Name/Title
Eastbourne Borough Police whistle c1891Entry/Object ID
104Description
Nickel silver police whistle. Marked "The Metropolitan, Patent", Eastbourne Borough Police, 13, J. Hudson and Co. 131 Barr Street Birmingham".Use
For police officers to raise the alarm and summon the assistance of other officers.Context
The use of the whistle by police to replace the rattle as a means of raising the alarm only became widespread after 1884 when whistles were adopted by the Metropolitan Police in London. Joesph Hudson and Co. supplied these whistles to the Met and the "Metropolitan" trademark was registered to reflect this, the connection being used heavily in the company's marketing. To begin with a number of Birmingham based companies produced whistles for the police but Hudsons soon became the largest manufacturer. The company was formed in 1870 and is still in existence as The Acme Whistle Company. Whilst most famous for producing whistles, Hudson and Co. also manufactured other items of police equipment until the 1950's.
This particular whistle made for Eastbourne Borough Police probably dates to 1890/1891. The company address on the whistle was normally used between 1885 and 1888, but Eastbourne Borough Police was only formed in April 1891, so it is likely this example was actually made in late 1890 or early 1891. Either way it was made for the establishment of the new force. Previously the addresses on Hudson made whistles were thought to have been firm dating tools. However some examples that can be dated by other means, such as this whistle, now suggest that the company used more than one address as it transitioned between one location and another.
The "13" could be an officer's number or simply an issue number. The only other type of Eastbourne Borough Police whistles currently known of date from the 1930s.