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Hudson stamped addresses and other marks on many of its whistles. Marked service whistles have been used by many police forces, railway companies, fire brigades and other organisations. The stamps supply an easy tool for dating the item. Address stamps are more commonly found on the GSWs than other
397:
Starting 1909 at a new facility in northern
Birmingham at 244 Barr St., Hudson expanded to more markets in Europe and overseas, with an office in Paris, a large 1910 French catalogue, and new connections with United States sporting goods companies and distributors. Hudson was left with just one
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In 1883 Hudson began tinkering in his toolshed to make gadgets to sell, including whistles. After observing local police struggling to communicate with rattles, he realised that his whistle could be used as a tool. As the story goes, Hudson, a violin player, accidentally dropped his
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The company was family-run for over 100 years and three generations; Joseph Hudson's son, James
Clifford Hudson and his grandson, Leon Clifford Hudson ran the company after Joseph retired. As of 2014, Acme Whistles are now owned and managed by Simon Topman.
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and it shattered on the floor. Observing how the discordant sound of the breaking strings travelled, Hudson had the idea to put a pea in the whistle. This gave it an ear splitting rattle that could grab attention even a mile away. After a demonstration at
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In 1927 Hudson purchased A De Courcy's patent rights, tools and stock. Hudson became the world's largest maker, gaining the
Thunderer Registered Trademark. The Acme Thunderer whistle and its variations became the world's best-selling whistle.
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The factory name was changed to Acme
Whistles and makes about 5 million whistles each year. It continues to register new patents for whistles. The period was marked with growing competition from Far East manufacturers.
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In 1957 A. R. Topman became an assistant general manager, and about 40 years later his son, Simon Topman, became the owner and the managing director of the company, starting the fourth period of company developments.
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Joseph Hudson started working at the age of 12. He moved to Bent & Parker, a maker of army supplies and whistles in
Birmingham. In 1870, aged 22, he started his own business with younger brother James.
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They have made over a billion whistles altogether. In addition to the "Thunderer", they make varieties of bird calls, dog calls, safety whistles, sports whistles, orchestral whistles and party whoopers.
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At times initials consisting of a single letter or two are used as abbreviations; 'MH' for mental hospital, 'FB' for fire brigade, 'P' for prison or police, 'T' for tramway and others.
427:
At the beginning of this period the company faced competition from whistles made of tin, plastic and cast base metal materials made in
Germany, Japan, USA and other countries.
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During this period, 1925 to 1930, three generations of the Hudson family ran the business together. This was the end of the golden age of whistle making.
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1907: Hudson purchases S Auld
Whistles, continuing to manufacture their models especially the Round " pignose " type known as 'Glasgow type police call'.
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whistles had a hand-engraved number at the back that were punched on later ones. These exist in various forms and have been classified as MP-1 to MP-22.
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The Mark Street address is not known to have been used on any whistles, and beside the addresses mentioned at the top table, the address Barr Street
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On 26 October 1940, the factory received a direct hit from a German air raid. No one was injured, but the factory suffered major damage.
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police forces, military, sports, railways and many others. By the 1890s, Hudson faced the rise of many competitor makers and companies.
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Stamps of a particular model or popular names at one time or another, include "International", "The King's Own" or "Taxi Call".
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In 1949 the firm was re-constituted as J. Hudson & Co. (Whistles) Ltd. Leon C. Hudson became its first managing director.
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While many makers concentrated on limited variety, J Hudson & Co made a wide variety of common whistle types, including
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in 1912. In 2012 a replica of this whistle was created to mark the 100 year anniversary of the sinking of the
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Many patents were registered after 1927 and new improvements and inventions are constantly being registered.
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1904: Hudson fills orders (along with De Courcy) for W Dowler & Sons who stops manufacturing whistles.
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273:. Acme is the world's largest and most famous producer of whistles. They are headquartered in the
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This 1884 contract with the police gradually made Hudson the largest whistle manufacturer for
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Early general service whistles have a Patent & J Hudson & Co stamp on the diaphragm.
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The above tables shows essential patents and registered designs out of many and up to 1927.
265:(1848–1930) and his brother James Hudson (1850–1889). The company became a manufacturer of
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During this period, Coney & Co. stops making whistles and Hudson makes their models.
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general service whistle have been popular throughout most of the company's history.
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whistles were made during the next few years and dated whistles for army, navy and
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level. Their
Tornado 2000 whistle is capable of easily reaching 122 decibels.
17:
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By 1908, Hudson and De Courcy were the two major whistle makers in
England.
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In 1912, the company made whistles that were used by the crew on board the
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In 1998, Simon Topman and Martyn
Gilchrist co-authored a book titled
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Some of the most popular whistle designs in the modern day include:
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The 1950s and 60s marked growing demand for Hudson sports whistles (
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Hudson was the only maker in the United Kingdom to use wood horn,
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The Acme Thunderer. The name "Acme" was taken from the Greek word
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Musical instrument manufacturing companies of the United Kingdom
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The stamp of 131 Barr Street is extremely rare on escargot-type.
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J. Hudson & Co. Whistle Manufacturer History. By A.Strauss
28:
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Double end whistle Metropolitan plus Round pea whistle-type
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and novelty combination whistles. Some models, such as the
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Manufacturing companies based in Birmingham, West Midlands
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In early 1900 Hudson makes whistles on a small scale for
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59:. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
349:1898: J Barrall exits the whistle-making Business.
352:1901: Hudson makes Stevens & Sons whistles.
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374:At an unknown date c. late 1890s, early 1900
336:Highlights of early company history include:
8:
1003:Collecting Police Whistles and Similar Types
910:"UK | Company whistles through history"
835:Police small arms inspection marks, or army
461:Collecting Police Whistles And Similar Types
452:and other sport events on five continents).
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804:The world's most powerful whistle used by
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480:Patents, registered designs and trademarks
261:was founded in the 1870s in Birmingham by
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119:Learn how and when to remove this message
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729:1935 Acme whistle catalogue ( English )
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732:1910 Acme whistle catalogue ( French )
385:stops making whistles. (Year of death)
346:1898: Hudson purchases Black & Co.
932:"The Victorian Police Rattle Mystery"
853:was used on many whistles made after
7:
831:types. Notable body stamps include:
632:Oval whistle with oval Porteous top
57:adding citations to reliable sources
526:Whistle combined with pocket knife
1055:J Hudson & Co Company web site
537:Whistle attached to a wrist strap
355:1904: Hudson purchases R A Walton.
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796:High pitched whistle with no pea
570:Groove in cap for escargot-type
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191:Simon Topman, managing director
44:needs additional citations for
819:Powerful but slimline whistle
1:
378:stops manufacturing whistles.
326:, Hudson had his first sale.
1027:"J Hudson & Co Timeline"
908:Walker, Bob (24 May 2009).
879:' whistles used aboard the
875:Acme supplied the original
307:West Midlands Police Museum
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1001:Gilchrist, Martyn (1998).
654:Compass replacing top cap
340:1895: Introduction of the
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958:"History of the Whistle"
737:Models and whistle types
515:Whistle-diaphragm disc
504:Whistle-diaphragm disc
1194:James Dixon & Sons
1031:www.acmewhistles.co.uk
984:www.acmewhistles.co.uk
766:James Dixon & Sons
753:escargot-type and the
660:Registered Trademarks
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303:Birmingham City Police
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235:www.acmewhistles.co.uk
189:Joseph Hudson, Founder
1235:Whistle manufacturers
941:18 April 2009 at the
402:, from 1909 to 1927.
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132:J. Hudson and Co. Ltd
788:Classic pea whistle
432:Air Raid Precautions
400:A De Courcy & Co
398:British competitor,
53:improve this article
1199:W Dowler & Sons
844:Metropolitan police
587:Registered Designs
222:Number of employees
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68:"J Hudson & Co"
990:on 1 January 2009.
438:equipment and for
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1189:J Hudson & Co
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666:The Metropolitan
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369:Bent & Parker
275:Jewellery Quarter
269:and continues as
259:J Hudson & Co
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16:(Redirected from
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1116:Boatswain's call
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70: –
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64:Find sources:
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42:This article
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19:
18:Acme Whistles
1188:
1034:. Retrieved
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1005:. Topcrest.
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988:the original
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962:. Retrieved
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914:. Retrieved
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877:ship's mates
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816:ACME Tornado
793:ACME Cyclone
777:Whistle Type
770:
759:
755:Metropolitan
754:
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682:The Kinglet
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581:Pressed top
559:Unibody GSW
493:Description
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173:Headquarters
146:Company type
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51:Please help
46:verification
43:
26:
930:Taylor, J.
855:World War I
837:broad arrow
826:Body stamps
643:Pillar top
281:, England.
1219:Categories
1156:Shepherd's
1131:Hand flute
1126:Eagle-bone
1036:7 November
964:27 January
916:27 January
912:. BBC News
895:References
801:ACME T2000
743:bird calls
724:Catalogues
690:Acme city
342:Acme Siren
279:Birmingham
212:5 million
185:Key people
177:Birmingham
166:Birmingham
79:newspapers
1100:whistling
751:Thunderer
674:The Acme
423:1930–2000
393:1909–1930
294:1883–1908
179:, England
1151:Pyzhatka
1141:Monopipe
1136:Language
1096:Whistles
939:Archived
762:Bakelite
599:Details
450:Olympics
383:H A Ward
267:whistles
199:Whistles
196:Products
154:Industry
109:May 2009
937:(2003)
888:Titanic
883:Titanic
851:Hockley
839:stamps.
651:705987
640:540164
629:311230
618:217010
607:256361
596:Number
578:214519
567:213487
490:Patent
467:Present
409:Titanic
376:T Yates
285:History
252:decibel
231:Website
204:Revenue
162:Founded
149:Private
93:scholar
1146:Pigeon
1009:
842:Early
780:Notes
556:28999
534:25619
512:19700
319:violin
216:(2005)
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1166:Train
1161:Steam
1111:Apito
709:1927
706:Acme
701:1922
698:Emca
693:1907
685:1907
677:1886
669:1884
648:1924
637:1909
626:1897
615:1893
604:1895
593:Year
575:1923
564:1923
553:1911
545:5727
542:1908
531:1907
523:1112
520:1907
509:1898
498:1885
487:Year
381:1903
100:JSTOR
86:books
1171:Wolf
1098:and
1038:2018
1007:ISBN
966:2014
918:2014
881:RMS
810:FINA
808:and
806:FIFA
501:435
407:RMS
248:acme
72:news
1121:Dog
226:~50
214:GBP
55:by
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949:^
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