USS Constellation Museum from 2001-2006
2. some calls are improved by scraping the side farthest from the pee, it is sometimes necessary to scrape or sharpen the edge, enlarging the hole until the reed strikes the bowl fair. To test this, push a broom straw through the reed to see how the straw hits the wind edge of the hole. That edge should split the straw.
3. The call, once tuned, should sound if held with it's mouth to a gentle breeze.
Rattled notes are made by ballarding the tip of the tongue against the roof of the mouth, imitating a whistle rattled by a pea (like your coaches whistle)
Undulating notes are made by lightly undulating the tongue while using the throat to check the the lung pressure or flow of breath, causing the tone to undulate smoothly, but continuously, at equal intervals.
Before the days of PA systems aboard ship, every word passed was by word of mouth of the Boatswain's Mates, fore and aft. The word was given to the Boatswain or Boatswain's Mate of the watch, who sounded Call Mates; to get the Boatswain's Mates together. As they drew near from different parts of the ship, they answered repeatedly with the same call. When they got the word, they dispersed fore and aft to sing it out at every hatch. The call is two short, shrill peeps in the clinched position, repeated once. Incidentally, the figures at the top of the score indicate the duration in seconds of notes and intervals
This call is the prelude to every word passed aboard ship. Its purpose is to get the attention of all hands to the announcement to be made. (Piped to demand silence before an order or word of information is passed.
All Hands is piped as a general call to any event in which all hands are to participate. (to battle stations for example). It is sounded after the bugle call Reveille, before word is passed to break out and trice up. It is also the first part of the call which pipes the crew to chow. (Piped as a general call for all events calling upon ALL HANDS
Boat call is piped to call away a boat, and also to pipe a division to quarters. The call is lengthened in proportion to the seniority of the boat called. In other words, you hold it longer for the gig than you do for a motor whaleboat. After you pipe the call, sing out Away the gig(barge, No. so-and-so motor launch, etc.,) away!
When piping a division to quarters, after the call sing All the (number) division to quarters!
The meaning of Stand By is obvious. Piped after All hands, it means All hands stand by for some evolution or maneuver. This is also the call for Set taut, meaning to take the slack out of falls of tackles before Hoist away
Haul is the pipe equivalent of Ho! heave! ho! heave! by voice, when the gang is heaving together on a line instead of walking away with it. The low note means Get another purchase, and the high note means Heave
This call, piped twice, means Heave around on the capstan or winch. Piped once, it means Mess gear. It is also part of the pipe for Mess Call
A short Belay means Vast heaving. A long Belay means Vast heaving and make her fast
Hoist away is piped after Set taut to start a power hoist or a walk away with boat falls or tackles
The call Lay Up is piped to send men up or aloft together
The Call Lay Out is piped to man the yards or rail;
Also for Tricing Up and Out Boom
The three second intervals shown on the score are a little longer than those used nowadays. The three low-to-high notes generally go off pretty fast one-two-three. The series of peeps at the end of the third note are pretty much run together, and the call generally winds up now with a short Heave around; instead of slurred peeps,as formerly
The call Pipe down consists of Passing the word and a long 10-second Veer, ending in a short, sharp pep in the clinched position. It is piped as Secure from any all-hands function. It is also piped immediately after the bugle call Tattoo, just before word is passed to Turn in. Keep silence about the decks.
The pipe Mess call is the longest of the lot; it should cover not less than a minute. It consists of All hands,a long Heave around., and a long Pipe down, in that order
This is the call sounded by the Boatswain's Mate of the watch to fall in side boys for tending the side. One veer calls two boys; two veers, four; three veers, six; and four veers, eight.
One Veer 4 Sideboys 6 Sideboys 8 Sideboy
This is the aristocrat of all the calls on the Boatswain's pipe. It really consists of two of the calls shown on the score. e During this pipe the side boys and Boatswain's Mate stand at attention but do not salute
Boatswain's Mate 3 and 2, Navy Training Courses,
Navpers 10121, Edition 1948
