I’m looking for information on this recently aquired pennywhistle. It appears to be solid silver, judging from the weight and the patina. I estimate it’s age to be the late 1700’s or early 1800’s. But I’m just guessing. The makers markings are as follows:
CH.MATHIEU
Mod.DEPRO’SE
then a lyre symbol with a capital M in the center
MEDAILLES D’OR
below the second joint
BREVETE
SGDG
[
Howdy Swizzlestick,
Yeah, it could be pewter. I was going to have a jeweler friend of mine check it out to determine it’s metillurgical make up. As far as lead content… I’m a cabinetmaker and have ingested, inhaled, and have been infiltrated with more and nastier chemicals than lead for the last 25 years. No I don’t have a death wish. But I’m more likely to die getting hit by a bus, than to get ill from lead poisoning by playing a whistle a few times a month. But I do appreciate you addressing the health concerns. Sooo back to the main subject. Do you think I’m correct in placing it’s age at the early19th century or the late 18th century? It sure looks that old but I don’t know for sure. How does it compair to the ones you have?
I didn’t mean to sound bitter in my reply. It’s just been a long hard couple of weeks. I do appreciate your insite as to the type of metal. I really didn’t even think about pewter. I’ve got a couple of D’s that I play regularly. And a low D I play once in a while. My C is usually relegated to the fiddlers version of Star of the County Down. Having said that I am a wood worker, it’s my hope to get enough time and information to start making some instruments. Hammered Dulcimrers, Appilachian Dulcimers,Pennywhistles and Wooden Flutes. I’m new to this forum and the last thing I want to do is to p..s somebody off just cause I had a bad day. so please accept my appologies. Life is too short to miss a note.
ME
Congratulations on getting those images up on the Board. It is amazing how we help each other–I’ve been looking for a way to put up an image of an interesting old early form of plastic whistle for a while. I would guess it is a late 1930’s through the 1950’s item, possibly a British public school instrument for all I know. Your initial post (a few threads down the page, as it were) resulted in my learning about the IMAGESHACK site, which I see you have already linked up to and used to good advantage. Now I can put up a shot of that oddball I’ve got.
The C & F community is a great place, welcome aboard!!
Hey Tom,
Cool Beans!! it’s like the blind leading the blind. But if it works don’t fix it. Get your hand off that wrench… Any who, it’s good to be on board. Ya’ll seem to be of like mind. In that artistic twisted sort of way. As for me, I like that! I may not play a top end whistle, but I have fun making good music. Isn’t that what it’s all about? Having PHUN? I’m glad it helped. I will let you reciprocate on down the road. Don’t let someone else take the wheel. Your driving this thing we call life. Heck take a left turn down a road you haven’t been down before. You never know what new sites you might see. Till I catch you on the crossroads.
Thanks
pencilpuss
No need for any apologies. I certainly didn’t see anything wrong with your
reply. I am sure I have picked up a little lead myself, especially when I
was into target shooting. Those little lead pellets, you know.
Oh, and I almost forgot. Welcome to C&F. I am fairly new to this forum
myself. Have only been playing a few months, but I have received a lot of
help from the folks here.
Thanks Swizzlestick,
Your links did’t answer all my questions, but you gave me a heads up on where to start. And for that I thank you! I think you have at least answered the time frame question. Not as old as I had origianaly thought. But still kind of cool to have an instrument in working condition from a hundred years ago. I promise to only play it on St.Patrick’s Day and the week leading up to it. Just to keep my lead ingestion down. If you will please do the same. Email me some pictures of the French whistles you have. I would be interested in seeing them. I look forward to hearing from you again. Thanks for the help.
Hi PP, I see that your interested in dulcimer making. Have you been to http://www.everythingdulcimer.com yet? There is a builders forum there and some very helpful builders too. Do you play dulcimer? I play both hammered and mountain, and also bowed psaltery.
Thanks for sharing your pictures of the old whistle. It’s really nice.
](http://img420.imageshack.us/my.php?image=mvc001s6gi.jpg)
in my reply. It’s just been a long hard couple of weeks. I do appreciate your insite as to the type of metal. I really didn’t even think about pewter. I’ve got a couple of D’s that I play regularly. And a low D I play once in a while. My C is usually relegated to the fiddlers version of Star of the County Down. Having said that I am a wood worker, it’s my hope to get enough time and information to start making some instruments. Hammered Dulcimrers, Appilachian Dulcimers,Pennywhistles and Wooden Flutes. I’m new to this forum and the last thing I want to do is to p..s somebody off just cause I had a bad day. so please accept my appologies. Life is too short to miss a note.
