Maine to Texas - Whistle While You Work

While in Marengo, Ohio I found a very fun sounding factory tour in Columbus so we bought tickets on-line for a 10 a.m. tour ($5 each).

American Whistle has produced the classic brass whistle since 1956. 

How does the ball get inside the whistle?  (Hint: It is put in after the whistle is completely made!).

Unfortunately pictures were not allowed of the machinery but there was a wall showing every step of the process.

We started out with an introduction on how whistles are made and a little about the company.  Our guide was very funny and entertaining.

They use brass to make their whistles.  Solid brass whistles deliver a consistent high frequency.  They have recently started making plastic whistles here too.

They offer a variety of finishes on solid brass whistles, most commonly nickel-plated, but also brass, bronze and even 24-karat gold.

They make about 1 million whistles a year and are the only manufacturer in the world that can custom stamp a logo on the whistle.

Their specialty whistles come in these beautiful wooden boxes.

How does the ball get into the whistle after it is made?  The (previously) cork balls are now made of a synthetic material that is pressed and then popped into the opening of the whistle.  It can be done by hand or with a special machine.

There are several “How It’s Made” videos made at this factory that show the complete process that we saw first hand.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ThElMQitWoc

They are the only manufacturer of rubber Safe-T-Tips in the United States (slips over the mouthpiece of the whistle and protects the teeth and lips from impact and extremes in temperature).  And, they manufacture the official Boy Scouts of America whistles.

After the tour we each received a free whistle.

This factory tour is definitely magnet worthy.

Next time: You Scream, I Scream . . .