what makes something collectable ?? Some say that there has to be some sort of emotional connection when we grew up. Then we amplify that connection to higher levels as we research deeper and wider making more emotional connections. Well, we can stop there as it only gets more sensitive and uncomfortable after this !!!

So let’s jump ahead to whistles. Where is the attachment ??

Do we recollect one from our childhood and it strikes a fancy ? Or perhaps it is something else and it hops over and fills that void ? I know that metal whistles are a lot like coins.
Could be plastic whistles though ( really can’t identify with thooooose — Sorry Willie !! )

One thing I have seen over the years that the oddest sense is involved — know what it is ??? The sound you say ???????? ——————- NOPE.

It’s FEEL — YUP, it is how the whistle feels in your hand. Seen it time and again. Put a heavy whistle in someone’s hand and it is … well we’re not going there either.

Suffice it to say that an impression is made that a light tin whistle, although elaborately made, does not cause.

Good news for the antique show this next weekend in Puyallup. Lot’s of whistles to weigh and feel    🙂

Bad news for selling on the internet from here !!!  What are we to do ????    Oh well, who cares ??

Thought it was about LEARNING ????

Less neurosis and more fun.

NUANCE-–a subtle difference or distinction in expression.

How might this apply to collecting whistles ?? Appreciating and learning about the variations or nuances in them can expand your activities with whistles.

Take one whistle and split it ten ways, then take 100 whistles and split them the same or in other words a 1000 whistles can come from appreciating the variations ( just as well as the totally different models. ) in a hundred whistles with 900 variations !!!

Now you’ve multiplied your hobby so as to never get bored, hemmed in or even broke :-), despite not always seeing completely new whistles.

Great huh ??

Worked well today in getting another DeCourcy escargot on auction. Rather cheap too. No big deal really, but real time fun.

—square top knop like a couple others here, really not that rare, however not seen a lot. Unusual stamp, but just another stamp after all is said and done. However the stamp also has MADE IN ENGLAND and his rarely do…so whyyyyyyy ??

Don’t know—-need a closer look, then sell it off I guess.

This studying is work…

Now this is going to sound weird but, can collecting whistles reach an art form ?? Hmmmm….

Some think that everything is art. That being the case then maybe so with whistles.

What if it is more than just collecting ?? What if the research, study, and appreciation has connective tissue that rises above just a hobby ?? Forms a body. Something more than whistles when gathered together.

It’s like an orchestration of feelings, beauty…art

Could it be that every whistles designer is putting their selves into their creations and your delving into them is unlocking their appreciation, creativity, ingenuity — joie  de vivre.

oops, stepped over the line there didn’t I……

In whistle collecting so much can be seen in the different parts — even the mouthpieces. Take for example the mouthpiece on a general service whistle. You might say that they all look alike, but ARE they all alike ???

No. Each manufacturer used different molds, tools and style. In reality each would be a reflection of the individual as much as personality.

Consider the Knoxall GSW that is up for auction on eBay right now ( the Google of on line auctions ) It is being sold as being made by John Barrall manufacturer. Why ?? Because the seller uses a book and follows it rather than following the Manufacturer.

There are two types of cast mouthpieces that DOWLER made. The second was made circa 1890 to 1900. It is slightly longer than most cast mouthpieces and curved in wards, not rounded outwards and short — ( distinctive to Dowler ) just abruptly finishing it’s curve at the opening. It is very distinctive. However Barrall never did this.

Barrall is not stamped on the whistle, but neither is Dowler. It turns out that Barrall never even made a Knoxall Police call or general service whistle.

What’s the point ?? You can become adept at this hobby and tell a lot more about your whistles with research !!!

Now there is an obscure subject !!! The rings on whistles — who notices ??

I do.

But whyyyyyyyy you ask ?? Good question ….

—cause they are fascinating. Sometimes nickel silver. They would of course match up to the nickel silver whistles right ??

Then there are steeeeeeel split rings. Not just any split rings though. Gotta be those old very tough steel rings that are kinda skinny and very tight closing too !!! Great for having rust but that can be easily removed right ?? yup… tell ya later….

However, after the subject starts we have to discuss sizes to !!! Large rings or at least appropriate for each whistle. The circumference has to match the hole or they don’t move after installing do they ?? Finding the right ring can be frustrating.

In fact finding solid old brass rings can be very hard huh ????

You can actually date your rings to match your whistles and makes them more ‘fitting’

Brass for brass, or sometimes certain manufacturers didn’t use brass but steel only. Some times split rings sometimes solid.

Wow, what an interesting subject. I could get lost in it….where was I ??

Yah, gets complicated huh ?? Whoda thunk ??

Now there’s a face that only a mother’s love could take !!!

NOBODY collects unibody whistles right ??

Ahem….

What ?? Are you kidding ?? NOOOOOO they don’t all look alike at all !!!!!! That really hurts !!!!!

Just look at the different scout unibodies for instance. Separate manufacturers for BOY and GIRL scouts ( Hudson and B&R ) — yeah, that’s what I’m talking about !!! and they are always brass with that dark patina.

Then there are different countries that manufacture them in nickel silver and plated brass. Interesting chains too.

There are different sizes AND the top loops vary tremendously ( well sorta if you look closely)

Gotta watch for the top ring breaking off though, perhaps that is a smaaaaallll drawback.

Don’t you love the way the body is all one piece, mouthpiece integrated into the one pressing.??

No stampings on the body, just on the top cap.

Well, if no one wants them, then more for me 🙂 In fact they are dirt cheap this way !!!!!

OK, this is as far as I can go !!! Frankforts ( smaller ones ) — escargots of course — can’t get myself to keep them — that’s right two of ’em !!!

Why would anyone keep them you ask ?? – well first of all the question should be,  why am I tempted ?? —  It’s these tabs on the sides. You know the interlocking teeth that the famous Winchester escargots have ( see SPOTLIGHT ). GOT a couple dozen different ones of THOSE now don’t I !!!!

However these are definitely USA made and a variation of those tabs could be revealing as to the manufacturer of the Winchester type escargots 🙂

So,  am I hot on the trail or barking up the wrong tree ?? Can you feel the frustration yet ?? Argh !!! ….. Just wanted to share that with you …

Misery does love company when it comes to whistle collecting.

And add to this is the smallest detail,  that one whistle has a pillar top ( a little unusual in escargots, except for REX and perhaps Halex ) and the other has a round knop…

Should I or shouldn’t I keep them ????? They won’t take much rooooom after all. Then again EACH hook is a valuable space reserved for only the most important research whistles in the reference collection ya know ??

What to do ?? What ever to do ?????????????????????

I know, I will leave it up to you. If you say let them go,  I will, BUT,  if I don’t hear from you I will keep them ( next to their relatives. the Winchesters )

genius….

— finding rare whistles can be difficult eh ?? Yah !! That’s for suuuure.

Why ???? Because we are sometimes looking in the wrong places. Oh, I know what you are thinking…. But Noooooo.

They might be right under your noses and you have your goals, standards ( i.e. eyes ) set too high 🙂

For example:

Pretty insignificant escargot you say ?? Maybe, just depends what you have your eyes set on. What do you see when you first scan it in a pile of other whistles ??

Could be that the plating is threadbare, wearing off in flakes. BUT, no dents !!!

You might think that it is way too small for all your more manly whistles. Just a dinky little thing and you would be close to right, as far as stature. Yet is that why you are collecting whistles ?? To be manly ????? Not likely.

More likely, that you are your own person and collect for the pure joy of learning, education and it’s truly a quality hobby….

So back to the whistle. As we move on we peer at that V top. Now there is a cool top knop. Kinda revolutionary in its day — 1924 to be accurate and to agree with the patent of course.

I imagine that the real triumph is in the most insignificant thing about this whistle–the stamp. AND we aren’t stamp collectors are we ??? However it is quite noteworthy to see an EMCA ( circa 1922 ) escargot isn’t it ??

So what can we conclude ?? That we need to lower our standards, well eyes anyway and spend less, learn more and not worry about all those of ‘the best’ whistles — This one cost … ready ??? …. 8oo pennies…

strike while the iron is hot !!! Boy have I learned that the hard way !!!

When I think back, I seem to always remember whistles I SHOULDA bought !!!!

Oh, if only I could apply that forward !!!! But wait, I CAN can’t I ???

Like the terrific pewter crane shaped whistle, that I vacillated on at just over a 100 dollars – what a dummy I was ( am )

Then there was that Overman siren I bought for some one else and even turned down an opportunity at it for .. yup you guessed it — 100 dollars.

Oh, and there was that Kellet round whistle I let go, cause I thought it a bit too high at under 200 dollars, yet I have not seen another and may never !!!

AND then the time I missed that small collection that contained a Ubique Hudson beaufort – OUCH !! Went for peanuts too.

Also those Barrall escargots were too much moooooney !! Oh, and now they are gone….

Granted those Hiatt escargot/beaufort combinations were way too expensive, but I recognized my limits and just can’t go there. But, those that I hesitate on — for no apparent reason other than I was unsure ??

Did I mention that terrific DeCourcy ribbed round whistle from 1890 ?? That also went fairly cheap !! And the German escargot , the Stevens slider, the Hudson with the window at the top of the whistle, and the …. should I continue ???

What can one do about this parade of whistles that got away ?? What’s the point ??

Educate yourself !!!!!

yeah, sounds great on the surface, whistles to die for. Maybe some rarity comes to mind ??

On the other hand what about a whistle that kills you to keep ??

What would motivate you to keep a whistle that you really don’t want ??

Well, perhaps it is really rare or even a little rare ?? BUT damaged !! OUCH, stuck with it now ?? Yeah, I know…

Then there is that one that isn’t your cup of tea, but really hard to find. and OTHERS say that it is a great whistle, but once again it may not be for you–do you get it if it is cheap ?? Yeah, I know….

AND what about that whistle that has something in common with some really great ones you have and so because of some subtle difference is barely worth keeping !!! OUCH — stuck with it now ??? Yeah, I Know….

It may get down to nuances, subtleties, variations and before you know it you have a ‘significant collection’. Yeah, I know.

Boy do I know…