Cheap American Made Whistle

Whistle
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At the reenactment this weekend, I also saw and played a number of Cooperman whistles. The tin one I bought for $4, and it has a oddly shaped block of wood for the fipple that is crimped into the mouthpiece.

This critter will never be anything like a favorite to me, but it plays very much like a Clarke. Its very breathy and chiffy, and for that it has collector value to me.

The wooden Cooperman’s I played were equally unimpressive, but workable as something to play around a period campfire and not look too out of place. The trader asked me to come back that evening and play, but the grounds were hot and muggy, and after dark I wouldn’t want to be there in non-period clothing. In that heat I really felt sorry for those who WERE in period!

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ah, yes, the Cooperman. Everyone buys one - can’t resist the ‘cheap’ part, I guess. Couple of years back, I bought one of their overpainted 'American Fife’s on eBay. No idea what I did with it…

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I ordered two Coopermans back in 1995. One played and one didn’t. A novice, I attempted to tweak them . . . big mistake. :slight_smile:

They are introducing a higher end wooden whistle now. I’d like to try one, but I’ve never tried a high-end whistle at all, and maybe Cooperman shouldn’t be my first.