It is thought that this annual tradition was started around 1925.[67][68][69] Other sources put the tradition back to at least 1888.[70] After the hosting New York Wire Cloth Company plant closed in 2013, Metso moved the whistle to their factory in York and the annual concert tradition has continued.[71] Metso announced in August 2015 that it would close its York plant by the end of March 2016.[72] As of December 2017, the building was still owned by Metso and the annual 25-minute York Factory Whistle Concert remained scheduled, along with two daytime rehearsal sessions.[73] By December 2018, the hosting factory building was owned by 240 Arch LLC, and the air compressor (to be moved there for rehearsals and the concert) is trailer-mounted.[70] Another early Christmas concert and Saturday-before practice were announced for 2019.[74]