as a starting whistlesmith,I can’t relate enough about the inability to make a decent living making whistles.I work in a machine shop where i’m lucky to be able to use the equipment on my breaks.It therefore takes quite a while to make a few good peices.
Givin the fact that even the most professinal players use a $5 genaration,
there is little demand for my craft,if there were,then it might be worth investing money for my own shop and machinery and to..as they say
“quit my day job”
In defense of part-time whistle-builders…
Some us have not pushed to make it a full-time business. Not all whistle builders are in the business simply for profit.
In fact, being one of the few part-timers whoe actually rents shop space for building whistles, I’ve been very happy when sales are break even. I guess I would have to say that I like making whistles, I also like making very unusual instruments as you may have seen in the past.
In the US, we don’t have ‘apprenticeships’ as one of the earlier messages indicated. We all come from different backgrounds, sound engineers, organ builders, you name it.
However it does seems that a good number of whistles in the US come from industial cities, Indiana, Illinois, Ohio, Michigan, Pennsylvania (there are other builders however outside the “whistlebelt” areas of the country). (Hey Dale, new term to through around “whistlebelt”)
Whistlebuilders are sort-of a fraternity, we have traded ideas on the Internet in various places. Every whistle business is different.
They each have something to offer, some target high-end, some in the middle and some low-end.
There are some major Internet businesses online that have less space than whistlebuilders shop.
To Jim R,
Sorry to hear the Mike doesn’t drive anymore.
This reminds me of something that happened recently.
I myself am blind in one eye, the other day I was wiping down a PVC whistle with acetone and I got splashed in my good eye and I had to rush to the sink and flush it out.
I use safety glasses when drilling and metal working activities, I just never thought to use it in this manner.
It sure is a reminder on how precious eyesight is and the importance of woodwind shop safety.
Daniel,
I can’t even imagine, Acetone in the eye, Yikes!! Being a blind whistlemaker does not sound like a cool thing.
Jim
PS Mike’s probably able to drive, I just don’t think he’s got his confidence yet since the aneurism.
My Dad drilled safety into my head when I was growing up. Dad was a plumber and worked with many other tradesman like electricians, gasfitters and such who got hurt on the job. He taught me that 99% of their injuries could have been prevented if the workers had taken proper safety precautions when using tools or supplies that could hurt them.
Its a cliche but most accidents are completely preventable if we just use some common sense and proper safety equipment.
Daniel, I hope your shop is adequately ventilated if you are working with acetone - a shop-made fume hood is probably not a bad idea. Ten years from now I’d hate to read an obituary about a fine whistlemaker in Ohio who died of cancer from prolonged exposure to acetone 
It seems everybody here has an opinion, and many valid ones at that. If you’ve ever ordered uilleann pipes, you know the definition of a wait… up to 10 years. Some flute makers are quoting 6 years now for a SIMPLE flute, no keys. I just about agree with everything the original post says, and add that I think the only unforgivable sin is not responding when a customer trys to contact me (or going out of business and not returning money, but that is fraud, not rude). Most of my customers have been absolute saints when I’ve had to extend delivery times, and I thank them for that. People are ALWAYS welcome to email me if they feel the wait is becoming excessive, and I will do my best to satisfy them.
Yes, I have pretty good ventillation. The building my shop is in was a cartridge factory in World War II - complete with a shot tower. A few years ago, I have whistle called the “Saturday Night Special” is was pun connected with that.
Regarding the shop safety, I’m much more aware of the acetone now. I also read the material data safety sheets.
On the other posting that mentioned years and years of wait for Uillean pipes. It’s kind of interesting how this fast paced society and the Internet have changed things. At one time it was very common to wait a long period of time for a customers instrument to be manufactured.
It’s really difficult to gauge this business.
Obviously, a wood instrument will take longer. If it were a concert instrument, the maker would be dealing with aged wood, special treatment processes, etc. (Same goes with bagpipes.)
On the other hand, brass whistles can be made a little quicker, a little tricker to voice sometimes. Various other metals have differing levels of difficulty when it comes to drilling and voicing.
It’s far too early in the morning. Just misread Garycrosby’s post as :-
“My Dad drilled safely into my head”
Must get my eyes tested, or perhaps if I adjust the focus on my screen…
A
<>
HA! I read it the same way, the first time. LOL!
Erik
At least he did it safely.
Cranial surgery isn’t something to take lightly. Always do it with safety in mind.
Well, I guess I’ll jump in on this one too. First off, OUCH! and my sympathies for those that have had some painful experiences as of late!
On the subject of whistle-order times, I will say this much on the part of whistlesmiths including myself. Making whistles part-time, combined with strange events that life seems to send peoples way sometimes, can really mess up schedules, and perpetuate wait times, etc.
I know that in the first part of this year, I did really well in keeping to my schedule, and I got several compliments and life was grand. Then I personally had some trouble with my epilepsy, and banged myself up pretty good, and did some hospital time. After getting new medication sorted out, I was right back on it, making up for lost time as best I could. THEN my Grandmother fell very ill, probably not going to make it according to the doctors (she did however, thank god) and I am the only one near her to take care of her needs. Along the way there have been other private things to sprout up, but life is well now, and getting back to normal.
I have even gone so far as to stop taking orders until the beginning of next year sometime, so I can get all my orders done and out to my people who have ordered from me. With new designs I have dreamed up and all, this is a VERY difficult decision, but a necessary one in my opinion.
So before you go getting to awfully hardened against anyone, remember that there just might be some personal reasons that they just might not want to bother anyone with. Double edged sword… tell or don’t tell? Either way, someone gets annoyed.
And on an end note, I personally have learned that quality seems to be in the eye of the beholder. Although I have had a few problems with my whistles and sets, I also have had MANY people give me nice compliments, and have even gone so far as to exclusively play my whistles. Now THAT is one of the best feelings out there, and I know that every whistlesmith has a few of these.
Anyway, take care all, and great thread.
John McHaffie
I recently bought a hand-made instrument (not a whistle, though) directly from the small scale maker. It took 6 weeks longer to arrive than he originally said it would, and communicating with him was very difficult. I managed to temper my irritation with the knowledge that I could have bought the instrument through a third party and paid about $75 more (for a $350 instrument) to have faster delivery and better customer service. I think I’ll keep my $75. If the maker wants to concentrate on making quality instruments instead of holding the customers’ hands and rushing to meet deadlines, I say let them!