In the Media and Reviews
From articles to television to first hand reviews, The Whistle Gallery invites one and all to join the whistle community. Below are just a few examples of The Whistle Gallery team in the media and reviews from those enjoying the site while learning about their whistles.
Media and Reviews: In the Media
Newspaper Articles
The Oregonian
Article: Antique and collectible show is more than a whistle stop — but it’s that, too
Author: Mike Francis
Published: March 2, 2013
Updated: January 10, 2019
Online Article: https://www.oregonlive.com/portland/2013/03/antique_and_collectible_show_i.html
The Weekly Screw, The Virtual Corkscrew Museum’s Weekly Newspaper
Article: The Corkscrew / Whistle Gallery
Editor: Don Bull
Published: January 14, 2007
Online Article: http://www.bullworks.net/daily/20070114.htm
The Weekly Screw, The Virtual Corkscrew Museum’s Weekly Newspaper
Article: More Whistles
Editor: Don Bull
Published: January 21, 2007
Online Article: http://www.bullworks.net/daily/20070121.htm
Magazine Articles
Antiques Trade Gazette – The Art Market Weekly
Edition: ATG 2282, page 5
Article: Alert sounds over ‘duty dodger’ silver whistles
Author: Roland Arkell
Date: 11 Mar 2017
Online Article: https://www.antiquestradegazette.com/print-edition/2017/march/2282/news/alert-sounds-over-duty-dodger-silver-whistles/
Antiques Trade Gazette – The Art Market Weekly
Article: Make sure buys are sound
Letter to the Editor
Date: 18 Mar 2017
Online Article: https://www.antiquestradegazette.com/print-edition/2017/march/2283/letters-to-the-editor/make-sure-buys-are-sound/
Theater
Writers Theater
Play: The Dance of Death
By August Strindberg
In a new version by Conor McPherson
Directed by Henry Wishcamper
Date: APRIL 1 – AUGUST 3, 2014
Online Posting: https://www.writerstheatre.org/the-dance-of-death
*Denotes a member of Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers. Featuring a Speaking Tube on loan from The Whistle Gallery.
Television
Pawn Stars
Station/Channel: The History Channel
Show: Pawn Stars
Episode: Season 13, Episode 25 “Wound Up Rick”
Original Air Date: Jan 23, 2017
Online Viewing: https://www.history.com/shows/pawn-stars/season-13/episode-25
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NE355GHawnY
Magnolia Network
Streaming Channel: The History Channel
Show: Extraordinary Stories Behind Everyday Things
Episode: Season 2, Episode 5 “The Piano and Pea Whistle”
Original Air Date: Oct 29, 2021
Online Viewing: https://magnolia.com/watch/show/af37e7c8-035c-549d-b215-30e64df9e6b7/extraordinary-stories-behind-everyday-things/episode/c93edbd0-2184-4ff5-b0cc-63f8fd55b2af/the-piano-and-pea-whistle/
Media and Reviews: Reviews
Hello there! I’m from Buenos Aires and just begun a small collection of police whistles. The time span of it is 1880-1945 and they belong to the “Policia de la Capital” the Buenos Aires police existing at that time. They were replaced by the “Policia Federal” and cease to exist as such. My interest was spun by asking why our police never used the “bobbie” whistle. It turned out that there was an old tradition -from colonial times- of using whistles and coded messages -like morse code- between agents. These kind of whistles were later replaced by snail type ones -mainly ACME Thunderers and others made locally. Although there are not markings besides the “Policia de la Capital” on them, I guess they are all mostly british made. I would be grateful for any comments you can make about them. Congratulations for your great page here and on Facebook! It has been an inspiration for me and the source of a lot of useful information. Regards, Vicky
– Vicky M
Len, I love the website, lots of useful information and love the pictures. I saw the Pawn Stars with the whistles on it and thought there is something I know nothing about, but seems interesting. After a Google search I found your site. I am going to start hitting the flea markets and in the future may be interested in buying some. Also noticed a few on ebay. Thanks for sending the books out so soon. Later, Bobby.
– Bobby R
Hi Len, I hope you can help me. I’m working on a new History Channel show, and I really need a whistle expert! Our program aims to solve people’s artifact mysteries. Right now I’m researching a cast ceramic whistle which seems to have a bird head and hands folded in prayer. There are gold-colored flecks in the material, possibly mica. It was found around 25 years ago near Savannah, Georgia by someone salvaging a soon-to-be demolished home. Family members say they talked to an archaeologist at one point, who told them the piece might be from Mexico. The family thinks it might be Mayan. Yet another source suggested Peruvian. I hope you’ll ask a curator to look at these pictures and weigh in. It’s an intriguing piece; I’d really like to give the owner more information about this interesting whistle she inherited from their late father. The only thing I know for sure is that this thing is a whistle. I greatly appreciate any help you can give me. Please let me know if you have any sense of when and by whom this whistle was made. If you know of ceramic whistle experts, I’d love to be steered in the right direction[…] The followup: […] this is most likely from Oaxaca in Mexico, a whistle made to be sold to tourists. At one point, we thought it might be made by Mayans and sold to tourists outside Chichen Itza […] I appreciate your help and interest. If I end up with a police whistle mystery, I know you to call. : )
– Paula Engelking [Senior Writer/Producer, Committee Films – The History Channel: America Unearthed]
Hi, Firstly many thanks for a very interesting website – I’ve just spent at least an hour looking through it!!! I wonder if you can help please. I only have a dozen or so different whistles but one of the has “The Boy Scouts” an “J F & S” stamped on it, any thoughts as to the manufacturer please.
– Paul B. [Scout Leader in the UK]
Hi, I absolutely love your site and especially your article about identifying case siren!!! I collect different but sometimes similar whistles owned by drummers at the turn of the century. You may find my site to be interesting. It’s VintagePercussionSoundEffects.com. I was wondering if there is any way to more accurately date my case siren. It’s an acme hudsons patent with an “England” stamp. All the best!
– Nick W
Hi Len, I love your website. It is really quite wonderful. Would it be possible for you to write an short spotlight some day, on whistle anotomy and terms? I’d like to be able to speak intelligently on the subject, but have no idea what to call the various parts of a whistle. Also, do you have any idea why many kinglet scout whistles have a split ring on the cap instead of a fixed loop? Is there a functional difference relative to scouting? While I’m talking about scouting, I’d love to see a spotlight on scout whistles also!!! Well done. And thank you for all of your efforts to inform.
– Matthew C
Hello Len
That’s brilliant, as you have solved the mystery and I would have never thought of the answer I admit. So great work and I wish you well. I will look it up and check out the dates as it is so interesting
Many thanks – James
– James R
Len Everyday when I get on my computer, I check the weather app, my email, ebay watch list, NY Yankee news, and your blog. Your blog is GREAT!! Which leads me to my question. On Friday March 13th, you said you were working on a special Spotlight and that you would post it on March 20. S-o-o, will it be posted soon? I’m looking forward with great anticipation for it to be real soon. Anyway, thanks so much for all the work you and your team put into the website. It is greatly appreciated!
– Barry ( In Reference to: 043 Edward Davis Bean (Special Edition) )
Len, I read your latest blog about whistle books. I own 2 of the 4 you mentioned. Hope to own the other 2 in the near future. Anyway, I’m probably telling you something you already know but there is a book that can be downloaded from the internet called “Collectible Whistles” by Elizabeth & Irwin Schuster. About 60 pages – the graphics and images are great – not much text – a lot of plastic whistles – but at least there is a pretty wide variety of them. If you haven’t seen it, here it is. But the feature I like the best, at least for me, is that it is FREE!!!
– Barry ( Related Blogs: whistle books for the collector, whistle books, whistle books, more on whistle books, whistle books)
That German police whistles made of metal were melted down for the war effort is my theory indeed, as there were so many and so few turn up today. But, I must say, I have found no written proof or any other testimony to show that this theory is true. Unlike the rubber truncheons that were used by the police, as they were all taken in and used for the war effort, and the orders exist to show it is true. August Schwarz whistles (the ones with the cross) are now more frequently found than a few years ago and fetch prices – according to condition – from EUR 20,- to 60,-.
– Michael
I appreciate any info you can provide on the question I’ve asked. You have the best website about whistles I’ve seen!!! And…THANKS!
– Barry
Hi Len,
First I have to congratulate you for your Barral article, great, well done… with amazing pictures.
– Miguel
Dear Sirs, in the brass and steel section there is a photograph of 5 whistles. The outer two whistles are shooting tool combinations. Paper shotgun cartridges would swell and not extract. The left hand one is just like a modern 12 bore extractor and grabs the rim of the cartridge. The right hand one has a screwdriver and a 10 gauge duck or goose gun cartridge extractor. Ofte the extractor on the gun would extract the cartridge one half of an inch or so and then one had to try to extract the cartridge with one’s finger nails which was usually nigh on impossible or could only be done once or twice as it broke off one’s fingernails.
A great site, what about putting on sound bites of the whistles.
– John
I enjoyed and was impressed by the article [ Spotlight: Richard Porteous ], and it has realized a hope. That is, the books would open up the subject of whistles, and those after me would be encouraged to research further and add to the body of knowledge. I feel your article is a great contribution.
– Martyn Gilchrist, Author, Whistles, More Whistles, Collecting Police Whistles and Similar Types