Old Generations with lead plug. Hohner whistles. Pre-1960 Clarkes. These are whistles which I’ve never seen sold - are they really priceless? If not, what is the price?
And what other ‘antique’ whistles do exist?
They’re neither rare nor priceless. I saw a Hohner low G on e-bay yesterday. Here, it went for €33
Well mabye not rare or priceless but at least the lead is highly toxic.
Doc
The answer to your question may depend on the qualifications you place on the phrase “antique whistles”.
There are a lot of “tin whistles” out there and the prices are not usually outrageous, as has been noted. The value of these as collectables probably has less to do with the dollar value and more to do. at least in my mind, with their cultural or historical significance. And they may only be significant among other whistlers to whom they are more than a curiosity.
Thinking beyond the tin whistle, there are also quite a few English and French flageolets out there. These can get a bit more pricey and from that I would assume they they are more collectable. But would you call them whistles? What about recorders?
There is one older instrument I would like to own, at least for long enough to assess its design, and that is called an Orkon or Chromette. You can see one here:
http://www.tjimaging.com/orkon/
It’s basicall a fully keyed whistle. Some were made in wood but most are made from bakelite. They do come up for sale occaisionally. And they sell for a realatively high price in good condition. Does anyone here on C&F have one, or played one? Second hand O’Riordan’s sell for a similar price. We really are fortunate that there are so many new whistles available now in a variety of price ranges.
Feadoggie
There was this one two days ago with a curious sort of key contraption:
Not sure I agree about today’s choice of whistles being better, there’s quite a variety of old whistles and people got on with them well enough.
Peter, yes I saw that one for sale earlier this week and I am still wondering what the wire contraption is for.
Surely, you aren’t ascribing the “better” value judgement to what I said, are you? Don’t read more into my words than what I stated. I merely noted that we have a wide variety of new whistles available at all price levels from which we can choose. Personally, I haven’t met a whistle I didn’t like on some level. I enjoy the old ones too, particularly for what they represent in time.
Feadoggie
You did say:
We really are fortunate that there are so many new whistles available now in a variety of price ranges
Maybe we are, it’s probably just not so much my thing. I don’t have a great variety (or number) of whistles and already that’s more than I need.
I bought a Hohner G in Dublin in 1979 and to be honest I never liked it and it stayed in the dead whistle jar until I gave it away, maybe eight or nine years ago.
It’s interesting to see the old whistles but I am not sure we’re better off now.
One of my neighbour has literally a suitcase full of old whistles, from the time his grandfather played onward.
I have a Barnett Samuel high “G” whistle, likely made between 1861 and 1869, brass with a lead fipple plug. (And before another flame war erupts, no, I don’t play it or recommend that anyone else do so.) This thing is only about 8-1/2" or 22cm long:
More information here:
I have a number of Barnet Samuel whistles with some four different maker’s shields, they go to Barnett and son and ABS Dulcet at some point and a Nickel C I have (again almost identical to the Generation you have on the other thread, and identical to another unmarked nickel one I have) has the label AJS Dulcet
Another benefit of these old whistles is the fact they weren’t made to shout, as a result the balance between octaves is just fine. No screaming out of balance high notes in those days.
A couple months ago I got an old Generation D on E-bay, probably made 1930-1950 according to previous threads. Non-tunable, nickle-plated brass(?), lead fipple block, small red “Generation D” sticker, very good condition. It was only $13US, including shipping from UK to US.
Some notable things about the whistle: it’s tuned to A=460, making it closer to an Eb whistle than a D. And, the tone hole spacing is exactly the same as the modern Generation D 
. What’s that about? Did they decide to save some money and reuse the old presses or jigs for their new whistles, or did they think it was close enough to use for modern tuning?
The E hole on the old Gen is larger than on the modern Gen, otherwise the holes seem the same. Meaning it’s a little different from all the other current cheapies, which each seem to have their own unique tube (except for the Feadog-Oak-Acorn tubes, they’re made by the same company and their holes are all identical).
It’s got a very narrow windway, making for a quiet, clear, bird-like tone that’s balanced between octaves, and it clogs easily.
Interesting comment, I’ve made whistles that you ‘have to lean into’ up top, this works if the tune needs this. I’ve also made a whistle that the second octave was in tune without the extra blowing.
Thanks for the comment I’m going to dig out the latter whistle and re-explore it, maybe make another.
Hi—I was wondering if anyone has heard of a Clark-like whistle called
“Schoha” Made in Germany? Tin, conical, square wooden fipple block etc. It is in C and has red blue and pearly diamond designs on it. Also has a bell picture with a Z on it.
My guess is that it is from the 1920s or 30s. Thanks for any info–James
It’s one of a number of Clarke type whistles that were produced in Germany during the first half of the 20th century.