My PENNY whistle (Soodlum's)

A few weeks back I bid on a collection of whistles on Ebay. This included an ocarina, a bamboo whistle from India, an Asian whistle, a Thai whistle and a tin whistle (with instruction booklet). The lot also included four cassette tapes of Native American flute music. I bid on this primarily because I wanted to get the Thai and the Asian whistles to build on my collection of whistles from various cultures. The auction started at .01 and there was no reserve. I bid a few dollars. No one else bid. The total cost of this was one penny, plus shipping which was media rate because of the tapes (a couple dollars and change).

I figured the tin whistle would be one to give to someone who might have some interest in whistling. It arrived yesterday and I found the whistle was a Soodlum’s. Then I played it and I was struck by how well it played: nice tone, not shrill in the upper octave, clear in the lower notes, in tune, and virtually no plastic buzz. My wife commented on how well it sounded as well. “So who made this?” I’ve got plenty of inexpensive whistles: Generation, Feadog, Little Black, Sweetone, Walton’s C and Mellow D, and several others. This really plays much better than any of the other plastic fipple whistles I have. I’m guessing that this is sort of like those who find a good Generation whistle.

I think I’ll keep this one.

I was under the impression that Soodlums has since become Walton’s.

That’s what I understand too from Dale’s guide. The sticker on this is not Walton’s which is why (along with the old instruction book) I’m sure this is a Soodlum (older). It matches the Soodlum at the top here:

I bought a whistle for my son a number of years ago simply called “Irish Whistle” which I believe is a Soodlum. It has excellent intonation and a terrific sound. I have a feeling that the Walton’s Mellow D is the same whistle.

They seem virtually identical in construction, but the Soodlum I have is not so breathy as my Mellow D and the tone is more focused.