I have a definitely wooden whistle Traditional design is from rolled tinplate, but I think that so many people stick to tradition is, because it´s so close to us. I mean, who gives a damn about traditional guitars, or traditional pianos, these days
I suppose that in order to be correctly called a tinwhistle, it would have to be made from tinplate, but otherwise whistles can most definitely be made of wood. Otherwise I’m wasting my time…
No, but there is a reason for the name. It is probably either because people used to throw tin whistle players pennies in the street or because Robert Clarke originally sold his tin whistles for a penny. No one knows for sure.
I’m guessing English isn’t your first language as your post is rather confusing. Irish whistles can be made of any substance known to man. The design is the key; and as noted, it is an end blown fipple flute. And, no, it is not made of fipples.
Actually, many people “give a damn” about “traditional” guitars and pianos. I am guessing that by tradtional you mean acoustic.
BTW, I own a steel guitar that is made from steel. It is also a tradtional guitar. I also have a flamenco guitar that is definitely wooden and not made from flamencos. Cheers.
That´s what I said - whistles can be from anything, but there is “traditional” design seen on Clarkes, for examples. Never said it´s from fipples.
No - by traditional guitar, I mean guitars from 16th century. What I wanted to say, that traditional whistle is not better than non-traditional design. Many people play Clarkes, as they think it´s the only “tin whistle”. And I said that about guitars and pianos, that today, we have them from different materials, with different design and strings, and it´s no problem. I don´t think that traditional design has to be better than others.
Shortly, what I wanted to say was - yes to wood, but the primary material, originally used for making tin whistles, was rolled tinplate (and fippleblock, of course).
It’s probably debatable as to what material was used to make the original fipple flute. If memory serves, I believe the Celts made them from bronze and wood; which probably predates the Clarke by a few thousand years
Of course, other cultures have ancient fipple flutes in their history. I think what is important is that we share a common interest.
Whistles have only been manufactured from metal since the 19th century, with the advent of cheep massproduction. (And from plastics in the 20th, ditto). Until then they invariably were made from wood, with a tiny proportion from bone, and even tinier from ivory.
Before that, crane bones were exceedingly popular. There were fierce arguments about whether whistles made from light-feathered cranes sounded brighter than the mellower whistles from dark-feathered cranes, but no real consensus. The low whistle fad never really took off, as too many makers were pecked to death by angry ostriches. Then everyone turned to inventing pots and writing, and the whole whistle craze died down for a dozen millennia.
You’re welcome! The Neanderthal flute is also interesting, if more controversial. People are still debating whether it’s really an instrument, or just a bone with bear holes.
Traditional design is from rolled tinplate, but I think that so many people stick to tradition is, because it´s so close to us. I mean, who gives a damn about traditional guitars, or traditional pianos, these days 
