Polished brass Acme clicker with Made in England inscription sitting on white background
Video of sound of brass Acme clicker on white background

Acme 470 Brass Clicker

$28.00
Acme Whistles

A historic replica of the Acme clicker used by the 101st Airborne Division on D-Day, this signaling device is crafted from polished brass and high-quality spring steel. Also known as the "cricket" at the time, it was used for covert battlefield recognition among paratroopers during World War II. Today, it's made in the same workshop using the same 1940s tooling and presses as the original.

It produces a crisp, resonant click with a firm tactile snap, delivering clear and distinct commands. Used in modern times as a dog training aid, signaling tool, or safety device, this brass clicker is built for a lifetime of dependable use.

Want to hear it in action? Visit our video on the second slide. Or, click play here. (Warning: It's loud!)

Materials

polished brass, spring steel
Specifications
  • approx. 2.2" x 1" x 0.6"
  • made in England
Further Reading

With roots in Birmingham, England since 1870, Acme Whistles has set the standard for enduring quality and expert craftsmanship. Renowned for their reliability and distinct sound, each whistle is forged from solid metal and hand-finished by skilled artisans—reflecting a heritage of excellence passed down over five generations. 

For more English-made whistles and signaling tools, explore our full Acme collection.
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A vintage poster is displayed in a frame next to a photo of Acme's founder. Vintage machine parts are displayed on a surface beneath.
A technical drawing showing whistle components is displayed near photos of Acme's founders and factory.

A Family Legacy

Founded in 1870 by Joseph Hudson, Acme Whistles made history with the invention of the Metropolitan whistle, a police whistle that replaced traditional wooden rattles and became standard equipment for police forces around the world. During World War II, the company's Birmingham factory was damaged by a bomb, but the Hudson family rebuilt and resumed production after the war. More than 150 years after its founding, Acme remains family-owned and continues to make whistles in the very same factory where it all began.

A machinist uses pliers to craft a brass Acme whistle.
A large vintage machine in a workshop, with stacked metal drawers on the right.

A Tradition of Craftsmanship

At the Acme factory, traditional manufacturing techniques remain at the heart of production. Brass is stamped, shaped, and assembled through a series of specialized processes, many using machinery that has been in service for decades. Each whistle passes through the hands of skilled workers whose knowledge and attention to detail help carry on more than 150 years of craftsmanship.

The Secret to the Sound

The distinctive trill of many Acme whistles comes from a surprisingly simple component: a tiny ball of cork known as a pea. Before assembly, the cork peas are soaked in water to soften them, allowing them to be squeezed through the narrow opening of the whistle. Once inside, they return to their original shape and move freely within the chamber, producing the whistle's familiar rolling sound.