Mysterious Civil War 2-Tone Train Whistle
SKU:
$75.00
$75.00
This is one of the most mysterious anachronisms I have ever seen in all my years collecting. This is a rare and unusual 2-tone train whistle. The original owner has provided evidence of it belonging to his great-grandfather who fought in the Civil War. That soldier decorated it with his pommel shield, which was part of a civil war regulation saddle. It is marked "Alligehny Arsenal 1861". Whether or not these whistles were being manufactured (or were even needed) during the Civil War, is a matter of debate.; and, however similar it is in design to whistles from the 1920's, it certainly shows age and wear that is indicative of a mid to late 19th century item. Most likely, the pommel shield was used as decoration for this early 1900's whistle by a veteran drummer who was gigging with it years after the war.