What kind of Clarke is this?

Whistle
1

I was recently given Clarke tin whistle in the key of C. At first I thought it was newish since it looked very similar to a 7 year old Clarke I have.

However, its logo is very different and the infamous gold diamonds are over top of the holes and not between them. It also has three very impressive divots on either side keeping the wooden block in place (sadly, this feature is missing from my newer one) While its a breathy whistle, it doesn’t take near as much air to play and sounds great.

Here’s a poor picture of it:

Does anybody know anything about when Clarke was making these?

2

I don’t know, but on the C&F main site there is a page with a phopto of some of Norman’s collection of historic Clarke’s, along with notes.

That said, my guess is it’s from maybe a couple decades back or so. Seems like they maybe had a logo like that, a couple logos or so ago.

PS… not referring to NT Greek.

3

Hi Ian here from The Clarke Tinwhistle Company.

The tinwhistle in the picture is about 15 years old! it was cut from a sheet of tin that had been coated and printed with the logo.

Hope that this helps.

Regards
Ian

4

Of course, reading this thread caused me to go pull my older Clarkes out of the jar in the display cabinet. One C is almost as old as yours (being the very first whistle I ever owned), another C a little newer and a newer still D. Both of mine have slightly different labelling from yours and one from the other as well. More importantly, I played them. The older one sounds absolutely fantastic; the other has a bit more air in the tone but is quite good. The older one has a tone very much like my Sindt C - that’s a very good thing indeed!

Philo

5

Thanks very much for the info!

Its such a great whistle to play, I might have to learn more tunes in C.

6

You can learn the tunes in the key of D and play them on a C (or any other key) whistle.

7

C whistle is also good for songs in FMajor, Aminor, Ddorian (may seem odd, but true)…

Though, in sessions, I’ve only had cause to pull out my C for Julia Delaney…

8

Though, in sessions, I’ve only had cause to pull out my C for Julia Delaney…

Geese in the Bog is a great reason to bring a C out at a session too.

While my brain and fingers know what to do to transpose a D tune on a D whistle to a C tune on a C whistle, my ears usually tell me I’m wrong at every note :slight_smile: