Boatswain's Whistle

The object below attracted my attention for its unusual shape.

It is a boatswain's (or bosun's) pipe.  Although this particular pipe dates from the 1960s, such whistles have been used on English ships since the 13th century.  On sailing ships, a human voice would not carry in storm conditions to men high in the rigging.  The high-pitched sound created by the whistle did.

The pipe is held with the small end toward the mouth with the hand curled around the tube (or gun)..  At the far end is a round ball( known as the buoy) with a hole in the top where the sound comes out.  Boatswain whistles can produce different sounds depending on how many fingers curl around it and how tightly they hold. With the hand open, the pipe produces a low pitch; closing the fingers raises the pitch.  Although one could produce a whole octave of sounds, on ships only one high and one low pitch are used.  Variations in the pattern of high and low pitches and their duration created different signals for different commands. 

The flat part under the tube is called the keel-- not surprising a term for something used on ships. Its main function is to provide stability for the pipe and to aid in hold it.  Some keels were decorated in elaborate patterns.  The loop connected the pipe to a lanyard worn around the bosun's neck. 

By Martha Fraundorf, Volunteer for Benton County Historical Society, Philomath, Oregon