To help everyone identify the kind of whistle they are researching, we thought to lay out some simple steps that we have set up the website for. As we keep writing and posting pictures, our endeavor is to model the website after our own records.
It is our approach to be able to identify and categorize all of our whistles in such a way that is easy access where they are located and thereby in the process make them easy for everyone to identify what they have.
However this takes a tremendous amount of work for ease of navigation on the actual website. To paraphrase Steve Jobs, the genius behin Apple computers — 'To make something simple, takes a tremedous amount of work'. Yet here is an outline we will be striving for — rules of thumb, so to speak, to use under the page of categories.
So when researching your whistle…
In our records we have 75 folders at present, a lot more than what we can post, but we will be adding to the categories page as we go. If you write us we can draw from these files if need be. These are mainly picture files for personal use. We also have extensive written records in research files.
Why don’t we post everything you might ask ?? Good question !! COPYRIGHTS. Although the website would definitely be quite a bit more comprehensive, it is our stand on the issue. We have a policy that we post only pictures of whistles we possess. We do not post pictures taken from the internet ( unless under public domain ) — especially without permission. This also allows us to inspect more fully at any time our whistles for ourselves and for you — as truly a reference collection.
A few questions to save you some time as follows…
Is it metal ?? If not, our website will be very little help.
Is it silver ?? Our website will be of little help.
Is it a bird call ?? Very little help.
Is it new ?? No help.
Our target is vintage, antique metal whistles. That means most likely at least 60 to 70 years old minimum.
Let’s review your steps so far…
1) go to categories page and look for a close example of your whistle. If not write us ) So, eliminate us in your travels and look to another site if other than metal.
Let’s now go over the files themselves.
Asylum—if it has asylum stamped on it, then despite its shape it belongs there. Beaufort—always conical shaped, sometimes with mouthpieces or round tops Warblers—our digression into tank shaped bird calls Boatswains—variable but always nautical with defined parts Buttons—Must have identifying buttons or coins , from any source. Combinations– we separated out some whistles due to variety, like compasses Compass—any whistle with a compass incorporated Corkscrew—any whistle with a corkscrew incorporated Dog—includes silent and stamped whistles for hunting Escargot—snail shaped, light or heavy, 3,4,5,or 6 piece and quite variable. Extractor— shell extractors, even without the extractor, if similarly designed for hunting. Flat—all variations of flat or sometimes called ‘pocket’ General Service ( GSWs ) — tube shaped only Military—broad arrow or military mark, decoration whistles, or dated whistles Multi-chamber—angled mouth, 2, 3 or more tubes, heavy or thin walls Pewter—brittania also Police—must have force stamped on it, not generic name like ‘police’ only. Porteous—round top, but tube shaped Railway—usually has railway stamps, exception are side knop beauforts Rare makers—tube shaped only Rounds—actually are round shaped with one or more windows Scout—any shaped whistle with scout stamped on it Silver—mostly silver whistles, except boatswains, skeletons, a few others Sirens—all varieties Skeletons—any metal Sliders—all sliders Speaking Tubes—heavy or light, large or small Variety—catch all for the vast variety that cannot be categorized Vestas—always have flip lids
So in keeping with making your research more successful we have added over 100 pictures to our categories page. Included are whistles not found in any SPOTLIGHTS, but entered to help you see the variety that your whistle may match up against or come close to at least. Unfortunately if we do not have very many of a category ( like Asylums ) then you will need to write us.
Here again are some rules of thumb…
1) Tube shaped whistles may be under GSWs, Military, Scouts, Porteous, etc. ) Buttons may have the button applied to the outside sidewalls also. 3) Combinations may include two whistles or a ‘gadget’ 4) Dog whistles are subjective – silent or loud 5) Police – see SPOTLIGHT on what constitutes a police whistle. 6) Silver usually refers to a crafted hallmarked whistle. 7) Variety — vast array
Most likely by this point you have identified your whistle. If not, what are the next steps ?? Write us. Perhaps yours does not fall easily into one of the common categories. Before you can research further one usually needs to know what use that the whistle was manufactured for.
Next the hunt will be on for what years it was made, who made it, its purpose, rarity, and value. Please see the SPOTLIGHT on how do I research my whistle?
– TWG
Posted October 5, 2014
