I have a friend who owns a 20 to 25 year old Generation whistle in the key of C. It doesn’t look like today’s production, but it looks more like that than the antique item that went on e-Bay a couple of months ago. The plastic fipple is chewed, but not cracked (“craic-ed”). The barrel has lots of small to medium dents, but it’s not bent at all, and the sound is the old Generation sound. No grunts or shrieks, just a straight clean sound. He has a sentimental attachment to it, having received it in school back in Ireland. Any thoughts on how much it could fetch if he tried to sell it?
Mmmmm, I´m not an expert in the Old Whistle Market but I think that if we´re talking of a blue/red plastic mouth-piece generation, even if it´s “old” it won´t be that much old so I won´t expect much money (unless it was chewed by Micho Russell!! 
Cheers,
Manuel Waldesco
Agreed, it’s probably worth slightly less than a new one. Keep in mind that sentimental value is only value to the person with the sentiment – it doesn’t raise the price a buyer is willing to pay, only the price the seller is willing to accept. If it’s a good player and has sentimental value, I’d recommend holding on to it.
Cheers,
- -Rich
Not everyone would feel that way. The age may be a selling point to some. The key of C may be a sticking point.
For example: I just won an auction for $15.50 on a McCullough-Piggott vintage Feadog (those produced before Mk I fipples) in the Key of D with all the original decals and packaging (priced at two pounds). I think it may be the best whistle I own now (with the exception of my Hoover white cap (the original one, to my knowledge, thanks so much Mack!). My bid was over $40 but nobody went that high. If you’re friend wishes to try, E-bay may be the place. I would spell everything correctly and make sure the age is in the title to correctly get a market.
Even though I want an old Generation D, I never look at the adds that say “BRITTISH PENNYWHISTLE GUITAR VIOLIN FLUTE” or some other nonsense.