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Page 5 - Guides
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- February 06, 2023
If you imagine a game of football you will probably weave the sound of the referee’s whistle into your imaginings without having to consciously think about it, so synonymous is the sound. The same is also true of many of our favourite and most exciting games such as rugby, netball, hockey and many more sports that make use of the shrill call of the whistle to maintain order and accountability on pitches, fields and arenas all over the world.
When the whistle sounds, every player and sports fan knows to pay close attention to whatever comes next, whether they agree with the outcome or not. This level of command is universally recognised by players at all levels; from youth clubs to international teams, it is a sound that is impossible to ignore.
Here at ACME, we understand the significance of the whistle’s call and we realise just how important it is that every referee, coach, and umpire has a whistle they can rely on. Knowing that this simple yet integral piece of sporting equipment will
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- January 23, 2023
Did you know that your dog has a superpower? Those noses aren’t just adorable, they also completely shape how your dog sees and interacts with the world. A dog’s sense of smell is estimated to be between 10,000 and 100,000 times more powerful and accurate than our own because having a sensitive snout was key to their survival prior to their domestication.
Not only do they have many more olfactory receptors than we do, the part of their brain dedicated to analysing scents is also roughly 40 times bigger than ours. This means that every time a dog takes a deep breath in, they can perceive and make sense of a rich tapestry of smells that we are completely oblivious to.
As you can imagine, having such a keen sense of smell means that dogs are naturally led by their noses and many love nothing more than getting their noses to the ground to find out who has been through the area and when. Dogs need an appropriate amount of exercise for their breed and age, but they also thrive when given a good
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- December 14, 2022
We love to complain about the weather here in the UK, but all in all we are quite an outdoorsy nation even if that only extends as far as family picnics or some hiking in the summer. As winter draws in we often retreat indoors to avoid the worst of the weather and this means we often aren’t as active as we should be throughout the colder months. Watching the Winter Olympics and other winter sports from the comfort of our homes might be enough for some, but for those who want a first-hand piece of the action there are lots of ways to join in with winter sports and activities.
Snowfall in the UK may not be quite enough to rival that in the French Alps, but if you know where to look you can find all the thrills and spills of the ice and slopes right on your doorstep or just a few hours away. ACME Whistles has long been an advocate for getting everyday people to be more involved with sports, especially young people, and is proud to be a supporter of many different sporting initiatives in England.
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- December 02, 2022
Christmas is a special time of the year for many of us, and here at ACME Whistles we are particularly partial to a mince pie or two to get us into the festive spirit. The streets around our Birmingham factory are filled with the sights and sounds of Christmas throughout December and that always makes us think about how we can incorporate the spirit of the season into our designs.
We may be a little biassed but we believe our whistles have all the makings of a wonderful, thoughtful Christmas present. They are an unexpected choice, perhaps, but that is part of their enduring appeal. All our whistles are made using traditional techniques in the heart of Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter, and we treat every single piece with the care and attention you would expect from a high end jeweller.
To reflect the superior quality of our British-made whistles we have introduced a special line of luxury gifts that is sure to put a smile on anyone’s face this Christmas. Not only are our whistles beautiful
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- November 28, 2022
Here in Britain we are fortunate to have some of the most beautiful countryside in the world, with sand and shingle beaches, rolling hills, verdant woodland, and pastoral farmland to be enjoyed. Walking and cycling are all excellent ways to explore the countryside, but you truly can’t beat a trip on one of Britain’s most famous and best loved scenic rail journeys to truly soak in the serene, picturesque surroundings.
Whether you are a locomotive enthusiast or simply want to cross a famous rail journey off your bucket list, you’ll be spoiled for choice when looking at heritage rail routes in Britain.
ACME Whistles has long been associated with rail and locomotion and to this day, you can spot our locomotive whistles being used by rail staff up and down the country. The ACME Thunderer is the most popular among conductors and railway guards because it has a distinct, shrill call that makes it easily heard over the hectic sounds of the railway. A commemorative engraved whistle bearing the name
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- November 17, 2022
Owning a dog comes with a high level of responsibility whether you have a miniature breed or a giant. From an early age, every dog needs to undergo a socialisation process to get them used to the sights, sounds and smells of everyday life and to help them learn how to become good citizens. There are some commands that are seen as vital for every dog to know, such as sit, stay, and down. One of the most important but often overlooked skills that a dog needs to learn is recall.
Even if you never intend to allow your dog free reign off-lead, there is always a chance that your dog may one day slip their lead or otherwise get away from you, and you will need to know that you can reliably get them back if this happens. This is where strong recall conditioning is vital. One of the best ways to instil good recall in your dog is to use a dog training whistle as a tool for communication.
It is entirely possible that you can train recall using your voice, but there are proven benefits to using a whistle
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- November 09, 2022
In the past few years ACME Whistles has celebrated reaching a milestone that any company in the UK would be proud of. With a pedigree spanning over 150 years, we have learned a thing or two along the way and are proud of our British manufacturing history. We firmly believe in the quality of British craftsmanship and demonstrate this with every whistle that leaves our factory floor.
It is said that the best ideas stand the test of time, and this is certainly true. Our oldest designs are some of our most popular and enduring, setting the benchmark for how a finely crafted whistle is supposed to look and feel. To this day we test every whistle by hand to ensure it meets our highest standards, before sending them off to be shipped around the world.
Creative beginnings
Joseph Hudson was an inventor. In 1870 his curious mind set him onto a path that would see his company become an integral part of British history. The story goes that, as he was busy in his workshop, his violin was dropped onto
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- November 03, 2022
Any experienced birder will have a set of equipment they always pack when heading out to pursue their hobby, but if you are a complete beginner then the chances are that you have been relying on your eyes and ears alone to spot and identify birds. It might be true that these natural senses are all you need to appreciate avian species in the UK, but there are certainly a few things that can help you to have an even better experience. This brief guide is for any novice birder looking to put together a bird watching kit they can use in the field, whether they are heading into the countryside or sticking to the more urban areas.
A small notebook
Every birder knows the rush that comes when they manage to spot a new or favourite species in the wild and will keep a record of which species they have seen, when and where the sighting took place, sketches of the animal, and other notes such as the sex of the bird and its behaviour. Get yourself a small, pocket sized notebook that you can use to record
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- October 19, 2022
You might think that whistles are a very simple thing, and that one whistle is much the same as the next. As a company with a long and fascinating history as a whistle manufacturer, we humbly inform you that this is not the case! Whistles come in all shapes and sizes, and their uses and applications can vary dramatically.
For example, did you know that as well as the traditional whistle that a football referee might use there are also industrial whistles that are used to help keep workers safe while they operate machinery, and that vessels such as the Titanic were home to enormous whistles used to signal to other ships in low visibility?
Whistles have also been used historically for some very important things. Something that we are extremely proud of is the fact that ACME Whistles has been able to play a role in supporting our troops and allies at key moments in history. As a specialist whistle manufacturer, we were trusted to produce whistles and other products that were used during WW1
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- September 26, 2022
You may not have considered this before, but whistles make a wonderful gift for friends and family, and are also the perfect opinion for those in need of extra special corporate and commemoration gifts. They can be a surprising, attractive, and highly practical gift item for many different occasions, and every single one made by ACME Whistles is produced to an exceptional standard here in our UK-based factory. Whether you are in need of one special engraved whistle for a loved one’s birthday, retirement or anniversary, or 1000 as giveaway gifts for your business or for an expo, ACME Whistles is able to provide you with the perfect solution.
Our most popular whistles
There are many different types of whistle in our collection and some are general purpose while others have more niche uses. For example, the ACME Thunderer is perhaps the most popular whistle we make and is perfect for all kinds of applications. It is used frequently in sporting events, by teachers, in the military, and by anyone
