…..

Depending how old you are many of us remember the old days of garage sales when they really were gold mines. I mean you could cruise through a sale and find some terrific bargains. Even better were the estate sales and perhaps still are at times.

Whistles are still like that for the most part. Great bargains to be had if one looks in the right places. So many times they go completely unnoticed by the general public — under the radar so to speak. Oh, I know, there are those high profile ones on eBay that can reach pretty good prices. But in all reality 500 dollars for a whistle isn't stratospheric. Compare double that for a TANK whistle or 800 dollars for a rare asylum whistle like the one that went a few months ago, ————– against a corkscrew that can sell for 10, 20 or even 30 thousand dollars !!! Now that's a LOT !!! But even the most expensive whistles are cheeeeeap for rich people right ??

Now let's bring it down to the level of most of us financially. Putting the all too rare dirt cheap bargains for 10 dollars aside, how about we put a ceiling of say 200 dollars and try to drop below that as far as we can and do an experiment. Is THAT even realistic these days ??? And in context can we find really terrific bargains still ??  Whistle collecting may be one of the best bargains going !!!

Don't believe me do ya ??? Well, I'll prove it….

Looking back on the year of diligent collecting for a 4 month period – from July 2012 to October 2012 ( that's roughly one third of the year ) we pulled out the best 12 purchases we found and then averaged them out. What did we find ??

Among the purchases were Lilly, Hawksley, Hudson, Linegar,Yates, McDonald,  and so on.
All are very rare. 
Four of the whisltes are the only examples known to us.
All but one, are circa 1900 or earlier >>>>> dating back to 1860.
Top quality, excellent whistles. All high quality condition.

The average price ?? 150 dollars !!! Sure that meant we spent 1800 dollars for a dozen outstanding whistles, a pace that could easily be cut for the average Joe to four whistles or in other words ONE A MONTH, OR stretched out to a whole years of sleuthing !!! ( you can whistle now )

You know I have a friend who just sold his boat off because when he totalled his cost taking out his friends on the weekend, after fuel, food, docking fees, the boat,  etc. he found that it cost him 2000 dollars per weekend !!!

You do the math….
 

nothing bugs me more than postage costs when buying international these days.

Have you paid attention to the spread ?? Getting a good deal on a whistle can be blown out of the water from one simple phrase – SIGNED FOR DELIVER !!! Yeah, I know, it guarantees that the buyer got the item, I know. AND that of course that means a lot when it is an expensive whistle and you as the seller don't want to get burned. ( Paypal is often used and they will take your money from you if the buyer complains about not getting the whistle — truthfully or not )

Whatever….

All I know is that I can buy a whistle for 10 dollars and then pay 20 dollars for the postage —  if I don't ask or read th fine print GRRRR…..

Now order a whistle from France and what caveat emptor is there to watch out for ??? — COLISSIMO — the top quality postage that is reeeeeeally expensive.

And what are the REAL costs ?? hmmm….. let's look at them….

1) bubble wrap envelope and postage from anywhere in the USA – 2 bucks !!

    I buy the envelopes at Walmart for dirt cheap.

2) Anywhere else short of Australia, China etc. — 4 bucks !!

3) France 6.5 Euros

4) UK 3.3gbp

5) ?? ASK !!!!

options ?? signed for ( as we have noted ) insurance, over night –well who does this and collects very many whistles anyway ??? Try 500 whistles multiplied by postage costs for all 500,  well you get the picture right ?? ——- it's WORTH the risk over all to skip the extras !!!!!!!. Unless you get a real rarity of course.

Sooooo what to do ?? ASK ahead.OR DON'T BUY !!!!  It If you don't, the postage can really accumulate for an avid collector like you and me.

Personally I have had 2 whistles go missing in the last 2-3 years and they weren't much to worry about, so I told the seller not to worry about it either. One STILL refunded the money !! WOW look what kindness does ??

Watch your backs my fellow aficianados, postage and well,  Paypal fees….we'll get to that another day….

we have been buying like mad for the No Cal show coming in May. Lots of sirens, scouts, train, bosun, and some oddities to really add to the variety offering. Of course rounds are our favorites, but hard to come by and keep the prices down.

All caught up catalogueing (sp) and picture taking for our records and of course TAXES !!! Gotta stay honest you know. However the large cash outlay really takes a bite now doesn't it ?? Always tickles me when I am asked how much off if  "I buy three" — now really ?? With gasoline at 4 dollars a gallon and us commuting to the shows, how much off can I give for three whistles that don't amount to 100 dollars. But hey, it is a cheap hobby for the most part still.

Been thinking that you might like to read about the auction scene. That would mostly be eBay as they dominate the world of auctions for whistles. No secret there huh ?? So what has been happening lately ?? Well, some really great 1880's Hudson cycling whistles have come and gone for VERY high prices !!! How about 513 dollars for one whistle ??? And two whistles in 30 days. Something to always keep in mind though is that a very few collectors are keeping the prices so high. Usually a lot less without them. Perhaps one day though there will be a lot more avid collectors ??

Also saw once again the DeCourcy siren up for auction. At one time a thousand British pounds was asked, now it is down to half and perhaps should be lower. It has a reserve and has been up half a dozen times now—  but no sale. By the time it sells for every penny that can be squeeked out another will show up !!! Leaves a bad taste in your mouth when — well I will save that for another day……

Interesting watching a TANK whistle up for auction. Here is an interesting ploy….Offer a lower price to a dealer than he has it listed for. Then put the pictures up for auction on eBay and make it look like you actually HAVE that whistle,  when in actuality it is owned by another dealer. THEN if it sells rush over to the other dealer and buy it for the earlier solicited price and resell it for a tidy profit. Innovative huh ??? Well, only if the original owner lets it go !!!!! Perhaps he is a little more savvy and is watching eBay too ???? Der.

post new years now and prices dropping as usual. Boy, if I was smarter I would graph this movement and buy only in the off season. Of course rare antique whistles would pop up in the ON season wouldn't they ?? But there seems to be no pattern — except my cash flow.

The rule is always strike while the iron is hot. That can really hamper the pocket book, but what is one to do ?? Good question — sell, sell, sell it seems. If one wants to learn anything about whistles it is like the man says' you have to go through a LOT of whistles to see and compare, so why pile them up ??? Let some GO….

That being said, where does greed end and pure study, learning and recreational fun take over ?? Another good question. Apparently there is a lot of overlap. They say that 'collectors' that are compulsive NEVER get rid of anything !!! Is that true of you ?? If it is not one thing it is another to collect ?? —- Do you say " I have a LOT of 'interests' though " ……..To be sure.

Try this for a change — cut back !!! Maybe just delve into one thing and do it well, or just for balanced fun. Wow, that's a challenge huh ?? I have heard that you never see a Uhaul behind a hearse. Makes sense, but to live that way ?? One would have to purge periodically. — Yup, sell off, trade off, cut back, simplify ….whatever….just some thoughts about 'collecting' verses hoarding.

Here's some check points to think about ……

buyers remorse ??

broke ??

can't remember what you have ??

duplicates, triplicates, ad infinitum ??

can't pass it up ??

never let any go ??

You OFTEN wonder why you bought the ones you did for THAT price ??

You spent MORE for a lot of crummy whistles — than for a few great ones ??

Food for thought….