B. & R . American whistle manufacturers, History & Samples

A.Strauss      Copyright © 2009   

B. & R. The New York based Whistle manufacturer active from 1860's to late 1930s or 40s is an anigma in many ways.


An  1869 dime bank  stamped The B. & R. M'F'G. Co. 

The earliest stamped  whistles  found made by B & R can be dated to the late 1880's and 1890's.

 It  had been the largest U.S whistle maker for many years  and allthough they had a wide reportoire of proffesional whistles compared with other  American whistle makers we are still missing a lot of basic informatio,; no addres, no catalogues , no names behind the Intials B . & R. ...
This is inspite of the fact that some of their whistles are common and we recognize
many of their whistles by the construction and the stamps.

It is propably a matter of luck and time that will unviel some misteries; an advertisment, an invoice , a catalogue . an old trade directory, a company registration ,an advertisment,  a patent. or other found . Keep your eyes open...


Here are some models by B. & R. , later plastic models made and others would be photograped later.



Bicycle siren whistle 1890's.


Double pipe whistle prop. late 1880's 1890's.

  Fig. 5 , 1900's

A Unibody Girl scouts  & it's box 
The boy scout version was  made by B & R since  1911.

                      
"Complements of...."
At 1927 the New york Evening Daily telegraph changed ownership, whistles like this one were made as give away ,for the occasion

                                                     
The Jerry No 2550 from the 1890's is of a different but similar appearance to the 
B.G.I.'s  famous 620 model.
This particular sample has the tooth grip and beak (M.P.)
point upward, other samples have it the other way. Rare whistle,
An immitation Japanese cast metal which is very rare was found as well.
It was suggested that the Jerry was a Loco runing in the Bannington & rutland railway .
Careful inspection of construction suggests that  it was not made by B.G.I.

On the right , the classic B & R Cyclone  heavy brass escargot. this sample has a heavy untouched patina.
The same model appeared with various stamps ; The Cyclone P.RR The cyclone police and more.
Fig 10

Cyclone later model 'Hump back top' 1920's note the arched 'made in U.S.A' stamp that apears on many of their other whistles.

B & R also made Escargots stamped the Thunderer and GSW's stamped the metroplitan after the J Hudson and Co. names.



Stamps on B. & R Whistles. to be cont.

On GSW's
"Metropolitan Fire & Police whistle"  5 lines stamp. Rare.
" B & R "
" B & R  City police & Fire Whsitle" 6 lines stamp Fig. 5
"G.S inside eagle logo" and "B & R "on back. Girl scouts


Vertical stamps;

"Muncipal Police N.YN.Y.- U.S.A." (Cast top & M.P )
"Regulation U.S.A."
"Municipal Police Reg. U.S.Pat. Off."

Escargot whistles

"B. & R. Cyclone "
"B & R. Cyclone Police"
"Cyclone Police" and "B & R" on Back.
"B & R. Cyclone P.R.R. " ( Pensilvania Rail Road)
B & R
" B & R Cyclone made in the U.S.A." Fig. 10

Whistle museum, American whistle manufacturers, B & R,  Copyright © 2009