AwhistlePronunciationⓘ is amusical instrument which produces sound from a stream of gas, most commonly air. It is a type offipple flute, and may be mouth-operated, or powered by air pressure, steam, or other means. Whistles vary in size from a small slide whistle ornose flute type to a large multi-pipedchurch organ.
Whistles have been around since early humans first carved out a gourd or branch and found they could make sound with it. Inprehistoric Egypt, small shells were used as whistles.[1] Many present daywind instruments are inheritors of these early whistles. With the rise of more mechanical power, other forms of whistles have been developed.[2]
One characteristic of a whistle is that it creates a pure, or nearly pure,tone. The conversion of flow energy to sound comes from an interaction between a solid material and a fluid stream. The forces in some whistles are sufficient to set the solid material in motion. Classic examples areAeolian tones that result ingalloping power lines, or theTacoma Narrows Bridge (the so-called "Galloping Gertie" of popular media). Other examples are circular disks set into vibration.[3]
Whistles made of bone or wood have been used for thousands of years.[2] Whistles were used by the Ancient Greeks to keep the stroke ofgalley slaves. Archaeologists have found a terracotta whistle at the ruins of the ancient Greek city ofAssos, most probably a child's toy placed in a child's grave as a burial gift.[4]The English used whistles during theCrusades to signal orders to archers. Boatswain pipes were also used in theage of sail aboard naval vessels to issue commands and salute dignitaries.
Joseph Hudson set upJ Hudson & Co inBirmingham in 1870. With his younger brother James, he designed the "Acme City"brass whistle. This became the firstreferee whistle used at associationfootball matches during the1878–79 Football Association Cup match between Nottingham Forest and Sheffield. Prior to the introduction of the whistle,handkerchiefs were used by the umpires to signal to the players.[5]
In 1883, he began experimenting with pea-whistle designs that could produce an intense sound that could grab attention from over a mile away. His invention was discovered by accident when he dropped his violin and it shattered on the floor. Observing how the discordant sound of the breaking strings travelled (trill effect), Hudson had the idea to put apea in the whistle.[6] Prior to this, whistles were much quieter and were only thought of as musical instruments or toys for children. After observing the problems that local police were having with effectively communicating withrattles,[7][8] he realised that his whistle designs could be used as an effective aid to their work.[6][9]
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Hudson demonstrated his whistle toScotland Yard and was awarded his first contract in 1884. Both rattles and whistles were used to call for back-up in areas where neighbourhood beats overlapped, and following their success in theMetropolitan Police ofLondon, the whistle was adopted by most police forces in the United Kingdom.[6]
DuringWorld War I,officers of theBritish Army andUnited States Army used whistles to communicate with troops, commandcharges and warn whenartillery pieces were going to fire.[10][11] Most whistles used by the British were manufactured by J & Hudson Co.[10]
Police whistles came much later; the early Victorian constable would have carried a small wooden rattle.
Media related towhistles at Wikimedia Commons
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