Whistle Books | Whistles by Martyn Gilchrist

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This is the second whistle book, Whistles by Martyn Gilchrist, if you are just starting out in your collecting journey. If you want to have a quick reference book on whistles here it is. Really, the most info for the money.

Gilchrist, Martyn. Whistles. Princes Risborough: Shire, 2000. Print.

An Excerpt from the Introduction

Whistles made from the bones of birds and other animals have been known since prehistoric times. Throughout history they have been fashioned from materials such as wood, plant stems, horn, ivory, antler, ceramics, many minerals, and several metals and alloys. They have been made in hundreds of different patterns to meet the demands of large and changing population.

This book touches on all types of metal whistles, wood, plastic, ivory, silver, pottery, speaking tubes and vehicular. There are dozens of color plates with group pictures for easy and quick access and identification.

Whistles by Martyn Gilchrist, was written and based on whistles found in the UK it is a great start for getting into the variety of whistles. It contains 40 pages of descriptions and explanations, offers additional recommended research sources and locations to visit, besides a short biography on the back cover.

Whistles by Martyn Gilchrist | About the Book:

The lives of most people have probably been touched by a whistle, whether a fine antique protected by a cabinet, or an inexpensive toy now lying half-forgotten in a drawer. A fascination for whistles can be found in the astonishing range of different types made in a wide variety of natural and man-made materials. Although known from prehistory, ist is only since the Victorian era that the vast majority of whistles have been made for so many diverse purposes. Whistles are included in many areas of interest such as sport, the countryside, transport, the armed services, the police, ceramics and toys. The role of the whistle falls broadly into three categories: as an alarm, as a working instrument and as a novelty item. They are enduring sound-makers still required by a demanding public. This book covers all major types and gives a general introduction to the wonderful world of whistles.

Whistles by Martyn Gilchrist | About Martyn:

Martyn Gilchrist’s enthusiasm for whistles began in the mid 1980s when confronted with a boxful whilst searching one out for his daughter at the Saturday street market in Lymington, Hampshire. His desire to know more led to a programme of original research covering Britain’s major collections and institutions. One result of this was the publication in 1998 of his specialist book Collecting Police Whistles and Similar Types. He is now probably the foremost expert in the field and has appeared on television and on the radio. He lives in the New Forest and is a crossword compiler and boo indexer.

Whether a beginning collector or a dealer in antiques it is the book you would need to know what you have found or what you are looking for.