This question goes out to all you wise whistlers.
Does anyone have an idea how old this Clarke “C” whistle might be? I got it at a yard sale for a whole $2.00 and it it plays great! I played it with a tuner and it played a true C! I am just curious
raven
Surely someone has some sort of idea about this! Like when Clarke stopped making the black with gold painted design. Or do they still make it? The Fipple looks more like a cork than wood but I could be wrong on that. PLEASE I know there is someone who’s an expert on Clarke whistles.
Don’t be shy…please reply!
Raven
I had one bought during the 80s. I they still do them today but with a different logo. The claim on their webiste ‘the stardivarius of tinwhistle’ is a bit OTT though.
That’s hilarious! I hadn’t seen that before… 
Have a look here
http://www.chiffandfipple.com/normanscollection.htm
Not a lot of production dates, but it might lead you to something.
Clarkes do facinate me. If I were in charge of Clarke, I’d definately release some vintage reissue Clarke whistles. Sort of like the Fender custom shop is doing with old guitars. “Vintage 50’s reissue” and stuff like that. How hard can it be to make replicas of the old ones?
And I’d definately make some more keys, including low keys.
Anyone at Clarke listening??
By Golly I think you’ve hit on it!
Have a look here > http://www.chiffandfipple.com/normanscollection.htm
Number 13 is exactly like it!!! Thanks
I agree I think they need to bring back some of the old styles again. I’d practically kill for one of this style in a D!
Perhaps by chance I’ll find another yard sale 
Raven
Wow that’s really cool. I picked up a Clarke’s in C as well (not nearly as old though) and would love to have one in D too.
It’s funny you know - decades ago (not saying how many) I owned a music shop - the guys selling Clarke came in and tried to sell me some of these #13 Clarkes, being quite young and totally sure I knew everything about everything I held up a gen next to the Clarke and said “You want more money for this than this???!! No one will go for it - come back with a real instrument and I might be interested.”
Thank god age removes that horrible hormone-driven pragmatism to reveal true realism - I am now more than happy to have Clarke originals around - these days I actually toot a whistle before making up my mind.
The other good thing about getting older is goats.
Oooooh, Clark DID make low whistles at one time?!? There was a thread a few months ago about the posibility of Clark making a low D, but I had no idea they’d made lower keys before (a low g sounds absolutely wonderful) …
…anybody want to start a petition asking that they be reproduced? Or that a few in various keys be made and sent on a whistle tour for review by some of our more experienced whistlers ('specially those who perform on stage or at fairs or on the street)?
…in conjunction with copeland!
That whistle looks a lot like one I was asking about over a year ago, here’s a bit more info on it:
http://chiffboard.mati.ca/viewtopic.php?t=25922&start=0&postdays=0&postorder=asc&highlight=
That whistle looks a lot like one I was asking about over a year ago, here’s a bit more info on it:
Yes that looks to be the same, but the overall look & construction seems to be older than 15 years. Not that it really matters to me. I just can’t get over the sound! (It amazes me how comfortable the fipple is too.)
I am all for petitioning Clarke to reviving the old styles. Anyone know how we can set it up? 
Raven
Count me in 
Get Dale to organize it. He will have the whole C&F community backing him up.
My suggestion is that they release copies/reproductions of pretty much all known vintage models of Clarke whistles (I mean, how much would it cost them? The design has been essentially the same all the time), they should probably print “Special Vintage Reissue” or something on the label so that they stand out from the originals. There could be different series, like “1890 Vintage Reissue” and “1950 Vintage Reissue” or whatever, based on the approximate year the original was produced. They can release them as a limited edition and charge a bit more for them than the normal ones.
There’s no way this could mean a financial loss for them, so the only reason why they wouldn’t do it would be if they thought it’d be moraly wrong or something to reproduce the old models, like they have to remain extremely exclusive collectibles or something (I would think they would still have that status if Clarke just made sure that there were some easy way to recognise the reproductions, such as a printed label or something that would not come off)
I think they should also design a few other low keys, like low D for example. People have been talking about it for years. I don’t understand why they don’t just do it. It would sell, and it can’t be that hard to make them based on the same design as the originals, or even the Sweetones.
I fear that Clarke’s are afraid of development, like they value their tradition too much and don’t want to stray from it. But since they have developed the Sweetone and the Meg, it seems like they could do other models as well.
Henke,
What a GREAT suggestion!
Raven
Ok I have put in a request to the all knowing and wise one. I would say keep your fingers crossed but then it might be rather hard to play whistles
raven
I don’t disagree, but I’m not sure how many people have been talking about it for years. We’re just a handful on this list, and Clarke has a much better idea than we do about the viability of new products. I don’t imagine the whistle market is huge, and there are a lot of active makers involved already. Still, if they could do this without a major retooling effort, it would be pretty cool. I’d buy a couple!
I don’t disagree, but I’m not sure how many people have been talking about it for years. We’re just a handful on this list, and Clarke has a much better idea than we do about the viability of new products.
Ok let’s back up a little. I think I will post a poll and see if this would fly.
raven
The poll is open! Cast your votes!
raven
So far the poll has it at 67% for a remake which sounds like a lot but really, not many people have voted. We sure can’t go to Clarke with such a low number of votes. 
raven