WW2 RAF Escape Whistles

[Carl]

Carl, did you buy yours as an aged repro?

No , it came from my late uncles estate .
Why ?

 

[Carl]

The lighting isnt brilliant as it shows it more a "yellow brassy" look than what it is.

 

[Carl]

The repro ones havnt got the bit right right where the sit ring attaches to the whistle .
As you can see from your example , where the split ring attaches to the whistle it is of a "nipple" profile as the repro tend to be more of a "lump"

 

[Carl]

 

[unclegrumpy]

Andrew...my original question of how to tell an original RAF whistle from a reproduction has not yet been addressed. Do you have any insight regarding how to tell the difference?

 

[Carl]

Andrew...my original question of how to tell an original RAF whistle from a reproduction has not yet been addressed. Do you have any insight regarding how to tell the difference?

No jumping in here but one difference is shown ,posted above .
There should be no other markings apart from the A.M Kings crown and stores Ref on either side .There is no ACME ,Thunderer or any other such markings on a genuine example
Repros do not have such a pronounced stamping ,like its almost half heartedly done .
Have also read that the seams in originals are slightly off set .
But im sure the more knowledgeable will correct any mistakes ive made .

C

 

[unclegrumpy]

Thanks Carl!

For some reason the photos of the whistle I have disappeared from the beginning of this thread...below is one of the two reposted, and a new one of it's nipple. However, "my" nipple looks a bit different than the other two...the Darth Vader version?

 

[Carl]

Thanks Carl!

For some reason the photos of the whistle I have disappeared from the beginning of this thread...below is one of the two reposted, and a new one of it's nipple. However, "my" nipple looks a bit different than the other two...the Darth Vader version?

Well the "Darth Vader" bit looks spot on.

 

[unclegrumpy]

Well the "Darth Vader" bit looks spot on.

Does that mean you think it is an original?

 

[Carl]

Does that mean you think it is an original?

I would say its a copy im afraid
Give me a minute to double check with a friend please

 

[Carl]

Pic of the other side of the whistle would be good please , just to double check .
But going by my friends opinion , it is a copy by the lack of seams around the main body .
Sorry about any confusion
C

 

[Edward]

Thanks Uncle Grumpy! great info!
Greg Gale; I do wear mine on the male part of the hook but only because thats also how I see it worn on most photos of the era... I never have had a reason to zip my A-2 all the way up! lol!
I'm sure like most WW2 issued items spanning the US and RAF at the time there will be differences.

Meyer was a large and well known manufacturer of military insignia and equipment...mostly sold to Officers. They supplied military tailors and uniform shops across the country. While they made a lot of things themselves, they also purchased and then added their logo to other items...like this whistle. Whistles were part of most officers kit from before WW I up until the beginning of WW II.

I think this whistle dates to the mid to late 1930's, and is 100% original. I am having a hard time judging the size, but the ones you more typically see used by American Officers before the war were larger than the RAF versions.

 

[Edward]

Thanks Carl! great info... I've seen so many variations of stampings and even casting variations. were there more than one company manufacturing ditch whistles?

It is an English made whistle but sadly not an RAF issue type .
Roughwear has already posted pics of what the original type should look like .

My example

 

[Carl]

Thanks Carl! great info... I've seen so many variations of stampings and even casting variations. were there more than one company manufacturing ditch whistles?

Im not sure , but i wouldnt be surprised if they were only manufactured by ACME in Birmingham .
But ! there could be other manufacturers i dont honestly know !

 

[unclegrumpy]

Here is the other side:

 

[unclegrumpy]

So, I actually have two of these RAF whistles...the one with the plastic tag on the left is the one previously posted, and the other I have had a long time...but not long enough to say it is not a copy. The nipples are about the same on both.

The larger brass whistle is marked "Military" on the top of the mouth piece, and "Made in USA" underneath. Decided to picture that to illustrate the size difference between the RAF and standard US Military whistle.

Carl, thanks for the input...I appreciate it!

 

[Steve27752]

Looking at the stamping and construction. I would say that the one on the Left (with plastic tag, is a repro).

 

[jack31916]

I think you're right Steve. It occurs to me that the different parts on the original whistles have a accentuated construction in comparison to the repro whistles. Maybe that's the give away how to tell original from repro....

 

[Carl]

You can see the difference in the stamping, the repro doesnt have that "depth" to it, like i previously mentioned .

 

[jeremiah]

You can see the difference in the stamping, the repro doesnt have that "depth" to it, like i previously mentioned .

Men were stronger back then.