Unknown whistle, anyone?

Cayden · Post by **Cayden** » Fri Jun 23, 2006 9:05 am

Picked up one of these this morning in Ennis for 4.50 in a (school-) book shop.

There's no identification on the whistle, they came in green head/brass tube and red/nickle plated.

Nice little whistle and as close to the older Generations as ever I have seen one.

Anyone?

talasiga · Post by **talasiga** » Fri Jun 23, 2006 9:13 am

thats funny there is no id. were they all like that? whats the usual story with no name stuff then? well I guess you may need to test them for consistency. that might tell you something.

i reckon it'd be hard for a product with no name to bring a defamation action.

peeplj · Post by **peeplj** » Fri Jun 23, 2006 9:15 am

Mel Bay? I've not had one, but I seem to remember them described as a redtop with a nickel plated body.

--James

fearfaoin · Post by **fearfaoin** » Fri Jun 23, 2006 9:22 am

Looks like a Clare I have. I'll confirm when I get home.

Cayden · Post by **Cayden** » Fri Jun 23, 2006 9:24 am

I played five or so from a bucket on the counter they were pretty much the same. I was buying the schoolbooks for the youngfella, whistel is on the curriculum of the primary schools so the bookshop had loads of them, half of them greenheaded Feadogs, the rest of them these. I don't think Mel Bay would be on the market here, Generation folkwhistles are not sold here either. The head is very close to the Generation but the shape of the 'bump' is different from both the present and the pre 80's design. Tube is fairly light. They're sensitive blowers (but the type always is) but not scratchy or anything at all. As I said, not a bad one at all.

I don't see Clare whistles often (contrary to what you might expect) so I wouldn't know.

blackhawk · Post by **blackhawk** » Fri Jun 23, 2006 9:40 am

It looks like a Clare, but a Clare would have its name on it. My guess is that someone saw the commercial success of the Meg and got a factory in China to do cheap (but evidently well made) knock offs of the Clare.

Cayden · Post by **Cayden** » Fri Jun 23, 2006 9:46 am

I am not sure about 'the commercial succes of the Meg' I rarely, if ever at all see any of those. The concert I was at last week had over 100 children playing in it and no Meg (or Sweetone for that matter) in sight. I expect these are produced with the Irish National school curriculum in mind and sold throug hchannels supplying that market. I f I were to pick between the Feadog and this one (which was the choice available in the bookshop, both at the same price) I'd go for this one.

crookedtune · Post by **crookedtune** » Fri Jun 23, 2006 9:51 am

Looks like a Clare head to me, too. My red-top Clare on a two-part brass body has no maker-ID or other markings. I like it better than other cheap D Gen-style whistles I've played. That's probably it.

peeplj · Post by **peeplj** » Fri Jun 23, 2006 10:35 am

On the tube, are the tone holes ever so slightly raised along the edges, feeling almost like they had been punched from the inside out instead of the other way?

--James

blackhawk · Post by **blackhawk** » Fri Jun 23, 2006 10:38 am

Peter Laban wrote:I am not sure about 'the commercial succes of the Meg' I rarely, if ever at all see any of those. The concert I was at last week had over 100 children playing in it and no Meg (or Sweetone for that matter) in sight. I expect these are produced with the Irish National school curriculum in mind and sold throug hchannels supplying that market. I f I were to pick between the Feadog and this one (which was the choice available in the bookshop, both at the same price) I'd go for this one.

I doubt if Megs or Sweetones will ever find any market in Ireland, nor should they. But something resembling a Clare or Feadog might find a market, especially if it could be made in China for a fraction of the cost of making it in Ireland. I bought a licensed Guinness hat a few months ago and was chagrined to find a label that said "Made in China."

Craig Stuntz · Post by **Craig Stuntz** » Fri Jun 23, 2006 10:55 am

blackhawk wrote:It looks like a Clare, but a Clare would have its name on it.

The Clare whistles only have their name on a sticker on the fipple, as far as I'm aware. I've seen enough of them without the sticker that I guess they either fall off easily or occasionally ship without them.

-Craig

Jerry Freeman · Post by **Jerry Freeman** » Fri Jun 23, 2006 10:58 am

I would say that's a Clare.

I pulled one out of my collection, and it looks identical.

Best wishes,
Jerry

Craig Stuntz · Post by **Craig Stuntz** » Fri Jun 23, 2006 11:02 am

They appear to sometimes ship without the sticker. I found this auction via David Le Bas's site so I'm sure it's genuine.

Peter, did you like the sound of the nickel version more than the brass or were they pretty much the same? I have only heard the brass Clares.

Cayden · Post by **Cayden** » Fri Jun 23, 2006 11:33 am

I generally prefer the brightness of the nickle although there isn't a huge difference. These seem only nickle plated on the outside, the inside has the brass colour.

Craig Stuntz · Post by **Craig Stuntz** » Fri Jun 23, 2006 11:53 am

Thanks for your thoughts, Peter. I've been meaning to pick up one of these whistles.

-Craig

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Unknown whistle, anyone?

Unknown whistle, anyone?

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