North American Auction Company
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Tombstone Western Heritage Museum Auction: The Earp Brothers & Cowboys

Sat, Jul 26, 2025 11:00AM EDT
  2025-07-26 11:00:00 2025-07-26 11:00:00 America/New_York North American Auction Company North American Auction Company : Tombstone Western Heritage Museum Auction: The Earp Brothers & Cowboys https://live.naabid.com/auctions/north-american-auction/tombstone-western-heritage-museum-auction-the-earp-brothers-cowboys-20021
Join North American Auction Company on July 26th for a once-in-a-lifetime auction of the Tombstone Western Heritage Museum Collection. This extraordinary sale features the largest private collection of Tombstone history, including rare and historic pieces tied to Wyatt Earp, the Earp Brothers, and the infamous Cochise Cowboys. From original artifacts, outlaw relics, and the largest collection of C.S. Fly photographs, this is a can’t-miss event for collectors of the Old West’s most legendary chapter.
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Lot 606

USA Manufactured Three Barrel Bike Whistle 1900s

Estimate: $200 - $400
Starting Bid
$50

Bid Increments

Price Bid Increment
$0 $5
$50 $10
$100 $25
$500 $50
$1,000 $100
$2,000 $250
$5,000 $500
$10,000 $1,000
$25,000 $2,500
$100,000 $5,000
For your consideration is early, U.S.A. manufactured three barrel bike whistle from the early 1900s. Bicycle whistles were invented and utilized in the late 1800s and early 1900s to address a rising safety concern during the "bicycle craze." As bicycles gained popularity, they had to share more congested streets with walkers, horse-drawn carriages, and, eventually, early automobiles. To reduce accidents and alert people to their presence, cyclists required a warning device that was more effective and simple to operate than a standard bell, particularly at faster speeds. Whistles, particularly automatic ones, produced a louder and more piercing sound that was audible from a larger distance. Some whistles were manually operated with the mouth or hand, but automatic variants gained popularity because they required no rider input and produced sound as the bike went. This three barrel whistle utilizes varying sizes of tubes, small, medium and large to produce a clear and loud train whistle like sound to alert people of the oncoming bike. This whistle is manually operated, not automatic. It is marked on the smallest barrel reading, "Made In U.S.A." and features a metal chain so the whistle could be attached to the user. It shows good condition overall with slight wear present from its age and use over the years, but no major signs of damage noted. Whistle is loud and clear, chain is still intact and connected. It measures 5 7/8" L x 1/8" W and weighs 78.4 grams. Provenance: From the Tombstone Western Heritage Museum in Tombstone, Arizona. HW95

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