Hi All,
I purchased this whistle from E-bay earlier this week(it arrived yesterday) and I’m enjoyably puzzled by it!
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/ebaylSAPl.dll?=2544930825&category=10183
The box reads 'Nickel Silver Flageolet. Best make. BALL,BEAVON & CO. LONDON.
From what i’ve managed to glean from a net search,Ball and Beavon were musical instrument sellers and distributors,with shops in London,Paris and Berlin.They were in business between 1887 and 1917.
So,the box would appear to be at least 86 years old.
The whistle itself,however DOESN’T bear the Ball,Beavon trade mark of a ‘Bee’,but is instead enscribed ‘H & I.’ within a circle,‘Registered trade mark’ ‘London made’.
Does anyone own an 'H& I, brand whistle,or can anyone enlighten me further about this brand,when they were made,etc.?
For what it’s worth,the whistle is very similar in appearance and construction to old Nickel Silver Generations, is in pretty good condition,and plays acceptably well.It seems to be in tune with itself,though I haven’t checked it against a tuner.
The link doesn’t work for me kevin. Just says ‘page cannot be displayed’.
This one works:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2544930825
No idea about the instrument, though.
Sonja
Kevin,
What were the ancient Generations like? Umm, the whistles that is… 
Did I zone on the review?
PC
I can’t help on your questions but WOW what a nice looking whistle.
Nice whistle, congrats on your find.
As to type, it appears to be similar to those made by Generation and others before they switched to plastic fipples - sixty or seventy years as a minimum, I’d guess. They’re generally nice whistles, unlike the Clarke-like types which were also common in those days. The whistle is probably chrome-plated tin or brass rather than nickel-silver (that appears to have been the previous occupant of the box).
For a longer discussion of the type, including varying views on the danger oflead fipples, check this thread from a few weeks back:
http://chiffboard.mati.ca/viewtopic.php?t=12611&highlight=vintage+generations
Be warned, though, the fipple plug is almost certainly lead. If that bothers you, you might want to give the exposed surface a few coats of fingernail enamel before you play it.
Hi all,
Thanks for fixing that link for me Sonja 
I haven’t got round to writing a proper review of the vintage Generations yet-I promise that I’ll provide one soon.On the basis of a very quick ‘toot’ on the whistle’s arrival yesterday,I would say that the ‘H & I’ is the better player than the Brass Generation ‘D’-it’s certainly more ‘in tune’ (I must do a ‘head to head’ comparison).
I didn’t think that the whistle went with the box when I initially saw it up for sale,but no matter-it’s a fair old whistle,and the box is of some historical interest.Thanks for the interest everyone!
It looks very like my Hohner, apart from the H&I inscription.
[ Old thread revival. - Mod ]
I also have an H&I brass whistle with lead fipple which I inherited and believe dates from around 1900. I thought it was a military whistle. It plays really well but is a bit sharp relative to its C stamping/tuning so much so that somebody brazed a short extension tube on end (partly to protect thin brass tube). I am still trying to track down the maker and a sweeter sounding whistle.