T Yates
T Yates (Thomas Yates ) was a Birmingham manufacturer of metal goods, for home, being manufactured use since early 19th century . He made whistles during the victorian era and was the leading whistle manufacturer in Britain for many years . Address: 37-38 Colshill Street works, Birmingham.
Whistles
Thomas Yates large format catalog of 1870 has a fancy cover " Crown & Britannia Metal, Spoons & Ladles, soap & dressing, case boxes, Railway Whistles, Dog calls and a large variety of other articles "
The catalog Has the first 4 pages devoted to whistles and calls showing pictures of 127 different models made of pewter, crown metal, brass, nickel silver and electro plated variations .
Models & Whistle types
Round pea whistles Most models offered in three to five Sizes and in a variety of metals and plating.
Round whistles with a dog head top, hoof shape and other Hunting related figures.
Round pea whistles with a round mouthpiece that is a unique feature to Yates' whistles .
Beaufort whistles.
GSWs - General service whistles .
Two Chamber whistles and Double pipes .
Double end - composite whistles.
Body Stamps
Body stamps were not common in the early days of whistle making because of costly stamp punches. Yates stamped whistles are marked T. Yates or with initials T.Y. Most of his stamped whistles bear railway stamps; "L&NWR" , "NER", "L&YR Co." . Some of his special models have a name & stamp as the "Central " and the "Extra Size Central ".
Very rarely a Distributor stamp as "Milard Bros. London", or "Vaughan 39 strand st. London".