Spotlight > Research Articles > 030 How Much is My Whistle Worth?
Whistory
What can I sell my whistle for?
How valuable is my whistle?
A friend told me many years ago, it is worth what it will sell for. Bottom line, that is true and must be considered when trying to place a value. So, one MUST keep in mind that on any given week, a whistle might attract a buyer that will pay much more than one might see at other times. On the other hand, perhaps we chose a time when everyone is on vacation that would be interested in your whistle.
The question is always based on actually selling it, don’t you think? Some just want to place a value and keep their whistle, but are curious. However, that becomes more subjective. How do you place a value on something that is NOT for sale? — perhaps by looking at similar whistles.
So, we will endeavor to go over some parameters from years of tracking and experience to help in placing some relative values on your whistles. Not YOUR value, but the market value.
First: What Condition is Your Whistle in?
Does it actually work? – if not, it most likely drops the value considerably.
Is it complete? – missing parts usually can’t be found, and rarely reattached appropriately even if so. Repairs often are unsightly too. Metal detector finds are poorly received by collectors. Much like finding a rare coin in the ground that is all scratched up, condition is everything.
Visual Appearance of Your Whistle
If it is ratty looking, dented, scratched, broken stained, even rarity is overshadowed. Many times, one will find a great whistle, but it has a small dent. When ‘sold off’ seller comments like “good condition for its age” are fantasy wishes that the buyer will never accept. Sort of like buying a rare vintage car with a deep dent or scratch down the side, it drops the value. Especially since a small whistle would be too expensive to repair and if still done, not a good ‘investment’.
Rust vs Oxidation
Perhaps it has some steel parts and they are rusted. Can the rust be easily cleaned or are there deep pits? If the nickel plating has faded away, and revealed the brass underneath, it can actually add to its value. If it was oxidized paint over dissimilar metals and now the steel and brass combinations of metals can be seen, again that can raise the value.
Yes, it is a vintage item, but consider your whistle more like a coin and how coin collectors rate them. Collectors look for mint condition whistles first and settle for fine, or even good condition, until they can upgrade. Rarely is a damaged condition acceptable.
Second: How Rare is Your Whistle?
To quote Martyn Gilchrist who wrote three books on whistles “ commercial value and rarity are two different things”. Some rare items are valuable, some are not so valuable, it much depends on even the original quality on how much someone is prepared to pay. A rare tin whistle typically does not draw much attention.
How does this come about? In different parts of the world whistles can be common or rarely ever seen. Yet with the internet they are much more available. Then again even if available each whistle has, like an old coin a certain amount or mintage that were made. So, we see a pretty large scale overall — from never seen, to very rare and even down to common.
Here are some further points to take into consideration…
- heavy construction or cheap
- large or small
- old or recent
- one piece or several
- rare manufacturer
- known manufacturer
- valuable metals like silver and gold
- ‘presentation’ special provenance
- mono-typical or production made
- rare stamp like Winchester
- police, fire brigade, asylum etc.
- chain, ring and hook from the manufacturer included
- an early example or later example by a certain maker
- a different model size
- ‘crossover collectors
As you can see there are a lot of variables to consider, each weighing in.
Third: ‘Sentimental’ Value
Family items are far more valuable to keep. Many times, a grandfather’s attic is cleared out and although he may have used a whistle on the railroad, it was never a railway stamped or issued whistle. Not any more than his common watch, glasses or whatever. On the other hand, perhaps, it WAS stamped as such and now can be dated. However, collectors want specifics by nature, don’t they?
Conclusions
Value is placed on condition, quality, rarity, size and even despite this, if it is in fact in demand.
TWG
Posted September 5, 2014
Revised September 15, 2020
Revised October 11, 2020
Revised February 14, 2021
Revised December 31, 2021
Revised September 5, 2022
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