Police Whistles History, J Hudson Birmingham, Metropolitan Police Whistles MP 1, 2, 3 and More. A. Strauss
Underconstruction*
Intro**
When studying the early police whistles made by J. Hudson during the company's first period and the 1880's in particular, (You may want to read J.Hudson company History and what I called the first period in a previous article here .)
there are few factors to consider mainly the whistles parts, construction and stamps.
Parts & construction
Top
Mouthpiece
Body
Diaphragm
Stamps
Front stamp
Number
Inspection mark.
The early Metropolitan police whistles are devided to groups according to the adress and date, the earlier Police whistles were supplied to various police forces but the ones issued to the Metropolitan Police are more available for study, the others being so rare that a serious comparative study would take more samples,
The earlier ones issued to the metropolitan police are devided to subgroups as MP1, 2 & 3.**
It is interesting to note that stamped with Hudson's 84 Buckingham St (Buck st.) adress and Metropolitan Registered stamp (the later on 131 Barr st, adress) as well appears on whistles supplied to other police forces at the same period, to name a few Dorchester County Police, Manchester City Police, Hastings Police, East Sussex Constabulary and many more some probably yet to be discovered.
I tittled these as MI2 .
Prior to that Hudson supplied police whistles that were not stamped Metropolitan patent, to other Police Forces, see Manchester Police c. 1882 here.
At first glance it looks like a Dowler made one, especially having the stasmp along the body, It should be noted that W. Dowler & Sons company supplied Police whistles to many Police forces as well and I shall write some about Dowler's Police whistles which never recieved the full attention they deserved I believe, soon.
Metropolitan Police First issue - MP1 refers to the Body of the whistle and has many variations.
One easy way to date a whistle is by what I call 'apple' shaped mouthpiece which is easy to recognize and was made by Hudson until 1995 and used on early 131 Barr st. adress as well .
Dowler used the 'apple' mouthpieces as well and possibly earlier,and though his mouthpieces are simmilar, but they are more "applish" and he continued making these mouthpieces up to a later date.
The first issue of numbered police whistles known as MP1.
The number as it appears on the back of the above whistle, is 8627.
The stamp actually consists of two different body stamps; one with Metropolitan Police in large arched letters and one in 2 smaller lines the first arched with company name and then addres in two straight lines. It is a 5 lines stamp.
-
Close up of Inspection mark by the small arms workshop on the loop of an MP 1 whistle, the whistles were sent for inspection after leaving the factory, and the stamp was not done by Hudson.
Metropolitan Police First issue MP1 #9773
Refurbished*** with 1908 Patent top.
Metropolitan Police # 8567 with M. Gillchrist note, Early 1884 MP1.
Metropolitan Police whistle # 7124 back side and seam between windows.
Metropolitan Police First issue (MP1) Refurbished with two piece cap patent of 1908.
Metropolitan Police 2nd issue (MP2)
and the MI 2
The second issue has a different stamp at the front a 7 line stamp same as the first issued but with two additional arched lines :
The Metropolitan / Registered..
'The Metropolitan
Registered
Metropolitan
Police
J. Hudson & Co.
84 Buckingham St
Birmingham'
It is rarer than the first issue.and I had not seen a sample with Birmm stamp instead of Birmingham which I know exist .
The second issue supplied to the Metropolitan Police has an Inspection mark on the loop and a number on the back.
The same whistle without this two features was supplied to the public as well for a short period.
There are only very few known whistles of these and obvioulsy there are not as many variations as in the MP1 .
Very few were made with a stophole. I had seen one.
Rare all original MP2 made for the Metropolitan Police, and supplied to to the public for a short period.
MI 2
Metropolitan Registered Police stamp, 7 line stamp,
issued to forces other than the Met. Police stamped 84 Buckingham st. c. 1884.
One could tittle this group as; Metropolitan Registered issue1 or MRI 1 as well.
Among these MI2 are whistles supplied to Dorchester, Staffordshire, Flingshire, Hastings, Norwich, (See pictures here) Grimsby.Carnavaron,, and others some yet to be discovered.
| 
|
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Metropolitan registered Hastings police # 16. MR2
The Metropolitan Police whistle 3rd issue (MP 3) and more MI3
A group of 4 whistles .
2nd is a Metropolitan registered Hastings police # 16 c, MI2 seen solo in a picture above.
1st Left ; Rare Metropolitan Patent body stamp . c 1883-5. on the right early Manchester Police whistle by Mitchel, the largest retailer in Manchester. 2nd from right
7 lines stamp.
# 1466 shoot and upload
-
|
Metropolitan Police MP3, # 1923 MP3, # 1026 Topless, the extra thick heavy partition can be clearly seen.
Metropolitan Police whistle third issue subgroup MP3 whistle # 995.
MP3 # 2504
Inspection mark on an MP3 whistle's loop.
MI3
|
The Metropolitan Patent East Sussex Police # 66 and a refurbished Flintshire constabulary both mid 1880's 131 Barr St. adress. the Sussex police is c 1884 1885, note apple mouthpiece.
Hasings Police MI3 number 25. 1885. I would think two batches of 12 whistles were numbered 1- 24 with 84 Buck st addres (MI2) and this would be the 1rst of the 131 Barr St address made. MI3, but this is just an assumption.
Kent County Constabulary
Renfrewshire Constabulary # 97 refur,
The later group of MP's according to M. Gilchirst devision, (Group 4) would include MP 7 to MP 13 variations. with MP10 to 13 having a 6 line stamp and a number below the window.
as in this MP 11 , 13 Barr st. No. 21757 made c. 1908.
A Batch of later Numbered Metropolitan police issues, all with two piece top.
and spun mouthpiece.
To be cont.
* Dew to some articles that were not kept as drafts I publish this while the article is far from being complete.
and will add and improve at my own pase.
** Much of the material and what I had learnt I owe to whistles I aquired from M. Gillchrist and to the book of Martyn Gillchrist and Simon Topman Collecting Police whistles and simmilar types. I imagine most readers here are not familiar with that book which is reccomended., and to those who are familiar I hope they find new aspects, photos and insights from a different perspective.
***
Whistle museum, A.Strauss All rights reserved, please do not use any part of this web page without a written permission from the author.
Intro**
When studying the early police whistles made by J. Hudson during the company's first period and the 1880's in particular, (You may want to read J.Hudson company History and what I called the first period in a previous article here .)
there are few factors to consider mainly the whistles parts, construction and stamps.
Parts & construction
Top
Mouthpiece
Body
Diaphragm
Stamps
Front stamp
Number
Inspection mark.
The early Metropolitan police whistles are devided to groups according to the adress and date, the earlier Police whistles were supplied to various police forces but the ones issued to the Metropolitan Police are more available for study, the others being so rare that a serious comparative study would take more samples,
The earlier ones issued to the metropolitan police are devided to subgroups as MP1, 2 & 3.**
It is interesting to note that stamped with Hudson's 84 Buckingham St (Buck st.) adress and Metropolitan Registered stamp (the later on 131 Barr st, adress) as well appears on whistles supplied to other police forces at the same period, to name a few Dorchester County Police, Manchester City Police, Hastings Police, East Sussex Constabulary and many more some probably yet to be discovered.
I tittled these as MI2 .
Prior to that Hudson supplied police whistles that were not stamped Metropolitan patent, to other Police Forces, see Manchester Police c. 1882 here.
At first glance it looks like a Dowler made one, especially having the stasmp along the body, It should be noted that W. Dowler & Sons company supplied Police whistles to many Police forces as well and I shall write some about Dowler's Police whistles which never recieved the full attention they deserved I believe, soon.
Metropolitan Police First issue - MP1 refers to the Body of the whistle and has many variations.
One easy way to date a whistle is by what I call 'apple' shaped mouthpiece which is easy to recognize and was made by Hudson until 1995 and used on early 131 Barr st. adress as well .
Dowler used the 'apple' mouthpieces as well and possibly earlier,and though his mouthpieces are simmilar, but they are more "applish" and he continued making these mouthpieces up to a later date.
The first issue of numbered police whistles known as MP1.
The number as it appears on the back of the above whistle, is 8627.
The stamp actually consists of two different body stamps; one with Metropolitan Police in large arched letters and one in 2 smaller lines the first arched with company name and then addres in two straight lines. It is a 5 lines stamp.
-
Close up of Inspection mark by the small arms workshop on the loop of an MP 1 whistle, the whistles were sent for inspection after leaving the factory, and the stamp was not done by Hudson.
Metropolitan Police First issue MP1 #9773
Refurbished*** with 1908 Patent top.
Metropolitan Police # 8567 with M. Gillchrist note, Early 1884 MP1.
Metropolitan Police whistle # 7124 back side and seam between windows.Metropolitan Police First issue (MP1) Refurbished with two piece cap patent of 1908.
Metropolitan Police 2nd issue (MP2)
and the MI 2
The second issue has a different stamp at the front a 7 line stamp same as the first issued but with two additional arched lines :
The Metropolitan / Registered..
'The Metropolitan
Registered
Metropolitan
Police
J. Hudson & Co.
84 Buckingham St
Birmingham'
It is rarer than the first issue.and I had not seen a sample with Birmm stamp instead of Birmingham which I know exist .
The second issue supplied to the Metropolitan Police has an Inspection mark on the loop and a number on the back.
The same whistle without this two features was supplied to the public as well for a short period.
There are only very few known whistles of these and obvioulsy there are not as many variations as in the MP1 .
Very few were made with a stophole. I had seen one.
Rare all original MP2 made for the Metropolitan Police, and supplied to to the public for a short period.
MI 2
Metropolitan Registered Police stamp, 7 line stamp,
issued to forces other than the Met. Police stamped 84 Buckingham st. c. 1884.
One could tittle this group as; Metropolitan Registered issue1 or MRI 1 as well.
Among these MI2 are whistles supplied to Dorchester, Staffordshire, Flingshire, Hastings, Norwich, (See pictures here) Grimsby.Carnavaron,, and others some yet to be discovered.
| |-
Metropolitan registered Hastings police # 16. MR2
The Metropolitan Police whistle 3rd issue (MP 3) and more MI3
A group of 4 whistles .
2nd is a Metropolitan registered Hastings police # 16 c, MI2 seen solo in a picture above.
1st Left ; Rare Metropolitan Patent body stamp . c 1883-5. on the right early Manchester Police whistle by Mitchel, the largest retailer in Manchester. 2nd from right
7 lines stamp.
# 1466 shoot and upload
-
|Metropolitan Police MP3, # 1923 MP3, # 1026 Topless, the extra thick heavy partition can be clearly seen.
Metropolitan Police whistle third issue subgroup MP3 whistle # 995.
MP3 # 2504
Inspection mark on an MP3 whistle's loop.
MI3
| The Metropolitan Patent East Sussex Police # 66 and a refurbished Flintshire constabulary both mid 1880's 131 Barr St. adress. the Sussex police is c 1884 1885, note apple mouthpiece.
Hasings Police MI3 number 25. 1885. I would think two batches of 12 whistles were numbered 1- 24 with 84 Buck st addres (MI2) and this would be the 1rst of the 131 Barr St address made. MI3, but this is just an assumption.
Kent County Constabulary
Renfrewshire Constabulary # 97 refur,
The later group of MP's according to M. Gilchirst devision, (Group 4) would include MP 7 to MP 13 variations. with MP10 to 13 having a 6 line stamp and a number below the window.
as in this MP 11 , 13 Barr st. No. 21757 made c. 1908.
A Batch of later Numbered Metropolitan police issues, all with two piece top.
and spun mouthpiece.
To be cont.
* Dew to some articles that were not kept as drafts I publish this while the article is far from being complete.
and will add and improve at my own pase.
** Much of the material and what I had learnt I owe to whistles I aquired from M. Gillchrist and to the book of Martyn Gillchrist and Simon Topman Collecting Police whistles and simmilar types. I imagine most readers here are not familiar with that book which is reccomended., and to those who are familiar I hope they find new aspects, photos and insights from a different perspective.
***
Whistle museum, A.Strauss All rights reserved, please do not use any part of this web page without a written permission from the author.
Posted by WHISTLE MUSEUM at 4/10/2012 10:19 PM 
Categories: By Function:Police whistles, By Continent or Country:British English, By Shape:GSW, Whistle Manufacturers History and Samples by A.Strauss:British, A Longer Article, By Material:Metal & Brass
Tags: MP1 MP3 Metropolitan Police J. Hudson History
Categories: By Function:Police whistles, By Continent or Country:British English, By Shape:GSW, Whistle Manufacturers History and Samples by A.Strauss:British, A Longer Article, By Material:Metal & Brass
Tags: MP1 MP3 Metropolitan Police J. Hudson History
Ihave a 1917 original one of you whistles. Could you please either e-mail/telephone me on 07984571573 for more information, thankyou, Mr Pablo.
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Hi there,
I have a whistle that i would like to know more about. It is similar to the ones that you have pictured on this site.
The stamp on the whistle is as follows:-
J. Hudson & Co
13 Barr St
Birmingham
PATENT
1900
(Underneath this is an arrow?)
I love it and it looks soooo old!!! Love to hear back you.
Kind regards,
Andrea
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I have whistle made by J.Hudson & Co. of 1925 and i want to sale it.
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Hi, sorry for my english. I have whistle with stamp:
THE METROPOLITAN
METROPOLITAN POLICE
J. HUDSON & CO
244 BARR STREET
BIRMINGHAM
I would like to more about it. Thanks
Reply to this
Hi, I have a Metropolitan Whistle that says
'The Metropolitan
Metropolitan Police
J Hudson and co
244 Barr Street
Birmingham'
with the number 1300 below the window. It looks most like 'MP 7- 13' whistles. It's in very good condition with the chain still intact! I was wondering how old it is and what does the number '1300' mean! Also, how much would it be worth, not that I am interested in selling it!
Thank you!
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Hi; I have a whistle similar to the one you have except the date on mine is 1911. The "arrow" on mine is inside a letter C. Do you have any information about this whistle such as who it was made for and what is it worth? A reply would be greatly appreciated. Thanks Andrea. Regards, Ron
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Hi, I have an old whistle police whistle that say's " The Metropolitan Patent. Royal Irish Constabulary. J. Hudson & Co 131 Barr St Birmingham. " What date would it have been from and would be curious to know it's current value.
Regards!
Colin
Reply to this
Hi, I have a whistle it says THE Metropolitan, patent, METROPOLITAN POLICE, J HUDON & CO, 244 BARR STREET BIRMINGHAM, below the window it has the number 019347. Ibelieve this was owned by my Fathers Grandfather who was in the Met Police. Any chance I could find out some further information about it. Many thanks Dean
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Hi, I have a "1st Left ; Rare Metropolitan Patent body stamp . c 1883-5." but with a slightly different mouth piece, could you please tell me more about it and it's value.
Thank you!
Pete.
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I found a Metropolitan Whistle left from my grandma that with stamp:
THE METROPOLITAN
J. HUDSON & CO
BARR ST HOCKLEY
BIRMINGHAM
Couldn't find any number on it, is it an export version? Because my Grandma was a Chinese who lived in India in her early ages.
I would like to more about it. Thanks
Reply to this
i have a whistle that says THE METROPOLITAN, J.Hudson & CO BARR STREET. HOCKLEY, Birmingham, i would like to know more about it as well as its value as a matter of interest
Reply to this