Steam whistle

Hi guys
Ive recently been cleaning the garage due to a bereavement and I came across this whistle.I know my great uncle worked on the railways and apparently thats where it came from. I was somebody here might be able to shed some light on it regarding what it is , what its worth and whats best to get it into a sellable condition. Its a big lump and sat going to waste so id appreciate it to go somewhere people will get enjoyment from it.
The only markings ive found are Ym3 on the valve. it is 4 inch in diameter, 12 inch from valve to top and the circular whistle part is 8 inch.
Any information or advice of where to research would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Morko

 

Do you know where he worked on the railway? As you may know this is a chime whistle, the musical (?) note being formed from the combined tones of the 3 different length individual whistles.

 

It is a chime whistle off either a BR Britannia or Clan Class 4-6-2. You would probably get £1,500-£2,500 at a good railwayana action.

 

Its known as a chord in musical terms generally 3 notes and above, dependent upon weather its a major or a minor chord will effect the colour of the chord, most loco whistles will be in a major chord, however think tugboat and a minor chord is more likely (a A4 is I understand a F minor !). The other thing is each note will not always hit the right note all the time (it will depend on the pressure) which allows a bit more 'tone options' when you vary how hard you tug the chord/lever etc.

It certainly looks like a Brit/Clan whistle & valve see this page :-

https://locoyard.com/2013/11/02/its...ropley-br-standard-7mt-class-70000-britannia/

 

Cheers guys, he was based in barrow-in-furness dont know many details except its been lying around gathering dust for a long time. what condition would be best for sale? see your face in it bright?
Thank you
Morko

 

It's actually a very good example as it has the mounting flange. I have only seen one previous such example, and without it, there is always a big uncertainty what such whistles are from. As to condition, I would leave it as is, so the buyer has the choice.

 

Always leave in as found condition.
Chime whistles also carried on some of the Standard 5s.

Nice piece of kit. They produce a lovely sound !

 

For best sale go to auction. I recommend contacting Mike Soden at Great Central Auctions as he will be able to give you good advice on it's origin.

 

But AFIK not with this type of valve/bracket arrangement?

 

Sorry. Just pointing out that they were carried by Standard 5s. Should have elucidated. Those on the 5s were carried vertically on steam chest not to side as on Brits, correct?

 

AFIK?

 

The first 100 Standard 5s were originally fitted with chime whistles. They were positioned on a square pad on the top of the smoke box, directly behind the chimney.

 

Say after me "Google is my friend" or alternatively I've found one page for you:

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=afik

 

You could always offer it to the Clan Project, whether they would/could pay the price or not is another matter, but i'm sure they would love to use it on their loco.

 

I think at that value the Executor would need to be consulted?

 

Is whistling a capital Offence then ?
Clan Project have stated that they already have a whistle, which was news to me but sure enough, there's even a picture of it.
https://www.theclanproject.org/hengist-components/boiler-firebox

 

One sold at Stoneleigh last December for £1150 - albeit without the mounting flange.

http://www.gcrauctions.com/sale202/lot1.html

 

That was an interesting one. Most other auctions would have sold it as an A4 and I quizzed Mike on why they thought it must have been from a Standard - I gather it was their whistle expert's view. I have not seen a picture of a Brit with a finial on the whistle but there may have been some, especially if they were overhauled at Doncaster, and at least one pic of a 73xxx shows what looks like a finial. The A4s had both finial and non-finial examples. It goes to show the importance of provenance.

 

The unusual thing about this whistle is the presence of the pipe and bracket, which marks it out as being from a BR Std. pacific- I've only seen one such previously.

Without those fittings you are obliged to trust the provenance and it all depends on just how trusting you are! Most chime whistles that come on the market in the UK are claimed to have come from A4s, but as they are not specifically marked it is very difficult to say. The original chime whistles fitted to A4s, Brits, Clans etc. were sourced from the USA, where such whistles were and still are, very common. At any given time an Ebay search is likely to bring up identical whistles for less than $500. Caveat emptor!

 

Robin = are you at Pershore on Satu