finally broke down a few weeks ago and decided to deal with several whistles I have that were CHROME plated. Sorry, but couldn't stand it any longer and wanted to either take the plated finish off or smash them to pieces !!! So what did I have to lose ?? Nothing …

I had a couple Police issues prior to 1900 and although old and worn – including the lettering, they were taken in by the owner and had them chrome plated., doubtfully by electroplating,  none the less plated and VERY shiiiiiney — yech !!! Isn't that weird ?? Obviously worn prior, yet plated ( for corrosian ?? nickle silver ????  Really ???) and now they were artificially shiiiiiiiney. The travesty for me is/was that they were nickle silver underneath and I LOVE nickle silver.

So what to do ?? I took them to a 'chrome shop' across the bridge and they threw them in the pot using reverse electroplating ( electro-un-plating ? ) and voila !! The whistle was back to its original nickle silver self !! Well sorta…the side effect is that they are a very shiney nickle silver now — almost chrome looking.

Now, you might wonder what I gained ?? Nothing. Everything. The satisfaction of knowing I guess. For us with OCD or if you have it real bad then CDO,  as my daughter tells me, —- it is a burden lifted. Besides that, I don't have to ever see any flakes of chrome coming off by the windows, as it sometimes does right ?????? Are you with me ????

Matter of opinion I suppose…. Recently got in a 6 piece early Auld escargot — smallest of the three sizes and YUP — chrome plated — now I gotta wait till I have another or even couple more to make it worthwhile to take in. Cause they don't do it for free ya know !!

Really don't mind at all those brittania plated round whistles much. Not nickle silver underneath is why — who cares about brittania ?? Now, if it was pewter, but of course can't plate pewter, so why worry ??

5 years now intensely collecting whistles. Curiously, there seems to be a dearth of female collectors ??

Is it the same in other collectables ?? Why are there so few women into whistles. What is wrong with them ??

Perhaps nothing at all…. Perhaps we are looking at the wrong side. What's wrong with the guys ??????

Why do we collect anyway  ?? Some would say that it is to educate themselves on history. Perhaps. Another says it elevates them in how they feel about themselves, —- sort of a sense of self importance through the objects they find. — In other words I AM that certain rare and valuable whistle and vicariously it has made me into a better person !!! Pretty subtle psyche stuff going on here, huh ??

  No doubt looks have an impact, especially with design and such, So there is VISION. Can't SMELL 'em  can we ?? There is a tiny bit of TASTE involved when you blow it of course….

   One big time collector said " I go by feel when I pick a whistle" —  quite interesting when you think about it. A whistle is a sound instrument ( for HEARING  ) and yet it is the tactile approach ( TOUCH ) that attracts some. And what kind of feel ?? Well, he went on….heaviness or weight, usually including size. Maybe smoothness ??

Weird when you give it a little thought… maybe we shouldn't go here very far…..starting to creep me out….

yup, finally back to writing — no really !!

We found a retail app for the website !!! Gotta wait till after the show in North Cailf. ( first of Dec.) though, as we will no doubt sell down a lot before I list any.

I am going thru all the pages now on the website — reinvigorated, updating comments and editing my poor spelling 🙁

I think I got ahead of myself on the SPOTLIGHTS and dropped back to create one on whistle PARTS. That should make it easier to discuss points to consider about the whistles in question each time on a new SPOTLIGHT.

Did a study for us all….Of the top dozen whistles we have found since July I thought to collate some figures for us. Quite encouraging I think ?? The average price for the dozen was 150 dollars. Not bad if you are into muscle cars or anything on that level for cost as a hobby !!! I saw two corkscrews go for 30,000 dollars this summer.

Of those whistles —- FOUR  are the only ones we know of in any collection. Some of the rarest whistles in the world. Amazing the possibilities of collecting whistles !!! We hope to share these on the website, as we go along in the SPOTLIGHTS. Of those 12 – half were bought on auction and clearly half were bought from direct offers to us from other sources. Why is that encouraging ?? We are not dependant on eBay. All four of the rarest were not offered on eBay !!! And affordable. Besides that nobody takes a cut off the top.

So widen out in your contacts and collecting places. Then write each other !!!  They are out there right under our noses…where they should be of course…

yeah, prices are climbing again on whistles. However looking closely it isn't hard to see that only a handful of collectors can affect the whole whistle world !!!  They are spending TOP dollars for the best whistles around. Discouraging ??

Well, keep in mind that despite how it feeeeeels to see great whistles come and go, there are some really good whistles to be had by watching and ducking the common areas. One can be discriminating 🙂

Learn to see what others miss. We bought a very rare 6 piece escargot a couple weeks ago that was only 10 dollars USD. Turned out to be made by Ward. Perhaps the earliest of patents going back to 1890. Very heavy and with an unknown stamping !!! The point is ?? PATIENCE and stay out of the limelight. Out of courtesy, whether wise or not, we pulled off the bidding of a very rare two ended whistle well crafted and unknown, from the USA and it was won for 40 dollars. Now featured on the whistle museum.

They are still plenty of them , so keep your chins up, eyes focused. Be persistent and discerning.