We use cookies to make your experience better. To comply with the new e-Privacy directive, we need to ask for your consent to set the cookies. Learn more.
Police
-
June 09, 2023
ACME Whistles stands as the oldest and most renowned whistle manufacturer in the world. Among our impressive repertoire of whistles are two iconic creations: the Metropolitan Police whistle and the Scout whistle. These whistles, manufactured in Birmingham, hold immense historical significance and continue to play vital roles in communication and safety to this day.
The Metropolitan Police whistle: A symbol of order
In the late 1800s, Joseph Hudson, a keen inventor, noticed the Metropolitan Police's need for improved communication tools beyond the rattles commonly in use, and this inspired him to design the original Metropolitan Police whistle. The whistle's sharp and distinct sound quickly caught on in the force, proving to be effective in transmitting commands and alerts. It became an indispensable part of every officer's kit, allowing them to communicate efficiently in the line of duty.
The Metropolitan Police whistle's significance extended beyond -
June 28, 2022
ACME whistles played an essential role in history. Police used whistles to call for backup from other officers before radios were invented. The military used whistles to communicate orders to soldiers in battle. Whistles could be heard over the noise of the battle, and the enemy couldn’t easily interpret the meaning of each call if they were to listen to the orders.
Since radio and other communication technologies are now much more common, service and police whistles are used less often in the field. Service and police whistles do, however, make great gifts for history, military or police enthusiasts, and they also have several practical modern-day applications. These applications include dog training, within scout groups, on the playground and during sporting events. Equally, many people choose to display police or military whistles as part of a memorabilia collection.
Police whistles
Whistles were vital for police officers in the late 1800s and throughout the 1900s
-
July 25, 2019
Whenever police officers from around the world meet there is always an inevitable exchange. Knowledge, ideas, stories, and of course gifts. Often these are items symbolic of their homeland and are happily received, but wherever possible, it represents their unit or organisation and these are most prized by those that receive them.
When the officers of the International Police Association (IPA) met in Stirling for the 5th Bi-annual Young PoliceOfficer Seminar (YPOS), it was no different.
The IPA draws the police family together from 67 countries, in the spirit of shared learning and friendship, enabling a huge range of social exchanges and professional development, and is the largest social police organisation in the world.
Founded in the UK, this year it was our honour to host our colleagues
-
November 28, 2018
Writing a poem for ACME Whistles.
by Gabriella Gay (GKA Gay)
With one toot every cop and robber, runner, budding footballer, bulldog, plane and dancer stood still to attention. I learned very quickly in my year training to teach that my cheap plastic whistle, used for years at carnival, was not enough. Its half-heard whimper left the children that actually stopped quite confused, while the other half continued their games until they spotted the statues amongst them. The best teachers and teaching assistants invested in a good whistle and kept it hung around their necks. They were always ready for playtime duty, P.E, lunchtime and the rare occasion where a hand in the air, sharp ‘Are we ready?’ or the pure powerful presence of standing still was not enough.
In a voice care workshop we were told that the best way protect your voice but still be heard clearly from afar was to speak in a high pitched twangy politician style tone. I never tried it with
-
October 18, 2018
Behind every one of ACME Whistles’ iconic designs there is a story to be told. Perhaps the most compelling is a story that began at the turn of the 20th Century, and still resonates with us to this day. At its heart, it is about our proud military history, but it is also about the servicemen and women and the everyday details that formed their experience of war.
This year, 2018, marks the 100 year anniversary of the end of WWI. A dark time in world history, it was also an age of innovation and hope as people from all walks of life came together to do their bit for the war effort. For ACME Whistles, this period marked the start of a close relationship between the British military and the humble whistle company from Birmingham.
A Vital Role In British Military History
Ben McFarlane, our Head of Sales