Name/Title
Hove Borough Police whistle 1898-1908Entry/Object ID
310Description
Nickel silver police whistle. Marked, "The Metropolitan, Patent, Hove Police"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 Hove Borough Police can be dated to between 1886 and 1908, from its type of mouthpiece and cast top. However the patented design of the internal disc or "diaphragm" narrows that to between 1898 and 1908. At least two other types of Hove Police whistle are known of. One is very similar to the one illustrated, and is also a "Metropolitan" dating from circa 1909-1922, the other is made by the company of William Dowler and Sons. These Dowler whistles date from the 1890s and have the words "Hove Police" stamped longways.