19th century AD. A brass elbowed tubular 'Porteous' whistle in three, screw-together sections, with in-line windows, domed end (possibly lacking a projecting 'teat' mouthpiece?) and original 'pea' with oval embossed cartouche to elbow labelled PORTEOUS WHISTLE in two lines; attached to a braided and plaited cotton covered cosh (blackjack) with flexible shaft and weighted pear-shaped end; the braiding with original varnished finish. See Gilchrist, Martyn, Whistles and More Whistles, Shire, 2000; Gilchrist and Topman, Collecting Police Whistles and Similar Types, 1998, for much information on the the subject. Listed, described and illustrated on the Whistle Gallery website, USA (http://thewhistlegallery.com/spotlight/053-richard-porteous/"). 505 grams, 32cm (12 1/2"). Property of a Welsh collector; acquired Bigwood Fine Art Auctioneers, Stratford upon Avon, UK, Sale 924, lot 225; accompanied by the original invoice. Richard Porteous (1802-1881 AD) is one of the most famous names associated with the design and making of whistles in various forms in the 19th century, often in conjunction with the manufacturers Stevens & Son; his first known advertisement for a 'Regimental Field Whistle' is dated to about 1834, while a member of the Scot's Guards band. He left the Scot's band in 1845 and registered a design for a railway whistle that year. This particular and extremely rare example of a whistle in combination with a weighted cosh is thought to date from about 1850-1860; it could be a Police-use type, perhaps privately commissioned, or perhaps have been intended for civilian personal protection; the right-angled whistle body with the sophisticated cosh shaft, braiding and bulb suggest a high order of manufacture and attention to detail, so presumably an expensive item in its day.