whistle makers and whistle books

October 4, 2014 by

question — When is a Dowler whistle NOT a Dowler whistle ??

Answer — when  it is a DeCcourcy ( or Hudson for that matter ).

HOW DOES THAT WORK ?? I don’t understand !!!

That’s why buying books is so important to the whistle collector/seller !!!! That’s right, you can’t get everything you need off ‘the net’. You have to sift through those pages of books and know the back ground on the writers and their history too. Good news my friends, there are only three books to get.

For example, Dowler abandoned manufacturing whistles after 1904 and SUBCONTRACTED  their whistles out to Hudson and DeCourcy —-  ( read about it and look at the pictures ) —-  see page 57 of Collecting Police Whistles (1998 ) by Martyn Gilchrist and Simon Topman

 

Here is a DeCourcy with its patented top ring and Dowler’s name on it !!!#316 decH86mm

So it turns out that Hudson did the same thing. However it is only in the book that you learn that Dowler lent out their tools and punches, so that everything looked the same. Ironically that makes any Dowler manufactured whistles from that era rare 🙂 Odd huh ??

What about whistles that do not have distinctive patented characteristics like this DeCourcy top ring, what else is there to look for ?? How do I tell if it is a genuine Dowler whistle then and not what would be sorta like a knock-off 🙂 ? — in reality how do I get what I paid for ?? OR how do I sell the genuine article — if I say it is a Dowler whistle ?? After all all three manufacturers put Dowler’s name on their whistles ??

This original information about who made what,  was put together from the records at Hudson’s that Simon Topman made available and helped Martyn Gilchrist collate when he was preparing the book. This book is jammed pack with original research information !!!!! AND it is OUT OF PRINT.

The more you know….well the more you know….

 

 

Filed Under: Questions and Answers

whistles missed

October 3, 2014 by

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 !!!!!

Filed Under: Collecting

whistles ‘under the radar’ — Pringle

October 3, 2014 by

One of my favorite  whistles is made by Pringle out of the UK. They went out of business during the 60’s.

However they made a top notch escargot. And personal research places them much earlier than Gilchrist suggests. He dates them to the 50’s–I would date them back to the 20’s !!!

Hand made construction with very distinct design qualities. Take for example that simple wire top instead of a round knop. Never comes loose !!!

They can be found in plated brass, pure nickel silver or even silver plated.

They are light too, but very strong. The sides are hardly ever dented in.

So — check this one out on eBay >>>> 191353329074  GREAT  patina !!!!

Don’t say I never gave you anything !!! Yah, I could have bid on it and sold it off,  but nooooooooo !! I want everyone to have one — that is everyone who is serious about collecting whistles.

I usually carry one with me for safety. It’s my pick for traveling and makes me smile at it all the time as it truly is a great whistle 🙂

…Then there is that terrific logo of crossed axes — way cool and the name taken from the street where the warehouse was…

What is it you ask ??? Well, go look at it yourself, you have the eBay number now ….

It would have gone for pittance and may still– what a bargain !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

TWG

Filed Under: eBay News & Updates

whistles to die for

October 1, 2014 by

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…

Filed Under: Collecting

whistles for sale

September 30, 2014 by

Only three more weeks until the fall show at the Portland Expo !! Yup, time to set up the whistles again !!!

Always a lot of fun. Talking whistles for three days !!!!! Paradise for the whistle geeks growing in the northwest.

In fact we have bought whistles many times now at the show—wait, don’t we go there to sell ?? Sure, but as things progress it is buy AND sell. The best of both worlds ya know ??

What to look for ?? Plenty of safety whistles. Also lots of police whistles, from the UK and from the USA.

Then there are some rare sorts and in-betweens. LOTS of selections. Also a great  time to pick up whistle books or posters. Beyond that there are now necklaces made of antique whistles and genuine whistle chains, rings and hooks.

hundreds of whistles….hope some sell….we’ll be the ones you can hear for a mile….

Filed Under: Buying & Selling

plural whistles

September 30, 2014 by

one of the most innovative whistles EVER has got to be the so called Hatch plural whistle— filed for patent  Sept. 16, 1901. WOW !!!! Not just a plural, but a three way plural whistle. !!! Check it out >>> http://www.google.com/patents/US696814

Instead of the windows being on the sides like we are used to seeing in the classic police style whistle that is tube shaped, it is perpendicular to the mouthpiece !!!!! Is that cooooool or what !!!!!! You don’t see THAT kind of new approach every day do ya ???

( Check out the article on plural whistles in SPOTLIGHTS to see what I mean )

Interestingly enough, this patent came 7 years after Bent and Parker came up with the idea in the UK.

Hmmmmmm……. interesting to say the least…… Not so new and innovative after all ?? Well it certainly was ‘over there’ 🙂

Check it out >>>> http://worldwide.espacenet.com/publicationDetails/originalDocument?CC=GB&NR=189410828A&KC=A&FT=D&ND=3&date=18950330&DB=EPODOC&locale=en_EP

Gilchrist points out in his book that it was an 1894 patent, but it wasn’t till Stephen Van Dulken dug it up for us all that we could confirm the chronology. MANY THANKS Steve.

Check out his blog >>>> http://stephenvandulken.blogspot.co.uk/

So much to learn about whistles 🙂

TWG

 

 

Filed Under: Research

What is a whistle ?

September 28, 2014 by

What is a whistle ?? Seems obvious, but is it ?? Strictly speaking they are defined as CALLS ( it’s what they do after all )

Would you say that a siren is a whistle ?? Well, one does blow air through it after all. However,does it make that sooooound when air is split and rattles your ear drums ?? Noooooooo…..sounds cool though and made by whistle makers.

Then there are warblers with little tanks and you have to add water to them to make them trill. Once again they have to have air blown through them….sorta….

For that matter all bird calls are called calls just like whistles. And they do call birds 🙂 Annnnnd all calls —- call somebody !!!

What about spinners on a string that whistle when you spin them in the air ??

And there are tops that when you release them they create a whistle toooooooo…..

We could be purists and question all combination whistles considering many baaaaarely whistles at all….

I guess in the end it’s your call.

Filed Under: Collecting

whistle patents

September 27, 2014 by

here is a subject(s) for explanation, study and exploration.

Patents. Wow the whistles that can be revealed there. Types, models, designs. dates. makers

Then there are different countries Patents

Then there are hallmarks

Then there are Registration designs

Then there are Lozenges

Whoah…

Filed Under: Research

rsearch whistles

September 26, 2014 by

———- thought of another thing to help you research your whistles…… Stamps.

What’s the rub ?? Well many times we get questions about who made a whistle. The stamp on the front most times is not the maker, but an outlet like Winchester, Gamage or whatever. In other words basically an advertising for somebody.

They could be a sporting goods, hardware, cutlery, or military outlet, etc. Makes sense they would want their name promoted and the whistle is the ‘T-Shirt’ with their name on it.

Seemed like it would be easy to put together. BUT after collecting and researching names it has taken a week already !!!

So, we will post it under whistle research and add to it as names pop up. ( or dawn on us that we have missed another )

GOOD NEWS — Now all you have to do is check the list ( or write in,  if it isn’t on it ) and you are at least not thrown off the trail when identifying the maker.

BAD NEWS — Still gotta identify the maker.

Filed Under: Research

research whistles

September 25, 2014 by

the Agony and the Ecstasy written about Michelangelo might be a far stretch about whistle research. After all it isn’t art we are creating is it ??

However the title fits !!

Yeah, searching is great when it pays off, but miserable when it fails to produce.

For example, been trying to find for years anything on the plural whistle PATENT 10828 by Bent and Parker dated 1894 ( Gilchrist )

We have the whistle with the actual stamp on it and still can’t find it !!! Argh !!!

Perhaps it was just stamped on it and they called it ‘protected’. More likely a patent was taken out and then it wasn’t followed through on and dropped. Otherwise how would Gilchrist have been able to date it to 1894 ??

In the USA all patents are relatively easy because of Google patents — great to look through !!!

However, for us dummies ( like myself ) searching UK patents presents a challenge….

I know….’just keep swimming’, ‘just keep swimming’…..

 

Filed Under: Spotlight Research
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