item details
NamePostal uniform whistle
ProductionACME Specialist Whistles; manufacturer(s); 1900s - 1960s; New Zealand
Post and Telegraph Department; commissioner; 1900s - 1960s; New Zealand
Post and Telegraph Department; commissioner; 1900s - 1960s; New Zealand
Classificationuniforms, whistles
Materialscork, metal, Bakelite (TM), leather
DimensionsPart: 30mm (height)
Registration NumberGH018188
Credit lineThe New Zealand Post Museum Collection, Gift of New Zealand Post Ltd. 1992
Overview
This postie's whistle is an early example of the type of whistle used by posties in New Zealand from the late 1800s through to the mid-1900s. Commonly associated with the warding off of aggressive dogs, whistles were predominantly used by posties to signal to households that mail had arrived, and was useful for those living rurally who had to travel some distance to their letterboxes.
The ACME Thunderer
This whistle is an ‘ACME Thunderer’ which was first produced by whistle manufacturers J. Hudson & Co in 1884 as the world’s first sports whistle. This type of whistle continues to be one of the most popular used in the sporting world today (1).
Reference:
(1)
http://acmewhistles.ca/history/