I spent a few days on Norfolk Island recently, and poking about in the convict museum came across a tin whistle on display. It had been dropped into a privy sometime between 1820 and 1855 and has recently been unearthed during one of the very infrequent digs they allow there. It looks like it was a very well made whistle, we estimated that it was made from a length of brass tube, parallel bore, key of D and originally had a wooden fipple plug with a curved beak. The fipple plug has gone, replaced by various ‘salts’ and other materials but the body is still in excellent condition considering where it has been and for how long.
The reason I mention it here is that I’m sure others have better knowledge of tin whistle history than me, and I’m hoping to be able to pass on any information on origins, makers, dates to the curator for their visitor information. Sorry I don’t have any pics from the museum, but if anyone does have any pics or info on an instrument about that era, I’d love to see what you have and pass it on.
1906 New Zealand
Hi Peter!
What a wonderful picture - 100 years old! Do know anything about the men in the picture? It seems to me that it´s somekind of gentlemens club and their leasure activities - boxing, music and hunting…
/All the best, Falkbeer
…and their leasure activities - boxing, music and hunting…
And piracy.
And wine tasting.
Best wishes,
Jerry
piracy rocks. don’t forget september 19th is talk like a pirate day. talk the talk or walk the plank.
What a clever idea…
to have a guy with a shotgun handy at the session just in case the accordion player gets out of hand. I assume he already dispatched the bodhran player as he doesn’t appear in the photo. 
Doc
And what might that be that the seated gentleman (between the whistle player and the accordion player) wearing the white (ish) shirt and suspenders is holding? It appears to be two or three stacked bottles.
Also, where are the women (snicker, snicker)?
Tom D.