425. Sports referee’s whistle has a fascinating history.
Besides sports, the whistle has warned troops “incoming bombardment”, tells miners “explosion warning”, Police “Stop thief”. Plus in ancient times . . .
Referees used to control rugby matches in early New Zealand by waving a white handkerchief and shouting instructions to the players. In 1884 rugby referee and farmer William Atack had a throat ailment, so he couldn’t shout his instructions to players.
Without prior thought he took the sheepdog whistle from his trouser pocket and became the first rugby referee to use a whistle to control a match.
Many ancient communities claim they invented the whistle. China, Israel, Peruvian Incas all claim they invented whistles made from bones, wood and shells 5000 years ago.
Romans and Greeks used drums and whistles to synchronise galley-slave rowers.
In later years the Christian Crusaders used whistles to direct their armies fighting the arabs in Palestine. Today factories still use steam-driven whistles to signal divisions of the working day.
Whistles were used on ships like the Titanic and other liners because whistled signals carried long distances despite storms and wind.
In the British Navy the Boatswain’s pipe whistle signals to sailors “show respect to our visiting dignitary”.
Rattles weren’t effective
Joseph Hudson (1848-1930) saw the problem Birmingham Police had using wooden rattles when they needed assistance from colleagues.
At age 22 he had tinkered with different designs for a functional whistle. London Metropolitan Police were impressed that his whistle could be heard a mile away. He got a contract to supply his ‘Acme City’ whistle to all police forces in England.
Today Hudson’s fourth-generation family business supplies 5million whistles to worldwide customers. Hudsons also make bird, goose and wild duck calls, dog whistles, industrial safety whistles etc.
Referees’ choice is the ACME THUNDERER
Ever since Hudson’s whistle was used by the referee who controlled the FA Cup Final in 1879 all sports requiring a referee with a whistle opt for the British Acme Thunderer, eschewing cheap imitations made in Asia.
Report #425.
My other reports are here > Take a look.
.