Whistle, D61.194

Heavy, cylindrical metal whistle with brass(?) link, the other end to which is attached a 'U' shaped hook, presumably for attaching to clothing, e.g. button hole/belt/pocket. External structure of whistle appears to be constructed of 4 distinct pieces. A round/tubular mouthpiece, slightly flared at opening with narrowing neck and larger flare at opposite end, which is soldered to the main body tubular structure. This main section shows a seam along one side of its full length, suggesting it was rolled from a single flat piece and soldered along the connecting edges. The far end of this main body is capped with a small metal dome which extends out beyond the body of the whistle, somewhat like the roof of a house. The top of this dome/cap has soldered to it a metal ring. These 4 main parts of the whistle are constructed of the same type of metal, each piece being solidly constructed. A short distance up the main body -from the mouthpiece - on directly opposite sides of the tube are two deep cuts/openings, throughout the blown air is expelled. It appears that the inside of this main body has inserted/attached to it a heavy flat piece of the same metal extending the full length of the main body. The two deep cuts are each to one side of this flat piece. Likely this flat piece has in effect formed two separate whistles, such when blown produce two separate sounds (harmonics?) possibly producing at very loud, very shrill sound. Excised on one side of the main body running from the cap to the mouthpiece - each word running around the 'barrel'/not along it - are the words " THE Metropolitan Gold Coast CONSTABULARY" "Patent" "J.Hudson&Co. 13.Barr St. Birmingham" The word "Birmingham" is located at the very join with the mouthpiece and is half obscured by this join. The soldered ring at the top of the whistle has joined, i.e. inserted through it a strong small ring being the first link of a chain. The remaining 29 links are of the same metal each in the shape of a twisted '8'. The farthest link has inserted through it the base loop of a large hook. This hook presumably is intended for attaching to the clothing of the bearer of the whistle. The general appearance of the whistle/chain is of a very sturdily made article, much used, and in good condition. (Note: Given the current location of this whistle being New Zealand (Otago Museum ) it can be suggested that the original owner was possibly a New Zealander who spent some time in the Colonial Service of England during the years of the Gold Coast colonial occupation.)

"Gold Coast"/Ghana Metal, Brass(?) Police whistle Heavy, cylindrical metal whistle with brass(?) link, the other end to which is attached a 'U' shaped hook, presumably for attaching to clothing, e.g. button hole/belt/pocket. External structure of whistle appears to be constructed of 4 distinct pieces. A round/tubular mouthpiece, slightly flared at opening with narrowing neck and larger flare at opposite end, which is soldered to the main body tubular structure. This main section shows a seam along one side of its full length, suggesting it was rolled from a single flat piece and soldered along the connecting edges. The far end of this main body is capped with a small metal dome which extends out beyond the body of the whistle, somewhat like the roof of a house. The top of this dome/cap has soldered to it a metal ring. These 4 main parts of the whistle are constructed of the same type of metal, each piece being solidly constructed. A short distance up the main body -from the mouthpiece - on directly opposite sides of the tube are two deep cuts/openings, throughout the blown air is expelled. It appears that the inside of this main body has inserted/attached to it a heavy flat piece of the same metal extending the full length of the main body. The two deep cuts are each to one side of this flat piece. Likely this flat piece has in effect formed two separate whistles, such when blown produce two separate sounds (harmonics?) possibly producing at very loud, very shrill sound. Excised on one side of the main body running from the cap to the mouthpiece - each word running around the 'barrel'/not along it - are the words " THE Metropolitan Gold Coast CONSTABULARY" "Patent" "J.Hudson&Co. 13.Barr St. Birmingham" The word "Birmingham" is located at the very join with the mouthpiece and is half obscured by this join. The soldered ring at the top of the whistle has joined, i.e. inserted through it a strong small ring being the first link of a chain. The remaining 29 links are of the same metal each in the shape of a twisted '8'. The farthest link has inserted through it the base loop of a large hook. This hook presumably is intended for attaching to the clothing of the bearer of the whistle. The general appearance of the whistle/chain is of a very sturdily made article, much used, and in good condition. (Note: Given the current location of this whistle being New Zealand (Otago Museum ) it can be suggested that the original owner was possibly a New Zealander who spent some time in the Colonial Service of England during the years of the Gold Coast colonial occupation.) ? Length of full whistle = approx. 84.7mm. Length of each component - mouthpiece= approx. 16.6mm, main body = approx. 46.9mm, cap = approx. 7.6mm. Diameter of main body = approx. 16.2mm. Approx. length of chain = 404 mm. —Joel A Vanderburg

Locality: Gold Coast