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View Full Version : 5 O'clock whistle?


digger242j
09-12-2004, 11:08 PM
Just out of curiousity...

In Trace Adkins' current song "Rough and ready" there's one line--"Five O'clock whistle, off like a missle..."

Being an old fart, I'm familiar with the practice of a whistle blowing to start and end work times. I personally have never had to work anyplace that had one, but I'm sure with all the mills and mines that once existed here in westren PA somebody around here must have.

That, and the beginning of "The Flintstones" where they pulled the bird's tail to make the whistle are the only way I recognized the reference in the song. I wonder how many of our younger members don't understand that reference at all?


It just got me to wondering--is there anywhere that they still actually blow a whistle at quitting time?

2004F550
09-13-2004, 06:05 PM
At the local Cat dealer I happened to pick up a machione at lunch time and a whistle blew to signal lunch break and again to end it. Work pretty much stops dead at the whistle.

Steve Frazier
09-13-2004, 06:49 PM
Many of the warehouses I picked up at had buzzers to signal breaks and shift changes. In fact, the company I worked for had a bell for the same purpose for the warehouse help.

digger, that's one of my favorite songs right now! Gotta love that no BS attitude!!:thumbsup