Bent & Parker / A. Strauss

Forward;
Regretfully I find little time for research and developing the site, Article is at work and many pictures are to be added , hopefully will have more time in the future , meanwhile another article at work.
Though the Name Bent & Parker is familiar to whistle enthusiasts ,
his whistles are hard to trace, and there is very little material about him as a whistle maker. The great J Hudson started his work there at the 1860's.

Address

Bent & Parker Ltd., of Harpers Hill Works, Northwood St., St. Pauls, Birmingham
 from c. 1900 Pembroke Street works, Worstone lane birmingham.
we Know that Bent and Parker was an old company and Hudson started working for the company and learnt to make whistles c early 1860's, prior to his becoming an independent maker who was joined by his brother.

J. J. Bent & Co, Charlotte Rd, Stirchley, Birmingham, brassfounders, later Bent & Parker

Ltd., of Harpers Hill Works, Northwood St., St. Pauls, Birmingham (c1900) then Pembroke Street Works, Worstone Lane, making belt buckle and bracelets.

Since About 1908 Appr. Bent & Parker there is no evidence of whistles being made so it is assumed they stopped making whistles
for an uncertain period. 
Whistes by Bent & PArker are found again in 1938** (** see  details cont. at bottomn of this article)
it is unlikely but possible they did made few that are yet to be found but it seems that as all other makers they did stop manufacturing whistles at the early edwardian period end of victorian times. 

 



                              

"The Borough Whistle"  Osborne & Son, New St. Birmingham comes with few stamps the other osborn is arched towarts mouth piece and the ornamet simpler.


                                                                                
"Chambers & Smith Peasant food makers Norwich
Osborne Borough whistle"1883 same model as the Metropolitan of 1883 
E C Osborne 84 new st. Birmingham.
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The NEW BOROUGH WHISTLE OSBORNE & SON BIRM. Stamped on both sides of the barrel - tube ;Patent  No. 10828,
Patent was Valid 1894 to 1908  
size from side to side ; 37.73 mm barrel diameter 16.52 mm .
 A two chamber call very effective dissonant sound a whole tone apart , tuned to B & C# notes, with a flat tappered mouth piece going into the tube and a nice tooth grip.
a beautiful much sought after because it is so different than the standart professional whistle types.
All in all an interesting originaly designed whistle, later to be used and improved as an american patent. ( Details in another entry).
The whistle must have had some success since
Hudson made the same whistle at the 1930s marked Acme and included it in their c .1935 Catalogue.

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London City & Midland Bank, 1900s-1910s
                                                             
    The earliest dated GSW used with military forces. Dated 1889 (Above)                               

The metropolitan MP 4 police whistle # 15306 and closeups iof mouthpiece and top.


This is whistle M.P 4 Numbered , the same whistle was made unnumbered and the word whistle added to stamp.
Body Stamps
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Lancshire county Constabulary

PATENTS
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1911 Patent 22309 two halves soldered , no examples  found.

** 1938 ______________________________________________________________________________________________________
AT 1938 whistles by Bent and Parker appear again, A GSW's marked 1938  arrow mark and with
a new two piece top design
and a glasgow type escargot  whistle with a footcrow marked 1938 simmilar to Hudson's acme thunderer large size.
see pictures below


Body Stamps

Warwickshire constabulary (GSW)
The Borough Whistle"  Osborne & Son, New St. Birmingham
LC&MB London City & Midland Bank,

To be continued
Whistle makers , (#33)

Article & Research Avner STrauss , whistle museum, All rights reserved, Copyright © 2008