Noisy transmission

Straight cut gears will have the whine associated with them in low and second gear. In high gear the main shaft dogs onto the input shaft for 1:1 drive so it doesn't whine with gear noise. Now if the noise isn't a normal gear whine in low or second gears then there may be some other problem with the gears or bearings that rotate while in those gears.
 
The second gear is the hardest working gear in the box and most likely to wear out first. You can remove the shift lever assembly and evaluate the condition of the gears.
 
The 2nd gear pair on my A is louder than 1st and 3rd as well.

As stated, check the oil first.
As long as it's "just" a whine I would continue to drive it. You should notice if it gets worse. When the noise changes I would start to investigate.
 
Model A's love to whine, mine does, fresh 600w is what I use, and it shifts nice and smooth now that I rebuilt the shift tower. if it whines, don't lose sleep about it, it's normal. All cars of that era made the same sound, be it a Duesenberg, a Cadillac V16, or a Ford Model A. but if it gets so loud the neighbors notice, then look into it.
 
I've checked the oil and it's OK. Mine has more of a growl than a whine. I'm getting another transmission to go through and then I can just change it out.
 
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What to look at is the tops of the gear teeth and the face of the tooth for pitting. The tooth top tells the story, this transmission is used but still serviceable, it has clash wear but the top of the tooth isn’t tapered or ‘sharpened’
 

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crosscut nailed it, I just had that problem resolved. Bad bearing and worn cluster gears was my issue, better trace the problem before the whole thing jams up and you get stuck.
 
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