wow, a couple of very interesting whistle pix were sent in recently. Well, more than a couple, but two we wanted to reflect on.

One was torpedo shaped and found in a dumpster !! After pix were sent and more pix — it was determined that it was actually a fishing lure !!! THAT was fun !!!

Then a round whistle from the Nazi era. Adjustable too like a dog whistle. 1930s ?? ( nah, we don't know everything )

What's the point ?? Where are we going with this ??

Send, in those pix !!! First of all we love seeing what we can't have     🙂

Second, it broadens all of our knowledge, because we pass it on to everyone out there.

Third, well can't think of another. Now… perhaps there is another reason…it get's you ( the public ) involved in the incredibly overlooked field of whistory ( the study of whistles and their background )

pix. pix, pix keep 'em coming…..

interestingly, boatswains or bosons or bosuns ( all nautical ) are an interesting section of whistles — why ??

Wel,l first because they date so far back into history they are hard to track.

Also, because they continue to defy logic on the prices they bring. Almost out of reach for most whistle collectors

Then, there is the variety of different nationalities on what constitutes one.

And what about those really weird ( but so great ) DRAGON ones from China ?? Now there's a boson !!! However there are soooo many ones that it defies catagorizing them too. Especially those tentacles that are sometimes on the bowls. Really love those.

Unfortunately they accordingly demand high prices. Just gonna have to bite the bullet and pick a really tentacled one and pay the price…

— you know what is ironic about whistle collectors ?? It is the fact that whistles are a sound instrument. Now why would that be ironic ?? Cause many collectors go by feeeeeeeel. Now isn't that weird ?? Kinda, kinda not….

You see ( another sense other than hearing ), the thickness and heavy smooth feel of an all brass or steel whistle can be intoxicating to the other senses !!! The design with smooth curves sometimes on steps, along with the size and construction, dwarfs other cheaply made whistles.

It's a matter of taste 🙂

Now, the fact that few if anyone makes a decision to buy a whistle due to the sound it emits might sound all backwards.

Yet, when one considers all the OTHER reasons one collects whistles ( i.e. quality of workmanship, design, use, history etc ) Then it makes perfect sense. One isn't buying a utlity item per se, but a package !!!

Makes buying over the internet a challenge doesn't it ?? Not really, you can tell from a distance when the pictures are well taken and also if you ask questions. OR if you know your whistles well, even better.

Heavier is not always better, but hey, it's a start.

Interesting whistle was the Heterodyne, went by on auction. Went for big dollars to an obscure collector in Kentucky. Probably just hoarded and put away into some box in a closet !!! A tube shaped whistle with what looked like 6 little slider whistles together just before the mouthpiece. All one unit. Will have to look for another !!!

Too bad that more couldn't be learned about it, but too costly for us on auction and now too obscure in its final resting place. Twice dead now. First after production, as little further is known about it at its peak and then again upon resurfacing — it is now entombed again.

Oh, if only whistle collecting would grow out of infancy and into childhood —at least. Then we could all benefit !!!

For now we publish what we can and watch the rest go by….

How many ways can the same whistle be produced ?? Several 🙂 Many !!!

Is it important ?? Naaaaaah. Yet isn't it ?? Wouldn't be fun if not for all the nuances…..

If one is collecting for the pure joy of it, then small differences make the world of it, don't ya think ??

Take for example the internal parts.They certainly can have different manufaturing changes. Then there are the shapes that may vary just enough. AND of course size variations.

Beyond that lettering changes, window cuts and sizes, ring changes. Oh, the list goes on and on.

Especially if changes occured consistently over years does it help in dating the whistles we line up in succession. Perhaps a change of ownership.

Maybe the materials that weree used on different models or different years.

One might have a large collection of the same whistle–this could go on forever !!!!!

That's what we pause to think about tonight. What if you could collect ten to fifteen different types of the same whistle — would it be worth the effort ?? Not sure but don't experts make a living doing that ???

continuing with camera talk with whistles is of course the inevitable…your own home set up ….

Perhaps a table that can be left alone ??

All one needs is a couple of table lamps. Better yet a couple short tripods with open lights.

BETTER yet — day color lamps ( perhaps florescent ? )

BEST — cloth diffuser wraped over the lamp holders — of course they have to be fire safe !!!!!

Now what ?? a PATCH cord to your computer, or even take the card out of your camera and plug into the computer to upload and file.

Now you really need to practice as with the cell phone !!

LIGHT
DARK
MIXED COLORS
MIXED TEXTURES

you know the drills 🙂

last, last, ( well you are right, probably more to talk about ) thing on pictures

Photoshop has become the word on digitally re-mastering your own whistles.

YES, you can make your whistle look better than it is !!!

Not a problem — UNLESS you want to sell it from that re-touched picture !!!

Of course that would be dishonest.

However, it is totally fair to clean up the background huh ?? We do it all the time, but JUST the lint….

Pesky lint pieces that cling to the cloth ….

We hatses lint tooooo……

Whistle collectors are different don't you think ?? We don't spend as much time looking through windows as we do looking at them !!!!

It's all about the shape, level and effect………

For example how high up is the window on your whistle ??

How much does the angle affect the sound ??  — The diaphragm or wedge in relationship to it.

How large is the opening ??

What shape is it ??

Does the  manufacturer vary it or modify it on the same whistle model or is there progression perhaps ?? Helping to date it ??

Is it round, oval, straight sided or curved ??

Are there two windows and do they each have different characteristics that can be seen the same on each whistle from that maker ?? Helping to identify the manufacturing process that particular maker used ??

Gives new meaning to window shopping…..