Whistle
Category
Metalwork
Date
Unknown
Materials
Brass & Nickle
Measurements
80 x 10 mm
Order this imageCollection
Mr Straw's House, Nottinghamshire
NT 746185.1
Caption
Every policeman, fireman and 1.4 million air raid wardens, as demand increased during the war, carried one of these. Police whistles had been used since the 1880’s and were not completely eliminated until the 1970’s. The piercing two-noted screech could cut through the noise to get people’s attention, and made a real difference during the blitz. The police whistle replaced the police rattle, a wooden spinner that made a loud clicking noise, these were also issued again during the war to warn of a gas attack. The rattle was bulky and awkward to carry, and large enough to be used as a weapon against the officer. In 1883 the Police asked the public to submit designs for a whistle that would be cheap, small, easy to manufacture and distinctive in tone. Mr. Joseph Hudson, a toolmaker from Birmingham submitted the winning design, which featured two internal chambers to produce two discordant notes. It is said that under good conditions the whistle could be heard a mile away.
Summary
Metal whistle which has a loop on one end for the cord to be attached and underneath it are the words- 'THE CITY POLICE OR FIRE WHISTLE PATENT' centrally stamped.
Marks and inscriptions
Around body of whistle: THE CITY POLICE OR FIRE WHISTLE PATENT