Rothco 10372 boatman whistle brass gold boatman whistle. Traditional boating sailing whistle reproduced from brass, chain included. Also known as a boating sailing whistle. Small hole contained to place on neck strap key rings. A boatswains call, is a pipe or a non-diaphragm type whistle used on naval ships by a boatswain. It is pronounced, and sometimes spelled, bosuns call. The pipe consists of a narrow tube (the gun) which directs air over a metal sphere (the buoy) with a hole in the top. The player opens and closes the hand over the hole to change the pitch. The rest of the pipe consists of a keel, a flat piece of metal beneath the gun that holds the call together, and the shackle, a keyring that connects a long brass chain that sits around the collar, when in ceremonial uniform. Used by the ship's boatswain to send out calls to the sailors, the high pitched variable whistle carrying above the roar of the ocean, this whistle was vital to rigging the masts, hoisting the sails, dropping the anchor, and every other order.
