whistle chains

Really, really into whistle chains as of late ( well, this morning anyway ) — SEE SPOTLIGHT whistle chains

Trying a new ( to me ) technique of soaking the rusty steel chains in molasses – weird huh ?? Seems to work though. I think I need to oil them or at least shoot some WD40 on them afterward.

Then it is mix and match !! Yah, tried to stay with the original chain for each whistle, but that was waaaaay too hard to maintain. Frankly speaking it was sometimes ugly. Beyond that it may have been an owner that attached a chain rather than a manufacturer.

SO… what to do ?? Rob chains from whistles that come in and reuse them. Some are just thrown out. Most find a home somewhere.

In the process one learns a lot about hooks that seem to have been ONLY for the whistle trade 🙂 Split rings come in all sizes, and many uses, so that is great. However those hooks are very ‘specialized’ in materials are specific too. Gotta match up nickel silver or plated over brass or even oxidized paint that LOOKS like brass over steel, It goes on and on.

Then there is the shape of the hook, which dates it pre WW two or later — yes there is a large difference !! I am beginning to recognize manufacturers hooks !!!

But the real challenge is in the chains. UK whistle chains were manufactured in much more variety, However there are some very distinct USA chains — we are talking about the shape of the individual links right ?? Sorry, may have left that out.

LOVE nickel silver
LOVE old steel
LOVE brass
LOVE copper

well now what else is there I have been missing ??? I’ll have to go look….