Dear Folks,
I have read in a few places that the low whistle is a 20th century ITM-revival sort of a thing. In fact, I believe that one particular maker has a bit of a claim to having ‘done it first’. However, in browsing the Boston Museum of Fine Arts site, I came upon a listing for a 22.5 inch whistle in C, dated in the late 1800s. Anyone wanting to see it can go to:
http://www.mfa.org/artemis/fullrecord.asp?oid=50378&did=600
I guess the more things change the more they…
Best,
David
Well, see. There’s the problem… what they have there is a duct flute, not a whistle 
Oh yeah? Then what’s this sucker 
:
Recordings of which are available on duct tape.
Best wishes,
Jerry
Quick! Somebody abduct Jerry.
Steve
Wart ein minute befor you abduct Jerry…
Now, funny caption, this “duct flute”: says it’s in C, lowest tone D… Doric scale D low whistle ?
Duct flute? All very technomusicacophonical. I guess I play a nonfippled transverse whistle. Now I won’t feel so guilty about posting on the whistle board. 
I think that the English word flute was applied to duct flutes before it was applied to nonfippled transverse whistles.
I think that the English word flute was applied to duct flutes before it was applied to nonfippled transverse whistles.
Of course. Besides, I posted after the fact, making it doubly so. 
Neener neener neener.
Best,
N
I love that site! Lots of great pictures of old flutes and fifes. This is my favorite instrument on the site. I call it the “if I only had a heart” tin whistle.
… a Genuine Lead Fipple! Good gods! Hey, gang, there’s one to chew on! 
serpent
I’m intrigued by this. I’m sure Bernard Overton wouldn’t be bothered that he re-invented the low whistle, it happens all the time. In any case, he didn’t (or couldn’t) patent the idea, so he loses nothing by this discovery of an earlier low whistle, I presume.
I did a search for 19th Century London based flute makers and came up with this:
http://www.mcgee-flutes.com/movers.htm
The stamp on the duct flute is supposedly saying J&H - but using the zoom facility I can only read JH. Could this be John Hudson?
http://www.mcgee-flutes.com/Siccama.html
Not much is know about John Hudson, but he’s the only man I can find whose initials fit - should we put these two sources in touch with each other so they can compare instruments?
There’s a lot of information about wooden flutes on this site that might interest the C&F flautists.
I suppose it could be a flageol of some sort, but I prefer to think it was an early prototype of the electric toothbrush. Though I would hope the metal parts were covered over before anyone actually stuck it in his mouth!
If metal parts go in your mouth,
better call a ducter! Get it?
Speaking of witch, I’m still to try Jerry’s ducter tape protocol for warts…