By Continent or Country – Whistle Museum

Le Sifflets (The Whistle)Book by Jacques Bokobsa, Hisory of a Whistle Collection

The most fascinating and outstanding book about whistles to have come in decades,
I will write more and more, edit this and bring more photos as well as edit the post, a jaw dropping large heavy book with over 300 pages in a generous format of
app. 20 + by 30 cm. A must for any whistle enthusiast. researcher, Collector and scholar.
Le sifflet (The WHistle) History of a Collection by Jacques M. Bokobsa,
a world class legendary collector.
Preface by Pierre Catanes a leading scholar, and outstanding photos by
Gilbert Nencioli. Appolgies for Photos that do injustise with the fantastic book & photos, I had to share my excitement, this book will take weeks to look thru enjoy admire and learn.
To be continued… ( A. Strauss )

https://www.facebook.com/Whistle-Review-2162740943999436

Clay Whistles, Russian Pottery Whistles. Guest Post.

Russian Folk Art Pottery Clay Whistles with Woman Figures. M. Oboeva
(Марианна Обоева)

SHORT INTRO
During the years I developed a growing interest in CLAY & POTTERY WHISTLES,
first as an amateur collector of these and gradually studying and developong this niche of collecting & study. While doing so I had the pleasure of meeting some great & knowledgeable collectors.
Pottery – Clay Whistles had been a subject I had not written about in my blog here, but it is time to start, Clay whistles of different countries Whistles, have typical features , and may be more so with traditional Folk Art.
I have asked my honorable guest, Marianna Oboeva to send 10 photos and few words as intoduction to Russian Pottery Clay Whistles.
She chose the subject of Women Figures (All whistles).
So I leave the stage to a short guest article from Marianna Oboeva a collector,
an Artist and expert on Russian whistles, that chase the theme of feminine figures within the subject of Russian Folk Art Clay whistles, In her own words, with Photos.
A. Strauss

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is Cabinet-of-very-old-Russian-Clay-Pottery-Whistles-collection-of-M-O.jpg — Early Pottery Clay Whistles Folk Art, Russia. Глиняная свистулька
The two bears are 17th Century Moscow. (Collection of M. Oboeva)

William Dowler & Sons Whistle Manufacturer History and Timeline A. Strauss

Part III a (See Part I & II William & George Dowler

^{History and Timeline of ‘William Dowler & Sons’ Whistle, Button & Military Ornaments Manufacturers. In 6 Parts.}

Intro
This article (Part III a) focuses on the Birmingham Whistles,
Military Ornaments and Button manufacturer William Dowler, later ‘William Dowler & Sons’. It is the continuation of the first article, and an on going research of 15 years, some of the first finds were posted here in 2008 and in the Wikipedia
and in 2015- 2016 a revised article about the family which established their business in 1776.
See Link, William & George Dowler which presented
the family’s history and work.

George Dowler had the bigger manufacturing plant and
manufactured whistles which were advertised but not identified to this day, continuing the family’s plants & manufacturing business up to 1870,
it was ‘Willian Dowler’ who was the bigger Whistle manufacturer, He started working independently in 1853 and took over the family’s assets in 1876.
In fact seeing the whole picture we can say that since 1853 William took an independent path and only in 1876 after legal fights gained control of the other various family plants and assets which George was running up to 1870.
Thus between the years 1853 – 1870 There were two different manufacturers;
one is Dowler – Birmingham, the other W. Dowler -Birmingham.

Bird Call In France Apeau & Apeaux Pedal Shape Bellow Whistles for Black Bird, Merle. A. Strauss

Whistles used as Bird Calls are a huge category,
Many of the hand operated type whistles vs. Mouth whistles use a Bellow,
There are few types of Bellows. This time I will review few pedal shape bellows
made of wood & leather. The operation is by hand & the term is used because of the shape albeit I think these could be played by the foot as well.
Here are few examples of Antique Bird Calls – Whistles, 19th century to early 1900, certainly a seldom met with type.
The French and European Continent Bird Calls & are very different than the American ones, and of the far east ones.
These I believed to be folk art work of rural hunters; Tin whistle combining a mechanical element, a Bellow – Pedal shaped Bellow & Whistle, but found out some stamped bellows.

I had looked through many catalogs of bird calls – whistle manufacturers from mid 19th Century onward and had never seen one in a catalogue.
There are four different calls here all from France & Neighbouring countries (Belgium) , I would be glad to see more if the reader happens to have.

Next is one taken apart, the Tin whistle incorporating a button type whistle can be used inhaling or exhaling it seems that when attached to the Bellow it works by pressing the bellow and it omits a sound when released, but short lite press and release movements produce both sounds.

The calls are made of various materials including a Tin Whistle , Leather, wood, steel spring & iron nails.

Continue reading Bird Call In France Apeau & Apeaux Pedal Shape Bellow Whistles for Black Bird, Merle. A. Strauss

Samuel Auld The Greatest Glasgow Whistle Maker. A. Strauss

Samuel Auld started making whistles in the earlier part of the 1870s, after Joining Westwood (See another article about a previously unknown maker J. Westwood which I found) Auld partnership with Westwood at Globe Brass foundry 248 Gallowgate st. (Both were the sole partners dissolved on July 20 1877 and announced legally 31 October 1877.
Very few are known to exist, and each one is numbered on the side.
These are the only numbered police Snail whistles of this era.
The original numbering suggests that there were about 300 made
Highest known number is 369, as of now 3 or 4 are known to exist.

Samuel Auld Glasgow 19th Century Double Snail Whistle, Whistle Museum

In 1877 Auld started his own Company on the same street (no. 240 later he would own and work from both 240 and 248) by 1878 he was listed as a well known Continue reading Samuel Auld The Greatest Glasgow Whistle Maker. A. Strauss

Signalpfeife, Trillerpfeife, Lockpfeife, Tonpfeife, Keramikpfeife, Spielzeugpfeife, Stimmpfeifen, Musikpfeifen, kleine Musikinstrumente und Zubehoer. A. Strauss

Signalpfeife, Trillerpfeife, Lockpfeife, Tonpfeife, Keramikpfeife, Spielzeugpfeife, Stimmpfeifen, Musikpfeifen, kleine Musikinstrumente und Zubehoer:Pfeifen, die nicht zum Rauchen sind, sondern, um Toene zu produzieren; Deutsche Signalinstrumentenfabriken, Deutschland. A. Strauss . ( Arbeit in Produktion)

Einführung

Die Absicht dieses Artikels ist es, ein Bewusstsein fuer das oben genannte Thema zu schaffen Das Themenfeld der Sammlung von Trillerpfeifen ist nur wenig im oeffentlichen Interesse Deutschlands vertreten, oft nur als Nebenprodukt bekannt in der Ausruestung von Militaer, Polizei oder Feuerwehr. Dabei gibt es noch so viel mehr: im Transport wie im Zugverkehr, als Schmuck, im Sport, bei der Jagd, als Lockpfeife, Hundepfeife, als Spielzeug, als Geschenk oder Souvenir.

Das sind nur einige Beispiele. Bald mehr an dieser Stelle. Bei Interesse kontaktieren Sie mich gerne, wenn Sie selbst Trillerpfeifen und Zubehoer besitzen und mehr erfahren oder sich darueber austauschen moechten. Gerne koennen Sie mir Bilder senden. info@avnerstrauss.com

Beispiele:

Continue reading Signalpfeife, Trillerpfeife, Lockpfeife, Tonpfeife, Keramikpfeife, Spielzeugpfeife, Stimmpfeifen, Musikpfeifen, kleine Musikinstrumente und Zubehoer. A. Strauss

Button Whistles I. Button Whistles Corner. A.Strauss

Button Whistles I. Button Whistles Corner 1.

An English dog call or hunting signal call, Two different hand made copper buttons depicting a horse on one button and a dog on the other, I call these type art button whistles since the so called “Buttons” were never made as actual buttons but rather seem to be especially made as copper side plates.

The body is made of thick Iron, two parts, and a triangle made of thick wire for loop. Altogether 4 parts loop and pea. It is Victorian and an early Escargot type –
Snail Type – button whistle. The dating of these is not yet clear but an educated guess would be 1850s to 1870s.
Continue reading Button Whistles I. Button Whistles Corner. A.Strauss

Stevens & Sons History of the Whistle Maker & His Whistles Part A. A. Strauss

Stevens & Sons Whistles & History. Avner Strauss

Part A (Underconstruction)
General History, Addresses, Richard Porteous importance and inventions, Railway and more adv. Stamps time line and a glimpse at few whistle example
from many more to be discussed in more details in part B , C, & D , as interlude.

Whistles
Part B – Tube whistles SNT & TNT
The First Two Notes Tube Whistle,
The first SNT (Single Note Tube) with two windows ,
The Invention of the Partition, & TNT (Two Note Tube) Stevens & Sons
Part C – Dating Stevens & Sons Whistles, Dating Stevens’s Whistles,
Round Whistles & others, retailers & Much more.
Part D – Bell Whistles and the discovery of the inventor

John Stevens 1779 – 1861
James John Stevens 1807-1881
James Stevens Jr. 1840 –1911
Warwick Alan Stevens 1842– 1924
Richard Porteous 1802-1881

Company History
John Stevens was Born in Birmingham 1779 and came to London to start his Business in the early 1800s, He started as a maker and supplier of agricultural
Implement maker, supplying the army with Shovels & pick axe handles,
during the Napoleonic wars. Soon after the wars he moved into Gas pipes making supplies and engineering, and into Railway supplies which was a fast growing business which he got into influenced by his wife’s Brother who was an agent for railway supplies.
In the 1820s, 1830s he was mentioned as having connection to George Stephenson . ( Inventor of the Locomotive, the miner lamp and “Father of the Railway”)
The company grew fast with his son James John Stevens joining and expanding the firm taking part in the Great exhibition of 1851 and 1861 so in the pre Glasgow branch (1865) they already had close to 70 employees while the new SIGNAL WORK kept growing after his father the founder John Stevens died (1861)
James moved with his family to Glasgow in the 1860’s.

Stevens & Sons c. 1865 James John Stevens age 58, and two sons James Stevens Jr.age 25 & Warwick Alan Stevens age 23. [other sons which seemed to be less involved in the family business are Leicester Bradney Stevens 1851-1914 and Stafford Evan Stevens 1845 – 1866 who died at the age of 21 are not in photo]

John Stevens Tombstone * at Norwood grave 3817, square 47
(d. December 4 1861 )
other burials at
the grave are
James John Stevens ,
Caroline Matilda Stevens
(d .19th Nov 1871),
Anna Maria Stevens
(d. 26June 1858 )
and Stafford Evan Stevens
(d.12 March1866 )

General note and observation with some reservation: At the time period, there were no whistle makers per se but rather brass founders iron mongers and Arm makers, Kitchen ware manufacturers Button makers and other goods, who made whistles as a “side line”, Today whistle collectors and scholars relate to some as Whistle Makers. This article here concentrates on the general Company History and whistles made or attributed to Stevens & Sons and less in many other aspects ( There are many details ) of the family Biography.
See my article about 19th century Whistle Makers.
It is also important to understand that as manufacturers and factory owners had rarely a shop of their own and were dependent on orders from retailers, contractors and companies, this explains that rarely an actual manufacturer name is stamped and many times a stamp of the retailers,
companies or inventor appears.

Stevens & Son, were one of the 3 great whistle makers up to 1860s.
And by the 1840’s were manufacturers of mostly Railway related goods:
The railway Times Magazine Vol. II 1839 Adv. by Stevens & Son
We can Learn about the diversity of products and projects Stevens & son were manufacturing in 1839 : GAS-ENGINEERS, OBELISK, Black Friars road :
Gas works for railways, manufactories, Cast Iron tanks, Liquer backs, Steam Boilers, cast main pipes for gas, steam or water, improved coke ovens, drying stores, and steam Kilns for grain constructed and erected in any part of England. Wrought- iron tubes and gas fittings of all kinds, brass and gun metal castings, Chemical apparatus, Experimental machinery, etc. etc. Plans & estimates for the above.
One may note which of the above relates to whistles.

From huge iron constructions to Railway Signals and smaller Scales, Hand Lamps and of cource whistles which were not mentenioned in advertisments. Below you can see part of a Scale made at Darlington works and a Hand Lamp made by Stevens in the 1840s .

Here is a historic whistle, heavy gun metal made of one rod and a screw mouthpiece, early whistle before size and weigh were reduced designed by Porteous and made by Stevens C. 1920s, 1830s. A previously unknown whistle found 2015 which employs the first known compound round Mouthpiece .
Part C has a lot more on this whistle and many more, as wellas the next one.

* Photo Dan Wood

Continue reading Stevens & Sons History of the Whistle Maker & His Whistles Part A. A. Strauss

American Penny Farthing High Wheel Bicycle Whistle

Antique 19th Century American Penny Farthing
Hi Wheel Bicycle Whistle
Antique Bicycle whistle shaped as a pocket watch

The whistle is embossed with the image of a Hi wheel Penny Farthing Bicycle rider surrounded with a laurel wreath, and having two identical front and back sides.
It may had been made as a prize for the winner in some bike riding race competition, made in the U.S.A c. 1870’s to early 80’s . It was found in New England and it the first and only one seen by the author so far.

The whistle has two notes ; F# and G# . It has an interesting unique diaphragm and a smaller chamber at one side of the inside part to make the higher pitch.

Dimensions; 66mm by 45mm, by 10mm .

Article, Photos and content by Avner Strauss, all right reserved ,
no part of this webpage is to be used without the explicit permission of the owner.
Email : info@avnerstrauss.com All rights reserved 2017

Julius Heinrich Zimmermann, Important German Whistle Manufacturer, History , Samples & Catalog Pages by Avner Strauss

Jul. Heinr. Zimmerman, Important German Whistle Manufacturer, Maker, History & Samples by A. Strauss, Catalog Pages ( (Under Construction)

Julius Heinrich Zimmermann, Born 22. September 1851 in Sternberg
Died 25. April 1922 in Berlin (1851-1923) was a large musical instruments maker , publisher, and whistle maker, his family kept his business running but at some point (C. 1928 )they had abandoned whistle and musical instrument manufacturing ׂׂׂׂ in favor of music publishing.

A picture of his workshop circa 1899 , on the shelves on the right hand side one may see a variety of whistles.

== Zimmerman Addresses & Branches == Continue reading Julius Heinrich Zimmermann, Important German Whistle Manufacturer, History , Samples & Catalog Pages by Avner Strauss