GSW – J. Hudson & Co.

Joseph Hudson & Co were by far the largest and most successful of whistle manufacturers. In fact they are still going strong and based in Birmingham where they now trade under the name “Acme Whistles”. They subtly changed the design of their whistles quite frequently and so they can often be dated quite accurately and quickly.

Hudsons moved address quite frequently at the beginning so the address stamped on the whistle gives the main clue:

  • 84 Buckingham Street : 1883-1884
  • 131 Barr Street : 1885-1888
  • 13 Barr Street : 1888-1909
  • 244 Barr Street : 1909-now

The next easiest thing to look for is engraved text on the top of the cap:

  • no text (commonest) : 1923 to now
  • PATENT 5727-08 (rarely just PATENT 5708) : 1908-1922
  • HUDSON’S PATENT 5727-08 : 1908-1909
  • PATENT APP FOR MAY 08 : 1908
  • a stepped cap means late 1930s to 1940s
  • a pillar cap usually indicates a Boy Scouts or Girl Guide’s whistle – if it has 2 rings around it then that means 1909-1930

Next have a look at the loop on the cap:

  • single-piece cap with deeply concave sides:
  • 2-piece cap with slightly concave sides:
    • small v shape at the base : 1908-early 1920s
    • no v at the base : early 1920s-1938
  • 2-piece cap with flat sides:
    • hole round:
      • thick loop : 1939-1972
      • thin loop:
        • if “The Metropolitan” then likely 1972-now
        • otherwise it means a cheap-quality whistle from 1920s onwards – often ACME or EMCA branded
    • hole D-shaped:
      • thick loop : 1961-1972
      • thin loop: 1972-now

If you have a magnifying glass then look into the windows and check the half-moon-shaped flat plate inside, near the mouthpiece – called the ‘diaphragm’. It sometimes has writing stamped on it and, if you check along the edge of the window you might see ‘tines’ – 1cm long tabs that fix the diaphragm in the tube:

  • No tines & no writing : 1883-1884
  • diaphragm marked J Hudson & Co Patent:
    • tines point towards the mouth : 1885-1899
    • tines pointing away from the mouth : 1898-1907 (approx)
  • diaphragm unmarked:
    • no pip on the side of the diaphragm : c1907-1939
    • pip on the edge of the diaphragm:
      • tines parallel sided : 1939-197os
      • tines cut in slightly at the base : 1970s-now

[These identification tips have been adapted from Martyn Gilchrist’s book “More Whistles”]

They registered many patents applying to GSWs including:

  • 1898-9499 for a design of diaphragm with tines
  • 1907-01112 for a design of GSW with a folding knife blade
  • 1908-5727 for a design of 2-piece cap (this is the patent stamped on the cap of whistles from 1908-1922)
  • 1911-28999 for a rolled metal mouthpiece

32 Replies to “GSW – J. Hudson & Co.”

  1. hi. I have a Metropolitan double ended whistle. J. Hudson & Co. 13 Barr Street Birmingham / Patent. I have tried to research this and have been unable to find one. Please could you help me to solve my mystery. Kind regards

  3. Hi, I have a Metropolitan whistle, 13 Barr St, but the word “patent” is stamped below Birmingham and not below Metropolitan as shown on the examples photographed.
    Can you offer any further information?
    Thanks

  4. I have a whistle – common shape for the era – that has a 1-1/8″ loop attached to side – opposite printing – between and above the rectangular slots. Printing is as follows: J.HUDSON&Co
    13,BARR ST
    Is this a Marine piece? Is it rare? BIRMINGHAM
    1913
    Is it worth anything?
    HUDSON’S
    PATENT

  5. I have one that says “J.HUDSON & CO BIRMINGHAM CNNA1981. Under that is an arrow symbol pointed away from the mouthpiece. Under the arrow symbol is 1952. The cylinder is painted black. There is nothing on the diaphragm.

  6. Hi, I have an (I) Indian Army Whistle just like yours Dated (1907) in very good condition and would like to know the value for my reference. Thanks, Mick

  7. I bought a whistle with EMILNS & co london brand.
    Anyone know anything about this article.
    Thank you
    Carlos

  8. Hello. Can you shed some light on the Hudson whistles, as to dates made, that are markded 193-7100 and also have the Broad Arrow mark? Thanks much!

  9. I believe I have a 1907-1909 Hudson whistle and was wondering what these whistles would be used for? Any help would be appreciated!

  10. Hello…….. I have a 13 Barr St, Please confirm the date of manufacturing year ..Details below

    The Metropolitan J.Hudson @ co.
    13.BARRST
    BIRMINGHAM
    PATENT

    Regards
    Anurag Dehariya

  11. MY WHISTLE IS PATENT 5727.08
    THE METROPOLITAN
    THE M OF METROPOLITAN IS THE JAGGED ONE
    IT HAS THE NUMBER 28609
    J HUDSON&Co
    244 BARR STREET
    BIRMINGHAM
    I CANNOT SEE ANY OTHER MARKINGS. IT WAS OWNED BY MY FATHER.
    ANY IDEA AS TO IT’S DATE. I HAVE TRIED TO WORK IT OUT FROM THE INFORMATION ONLINE, BUT IT IS VERY CONFUSING.
    THANKS PETER

  12. Sir
    I have been given a police whistle for my birthday. On the top by the ring it says PATENT 5727.08
    On the front it says
    THE METROPOLITAN
    PATENT
    LONDON
    CITY POLICE
    1972
    J. HUDSON & CO
    244 BARR STREET
    BIRMINGHAM
    I can’t see any other marks so is the #1972 a year or a reference?
    Kind regards
    Carmen

  13. Hello
    I have a Metropolitan Whistle Royal Gardens Kew 131 Barr Street does anyone know the year and cost to replace?
    Cannot find any with Royal Gardens Kew on so believe it’s quite rare
    Any comments would be great
    Many thanks
    Hayley

  14. I have an acme Boy Scouts Ro540164 it appears to be brass not plated as it has no patches of nickel visible. It has no address or other obvious marks except the word patent below the rectangular hole. It’s shape does not fit to any of those illustrated and I was wondering if you could give me an approximate date. Many thanks Bic

  16. Hi I have a Hudson whistle with patent 5727-08 on top then
    The City
    Patent
    Whistle
    RCJ
    29
    Could you tell me how old this is & if it was a police or military whistle

  17. 131 Barr Street : 1885-1888
    13 Barr Street : 1888-1909

    They are the same address they renumbered the Street when the Slums were pulled down .

  18. I have a 244 Barr at
    Patent under metropolitan a also Patent on base 5727;C8 any information would be very helpful thank you

  21. No, the 1972 would be the number stamped on it and recorded in a book against the name of the officer issued with it. It’s a fairly low number so quite an early one, I’d guess. PATENT 5727.08 was stamped on the caps between 1908 and 1922.

  23. Hello

    I have a 13 Barr St Hudson with ER stamped along with a crown . I cant find what this is , have you any idea ?

    Kind Regards

  24. We have a ‘the Metropolitan’ whistle which just says ‘Barr Street’ no number, and doesn’t say Patent.
    Any idea what age this is and who it would have been issued to? We found it in a box with 2 WW1 medals in the home of my late grandfather who served in Burma in WW2, no idea whose the WW1 medals are or the background of the whistle. Thanks!

  25. I’ve got a Hudson ARP whistle saying Barr Street Hockley Birmingham no number for Barr Street or any other number on it when is it from?
    Found whilst clearing house for decorating

    Please can you help me

    Yours sincerely.

    Lesley Sweeney

  26. Hello. We have a whistle which says The Metropolitan. It has no patent. & just has the address as J. Hudson & co. Barr St. Hockley
    Birmingham.
    Made in England at the bottom of the whistle.
    Could you age this whistle for me?
    Many thanks.

  27. Hi Jo – I wouldn’t be able to say for sure without seeing it but it’s likely to be after 1920. “More Whistles” by Martyn Gilchrist has a nice section explaining how to do basic ID on Hudson whistles and you could try posting to the “Whistle and Call Collecting” Facebook group 🙂 https://www.facebook.com/groups/87711989148

  28. Hi Jo – I wouldn’t be able to say for sure without seeing it but it’s likely to be a WW2 era Hudson whistle. “More Whistles” by Martyn Gilchrist has a nice section explaining how to do basic ID on Hudson whistles and you could try posting to the “Whistle and Call Collecting” Facebook group 🙂 https://www.facebook.com/groups/87711989148

  30. Hello my whistle markings ;
    The metropolitan, J Hudson & Co.
    Barr St. Hockey
    Birmingham. Approx. 1/8” thick round loop
    Appears to be brase welded to dome shape head. Don’t see any other markings.
    Can you estimate the date mfg. & Approx
    Value. Best Regards David

  31. I have a patent metropolitan police with j Hudson 224 Barr street Birmingham with a number on it. Any information please

  32. I’d have to see it but the 244 Barr Street whistles are the commonest ones. If it’s attributed to a particular police force though and has a lor number stamped on it then that might make it more valuable up to a point 🙂

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