J Hudson & Co

Birmingham City Police whistles in the West Midlands Police Museum

Joseph Hudson started working at the age of 12. He moved to Bent & Parker, a maker of army supplies and whistles in Birmingham. In 1870, aged 22, he started his own business with younger brother James.

In 1883 Hudson began tinkering in his toolshed to make gadgets to sell, including whistles. After observing local police struggling to communicate with rattles,[2] he realised that his whistle could be used as a tool. As the story goes, Hudson, a violin player, accidentally dropped his violin and it shattered on the floor. Observing how the discordant sound of the breaking strings travelled, Hudson had the idea to put a pea in the whistle.[3] This gave it an ear splitting rattle that could grab attention even a mile away.[3] After a demonstration at Scotland Yard, Hudson had his first sale.

This 1884 contract with the police gradually made Hudson the largest whistle manufacturer for British Empire police forces, military, sports, railways and many others. By the 1890s, Hudson faced the rise of many competitor makers and companies.

Highlights of early company history include:

• 1895: Introduction of the Acme Siren
• 1898: Hudson purchases Black & Co.
• 1898: J Barrall exits the whistle-making Business.
• 1901: Hudson makes Stevens & Sons whistles.
• 1904: Hudson purchases R A Walton.
• 1907: Hudson purchases S Auld Whistles, continuing to manufacture their models especially the Round " pignose " type known as 'Glasgow type police call'.
• 1904: Hudson fills orders (along with De Courcy) for W Dowler & Sons who stops manufacturing whistles.
• During this period, Coney & Co. stops making whistles and Hudson makes their models.
• In early 1900 Hudson makes whistles on a small scale for Bent & Parker.
• At an unknown date c. late 1890s, early 1900 T Yates stops manufacturing whistles.
• 1903 H A Ward stops making whistles. ( Year of death )

By 1908, Hudson and De Courcy were the two major whistle makers in England.

Starting 1909 at a new facility in northern Birmingham at 244 Barr St., Hudson expanded to more markets in Europe and overseas, with an office in Paris, a large 1910 French catalogue, and new connections with United States sporting goods companies and distributors. Hudson was left with just one British competitor, A De Courcy & Co, from 1909 to 1927.

In 1912, the company made whistles that were used by the crew on board the RMS Titanic.[4]

In 1927 Hudson purchased A De Courcy's patent rights, tools and stock. Hudson became the world's largest maker, gaining the Thunderer Registered Trademark. The Acme Thunderer whistle and its variations became the world's best-selling whistle.

During this period, 1925 to 1930, three generations of the Hudson family ran the business together. This was the end of the golden age of whistle making.

At the beginning of this period the company faced competition from whistles made of tin, plastic and cast base metal materials made in Germany, Japan, USA and other countries.

On 26 October 1940, the factory received a direct hit from a German air raid. No one was injured, but the factory suffered major damage. Air Raid Precautions whistles were made during the next few years and dated whistles for army, navy and Royal Air Force equipment and for Civil Defence.

In 1949 the firm was re-constituted as J. Hudson & Co. (Whistles) Ltd. Leon C. Hudson became its first managing director.

The 1950s and 60s marked growing demand for Hudson sports whistles, Olympics and other sport events on five continents.

In 1957 A. R. Topman became an assistant general manager, and about 40 years later his son, Simon Topman, became the owner and the managing director of the company, starting the fourth period of company developments.

In 1998, Simon Topman and Martyn Gilchrist co-authored a book titled Collecting Police Whistles And Similar Types.

The factory name was changed to Acme Whistles and makes about 5 million whistles each year. It continues to register new patents for whistles. The period was marked with growing competition from Far East manufacturers.

They have made over a billion whistles altogether. In addition to the "Thunderer", they make varieties of bird calls, dog calls, safety whistles, sports whistles, orchestral whistles and party whoopers.