Deutsche Signal Instrumenten Fabrik

German Signal Instruments Manufacturer. A. Strauss

Trillerpfeifen, Early Escargot- Referee- Snail whistle with Long beak, & Tear drop shaped sound chamber, Late 19th Century, Early 20th Century.


Forward

When it comes to whistles, two major players, The British and the German whistle manufacturers went through important changes during the 19th century Industrial revolution, with new designs and means of manufacturing, I can Clearly see the reciprocal inspiration and parallel developments.
The Pfretzschner’s family (Musical Instruments makers) history goes back hundreds of years and the Brass instruments making started in 1750 in Markneuekirchen and area, The Firm itself was established in 1834 .
I visited there twice for research during the two last two decades,
It is enough to mention that in the 1870s about 70% of the world’s musical Instruments from China to America were produced there, to start and imagine the wealth of material, which is endless and an mine of info which can be studied there, when it comes to manufacturing Instruments including whistles of all types.

The Markneuekirchen Musical Instrument Museum Founded in the 19th Century is Highly recommended.

The large Church bell in the church Bell tower on the upper main Street
was scraped to make cannons in 1905.

Here I chose to concentrate on two types of important German whistles which actually follow the development early Glasgow & Birmingham 6 Piece escargot whistles into 3 Piece in Birmingham.
Dew to luck of examples and rarity of German whistles, It would be difficult to date.
The next 6 Piece German escargot is the single example I know of see three angles and note the ridge under the escargot’s ‘BEAK’ -which is what I call the mouthpiece.
The side shows the ‘tear drop’ sound chamber design with a patriotic 19 century coins chain.

Ridge under beak for under strengthening.

The next model to be developed was basically a 3 piece body + additional two components a two piece top (Plate & Ring Loop -) + a tooth grip made of heavy wire.
The Sound Chamber was similar a ‘tear drop’ shaped but it had a LONG ‘BEAK’ mouth piece.


The 4 Different variations left to right, are made differently.
Left is the latest with a single Ball top (Knop), and Nickel or Chrom plating,
The sound chamber is more rounded.
the 2nd seems to be iron, albeit it is a none magnetic hard metal,
The third is nickel plated brass with small loop ring.
The 4th is of the best quality German Silver ( AKA alpaca or Nickel Silver)
It is slightly larger and made with outmost care to details as well as having a larger
Sound Chamber & Beak. All are app. 80 mm long.

Front View
Here we can see model Number 1090 in Hans Pfreztschner & Max B. Martin catalogue ,
Much Later known as Martin Signal Manufacturer.
Actual example of model 1090



Post stamp advertisement common in Germany for various manufacturers ,
This one is the Deutsche Signal Instrumenten Fabric – German Signal Instruments
Maker.

Alte Briefverschlussmarke aus Papier, welche seit ca. 1850 von Behoerden, Anwaelten, Notaren und Firmen zum verschliessen der Post verwendet wurde.

Deutsche Signal Instrumenten Fabrik, 1901
Hans Pfretzschner and Max B. Martin, Markneuekirchen.

Side view of 4 different periods & Examples of the same design.

signalpfeife
Photo of the whistle German made of German Silver

All rights reserved to the author, what ever that means today …
Vielen Dank fürs Lesen, und bitte teilen Sie Fotos von Pfeifen-Trillerpfeifen für Forschungszwecke, wenn Sie ähnliche haben.
Thanks for reading, and please share photos if you do have any similar. Straussav@gmail.com

Whistle museum – Antique whistle review

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