Whistling Through Changing Times; a factory tour at Acme Whistles

The Acme Whistles Tour is a light-hearted and highly entertaining journey through 156 years of whistle making. The many ways in which the whistle has made history and touched on so many of life’s stops and starts is all part of the journey from the everyday to the grand occasion.

You will hear the amazing story of the invention of the world’s first Police Whistle, the Metropolitan, and the world’s first Sports Whistle, the Acme Thunderer. Other famous whistles you will hear about are the mate’s whistles used on The Titanic, how the Clangers got their voice, how the whistle enlisted for two World Wars and fought at the front, the Lion Roar, Bird Calls, and whistles that you can’t even hear but your dog can!

We have preserved a lot of original equipment which you can see alongside the current production. You will see the brass being pressed, soldered, polished and plated to make a complete whistle. All our production processes are done “in house” -----rare these days. You will experience it all and see the founders work bench where those first whistles were invented and crafted.

We still have bomb damage visible from 1942 and, as you would expect from such an old building, a serious ghost. We were the original “pig and whistle”—you will find out why.

Questions afterwards are always fun. Bring along your old whistles for dating and valuing, you may be very surprised. The stories that go with your old whistles are always intriguing and add a touch of social history. Please note that as this is a working factory this tour is not suitable for children.

All monies raised through this guided tour will be donated to Mayfield Special School https://mayfield.eiat.org.uk/) and the Ladywood Community Project (https://www.ladywoodcommunityproject.org.uk/)