The Ides of March was a bad day for Julius Caesar, but it was a great day for me.
It was my last day working for Philips Luminaries, and I only had to stay for three hours before getting my walking papers.
I grew to hate the place during the last three years due to all the mandatory overtime and the ever-worsening working conditions, so I was walking on air as I went out the door for the last time.
I’ve spent a fair bit of time down in the workshop since then, and it’s good to be back doing what I enjoy.
I almost made this announcement when I got home Thursday morning, but decided to hold off until today in honor of St. Patrick’s Day.
The Journeyman II series has been put on hold indefinitely due to unforeseen difficulties obtaining all the necessary sizes of aluminum tubing, so the Stealth II range has been expanded to cover all keys.
Sorry if that’s a big letdown, but all the necessary turning would have probably burned up my lttle lathe anyway.
The power feed motor got pretty hot while making the Journeyman II prototypes, and I doubt that it could handle such a workload on a regular basis.
Thanks to everyone who kept in touch and encouraged me to return to whistle making during my long hiatus.
I never wanted to quit making whistles in the first place, but being required to work 50-60 hours a week after Philips Luminaries bought out Genlyte Thomas took away most of my free time.
Now I’ve got nothing but free time, so I’m back, hopefully for good this time.
Just give me a shout if you’d like me to make a whistle for you, and have a happy St. Patrick’s Day!.
THIS is fantastic news! I was saving money for one of your whistles, and wasn’t able to get the spare cash before you quit. Time to start saving again! And I was just looking at my best options for something in the key of E. Looks like I found it. 
Welcome back. 
This is great news, Gary. I’ve got a big smile reading this today.
Best wishes,
Jerry
Great news Gary, and welcome back.
A bad job can suck the life right out of you, so I’m glad you’ll now have full time to do what you love. Keep us posted.
Hi Gary,
Good to have you back.
Good the scent didn’t dissipate completely.
Good day for your return.
Good looking website.
Great whistles.
Great guy!
Good going!
Mack
Gary,
Please check your PM for the order I just sent you. Welcome back. I’m happy that there are more and more folks making instruments. It will insure continued growth for makers, players and the music.
Though it’s by no means the best way to judge a whistle, some folks will want sound samples before ordering so you might consider posting a few in different keys.
ecohawk
The Luck o’ the Irish to you, Gary, as you begin this new phase of your adventure.
Nice work on those heads and great pics!
Work; the curse of the whistling class.
I love when folks can turn what should be considered bad news into the best news. May this situation work out just as well for the folks you worked with.
NICE!
Welcome back. I love my pre-stealth D/Eb set. If I can come up with some whistle money i will be looking for a C maybe.
Welcome back!
Must…resist…must resist…
Love my new Trad D-lovely tone, good balance and response-really nice!
Gary, good to hear you’re back at it!
Hi,
Noob here,
I would like to ask the difference of your Trad and Concert Whistle, other than the measurements.
Is it on the tuning or the volume?
Regards,
Angel
Angel,
The Trad D is a narrow bore whistle similar to Generations, Feadogs, and most other mass produced varieties.
Narrow bore whistles have a sweeter tone and a bit less volume.
The upper range is also a little easier to blow with a narrow bore whistle, but the lowermost notes aren’t quite as strong.
The Session D has a 1/2" bore, which is typical of most high-end whistles, and is generally considered to be the optimal bore size for a high D whistle.
The volume is a bit more, and the tone is more robust.
The upper range requires a little more force, and the lowermost notes are more stable.
And if you might also be wondering about the wide bore high D, it has the same bore size as a typical mass produced high C whistle.
This is pushing the upper limits of acceptable bore size for a high D whistle, but it still works well.
As a possible reference for comparison, Walton’s uses the same bore size for their ‘Mellow D’.
The volume is even more, and the tone is very robust.
The upper range requires even more force, and the lowermost notes are rock solid.