Page 17 - Stories

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

As a nation of animal lovers and dog owners, it’s no surprise that dog ownership is on the rise in the UK. From Labradors to Lhasa Apsos, dogs come in all shapes and sizes. Whether we have a miniature lap dog, or one of the larger breeds, it is our responsibility to provide a good level of training. By ensuring that every dog in our care is trained well and is able to behave well in the home and when out and about, we can help them become the best companions for our families.

Certain breeds of dogs have a reputation for being more difficult to train than others. While this can be true in some cases, the vast majority of dogs can be trained perfectly well once you have found the tools and techniques that work for them. For a good number of years now, dog training and behavioural experts have shown a strong preference for positive reinforcement techniques because they give the best results and help create happy, well socialised dogs.

The benefits of positive reinforcement

Positive reinforcement,

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

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 into rugby,” said Leonie

In 2020, ACME Whistles was proud to celebrate 150 years of whistle making, and in all that time we have played an unexpected role in some of the most culturally and historically important events of recent generations. We are most proud of the fact that we were able to support our troops and allies throughout WWI and WWII, and continue to support the Royal British Legion today through our sales of the Peace Whistle.

The ACME Clicker

To get a more complete picture of the links between ACME Whistles and WWI and WWII we will first look into the background of one of our most iconic products: the Clicker. The 101st American Airborne Division was scheduled to take part in a top secret mission in June, 1944. These highly skilled light infantry soldiers were required to parachute into dangerous territory under the cover of night. Unable to use regular communication methods, the division needed a means of communicating with one another without giving away their positions.

ACME Whistles were tasked

Here at ACME Whistles, we have a long and celebrated history when it comes to producing industrial whistles of all kinds, and to this day we are able to offer a versatile range of such whistles. These highly specialised pieces of equipment are produced in our UK-based factory, largely using traditional hand tooling methods and our original manufacturing equipment.

You might be surprised by just how widespread the use of whistles is in the industrial sector. Though they are a relatively simple piece of equipment, they are incredibly useful and versatile, and can be applied in many sectors, either as integral parts of machinery or commonly as features within robust health and safety features in the workplace.

What makes industrial safety whistles ideal for the workplace?

One of the things that makes whistles particularly suitable for industrial applications is the fact that they produce aeroacoustic sound, meaning that the only thing required to produce the whistling sound is air. This is

Aside from the school bell, the call of a whistle is one of the most iconic sounds from our school days and it remains so today. From school sports days, to signalling the end of break times and other practical applications, teachers and school support staff have long used whistles in the academic setting to communicate with their students, and indeed other teachers at times. In such settings, there is a need for equipment that won’t let you down, whether you are in a classroom actively teaching a lesson, on the sports field playing a sport, or in the school yard at lunch time.

Our range of beautifully crafted whistles have been long-time favourites with teachers and other school staff, and have earned a reputation for quality construction and a crisp sound that grabs attention. While the classic models feature a bright nickel plated finish, we truly have something for everyone including colourful, shatterproof plastic whistles, extra loud whistles, whistles with thumb grips, whistles that

The UK has a long and colourful sporting history, and it’s something that many of us are rightfully proud of. From our cup-winning football teams to our international prowess in national favourites such as rugby and cricket, there are many things to celebrate about this cultural phenomenon.

The global popularity of many sports has roots in Britain, which was instrumental in popularising many sporting events throughout the 18th and 19th centuries. For example, the modern game of football has its origins in the UK, more specifically England, and the Football Association which is the game’s first governing body was founded in the mid 1800s in England.

ACME Whistles is proud to have played a part in this sporting history in years gone by, and remains heavily involved in supplying professional standard whistles for a range of well-loved sports. Sports whistles need to be of a superior quality so that referees, umpires and invigilators can be confident that their whistle will be a reliable means