Whistle Categories > Sports Whistles
Where did sports whistles originate?
Sports whistles are very subjective. This leaves it wide open as the country of origin, much less for the manufacturer. In line with this thinking, we look to the recorded history of sports. The earliest record of actual use is of a sporting event that originates in the UK circa 1870s. Whether this is true or not, it stands presently.
The stamped names and their era of operation may lead to the country of origin. It is arguable whether cycling became a sport in France earlier than the UK, bot producing excellent whistles, but perhaps not identifying them as cycling whistles specifically.
Specifically targeting sports whistles by manufacturing companies would take decades, although they might have been used at these events.
How are sports whistles identified?
The main identification, as with other whistle categories, is the stamp on the whistle tying it to a sports company or actual sport. Provenance is not such an identification yet engraving could reach that status.
Does the use of a whistle at a sports event make it a sports whistle? For the purpose of this section a sports whistle needs to be identified by structure or a stamp. Structure might be for example the two-finger piece attached to an escargot or snail shaped whistle. The stamp may be generic, while finger ring is obvious.
Another example of structure is a wristlet of leather holding on any type of whistle. Perhaps also falling into a hunting category.
Why were they made?
To be heard amongst such large crowds at sporting events a referee needs to get attention. Just like the pitch that is used in machinery shops, military scenes on land and at sea, Sports whistles are able to cut right through the noise. All on the field could ear and respond to the authority of the referee, indeed many models of referee stamps came in time.
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