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The Boy Mechanic, Book 2

Part 2 — A Homemade Whistle

Reading edition

Procure two empty No. 30 gauge brass cartridge shells. Cut one shell 3/8 in. shorter than the other, then flatten and bend them as shown in the sketch. The mouthpiece should be at an angle of 60 deg. File a slot, 3/16 in. in width, about 1/2 in. from the end. File off the flange on the shorter shell so that it will fit snugly against the side of the other and solder them together. A ring may be soldered on the end of the long shell to fasten it on a chain or string. To give the whistle a shrill sound place a large shot in each shell before flattening them.—Contributed by Peter Veneman, Paterson, New Jersey.

Illustration from The Boy Mechanic, Book 2: 1000 Things for Boys to Do

The Tapering End of a Cartridge Shell is Flattened and Bent to Make a Whistle

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