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ACME Whistles News
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January 18, 2024
Have you ever been curious about the origins and development of the whistle? Specifically, let's delve into the story of the pea whistle. This particular type of whistle is widely utilised in sports and favoured by referees worldwide. In this article, we will explore the history of the pea whistle, tracing its inception and how it has evolved over time. Additionally, we will delve into its impact on sports and shed light on why referees prefer it. Moreover, we will discuss what sets it apart from other types of whistles and provide guidance on selecting a high-quality pea whistle. Lastly, we've compiled a list of errors people make when using a pea whistle to help you avoid them and maximise your experience with this small yet powerful instrument. Let's embark on a journey to uncover all there is to know about this remarkable device!
What Exactly is a Pea Whistle?
A pea whistle refers to a compact type of whistle commonly employed in sports activities as well as outdoor -
March 31, 2023
ACME Whistles has a pedigree that can be traced back to 1935 when it comes to dog whistles. Today we are extremely proud to launch another world first: a reinvented take on our classic dog whistle called the ALPHA. The ALPHA is a new evolution in dog whistles which gives dog trainers and owners better control over longer distances.
We are dedicated to supporting dog owners across the country with our innovative, world-leading whistles and have worked closely with the UK’s best dog
trainers, including Ben Randall, to bring you a truly special dog training tool. The ACME ALPHA is 8% louder and delivers a clean, crisp sound which has expanded the sound range by 17% when compared to our original design.
We have demonstrated through rigorous testing and field trials that dogs can respond to the ALPHA’s call from distances of over 485 metres. To guarantee this result, the ALPHA has been four years in the making and has gone through 47 iterations to push the boundaries
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February 27, 2023
It is a sad fact that, due to many socioeconomic factors, the manufacturing sector in the UK is no longer the global powerhouse it once was. As a nation we are simply making less ‘stuff’ than in previous years, instead relying on imports to meet our needs.
It’s true that making things overseas and importing them to our shores can be a money saving exercise, but it often comes with a decrease in the quality of the goods.
At ACME Whistles we are dedicated to manufacturing a superior product that is unmatched by cheap imports, and once you have used one of our beautifully crafted whistles you will understand why. Our reputation for quality has stayed with us for over 150 years, and to this day we still use time-honoured techniques and trusted tools to manufacture our whistles.
We know that the only way to make whistles to an exacting standard is to have skilled and experienced technicians involved in every part of the process. As such, our whistles are largely hand-tooled
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September 26, 2022
With 50 days until England face Japan in the Autumn Nations Series at Twickenham, we're proudly partnering with the RFU on a nationwide campaign to celebrate female rugby referees around the country.
A female referee will be showcased every day in the build up to the international on November 12th, highlighting their story and passion for the game. This group of 50 #INSPIRE female referees will then have the opportunity to come together on the pitch at Twickenham at the England v Japan Autumn International to celebrate women in refereeing, minutes before kick-off.
From 50 to 500!
The campaign is all part of a drive to bring more female referees into the sport, with the target of training 500 new female rugby referees by the end of 2024. In partnership with RFU, Ruck and and some of the biggest refereeing names in the sport, this celebration of female referees around the country is aimed to inspire more women to join the sport.
“It’s so important to bring more women
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December 02, 2020
Here at ACME whistles, we pride ourselves on being creators and innovators as well as the creative and colourful designs of our whistles.
Our newest addition to our whistle collection is our most extravagant yet - thanks to the 470 diamonds.
CME's Diamond Dog Whistle
We have created the world’s most expensive whistle, fit for royalty - and we know her majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, is a fan of ACME’s dog whistles already.
Handcrafted by our team of experts, the new whistle is made from solid sterling silver and covered in 12.75 carats of diamonds. Each diamond is set by hand, taking 150 man-hours for our team to create just one whistle.
This is just one of the many reasons that our newest whistle is made to order, making each whistle one-of-a-kind.
The diamond dog whistle can be made using either the classic 210½ TM,
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June 15, 2020
Welcome to the first ACME Whistles Website of our next 150 years. The future beckons and this, is our signpost.
The ability to create a ‘first’ often depends on seizing opportunity at the right time linked to a strong awareness of accumulated talents. Joseph Hudson, our founder, was perceptive enough to recognise the big step forward from policemen using rattles to giving clearer, more audible warnings when they used his pioneering Metropolitan whistle. His original ‘ACME first’ was a landmark change, followed by other significant firsts with the famous ACME Thunderer put in the hands of millions of users through peacetime years and hard battles of war as a trusted aid for sporting officials, armed forces, ships and railways, to handle demanding everyday needs.
Being first is still never an easy achievement. While we uphold all the merits of our founding principles, staying first demands
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October 21, 2019
The Visit
My name is Ajay and on the 30th September I had the pleasure of visiting the J Hudson & Co ACME Whistle factory, along with my classmates from Queen Marys Grammar School. In coordination with our Design and Technology A-level course we visited the factory to see some of the various metal and plastic manufacturing processes in action, such as stamping, nickel plating and injection moulding.
After a short ride to the factory we were greeted by the factory managing director (Simon Topman) who proceeded to give us the tour. He started off by showing us to the room which held Joseph Hudson’s desk where he created the first prototype of the police whistle. He told us about the history of the company and how it all started with the police whistle.
J Hudson had presented his prototype to the police and was promised that he would be contacted in the near future. Days and weeks went by and J Hudson had heard nothing so he decided to contact the metropolitan
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October 17, 2019
Manufacturing isn’t a skill, it’s a culture. Culture needs its place to begin, to develop and to pass its learning and understandings from generation to generation. Such a place is Birmingham. Manufacturing remains a huge part of our local GDP. No company exemplifies this tradition more than J Hudson & Co. (ACME WHISTLES) Ltd.
Founded in 1870 it is just a few months away from its 150th birthday and to this day it remains the world market leader in the design and manufacture of whistles and audible warning signals. Take a look at the Rugby World Cup taking place in Japan this week and you will see Acme Thunderers on parade controlling the game. Used in every match they are currently exported to 119 countries.
When Joseph Hudson, the founder, invented the first police
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July 09, 2019
Originally constructed in 1929 at the Faarborg shipyard in Denmark, the 69 foot gaff rigged ketch once known as ‘Johanne Regina’ is a historic vessel with a fascinating story to tell. In her early days, Johanne Regina was used extensively as a trading vessel and by the 1970s she began a journey to the West Indies.
It was in Antigua, 1974, that Edward Allcard spotted the neglected vessel on a slipway and asked it’s owners if they’d be willing to part with it. Unfortunately for the Allcard family, the boat was not for sale. It wasn’t until the owners tempted fate by changing the vessel’s name that they fell on hard times and eventually agreed to sell.
For the Allcard family this was the beginning of an exciting new venture and having sold all their possessions to buy the boat, they immediately got started with restoration work. Living aboard the Johanne Regina was a relentless task of repairing and
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June 04, 2019
Factory Tours:
See the "Lost ACME Clicker", a hugely significant piece of military history, displayed at the ACME Whistles factory.
How We Found The Lost ACME Clicker
Earlier this month we launched a campaign to find the “Lost D-Day Clickers” that ACME Whistles produced to be used by the 101st American Airborne Division in June 1944. Their purpose at the time of production was kept top secret but it later became evident that these clickers, which we produced in complete secrecy, were a vital piece of survival equipment for the heroic paratroopers involved in the
