This actually happened, I don’t know, probably 8 years ago, but I still wish I had handled it differently.
During the peak of the time when new whistle makers were proliferating and sending me their work, I got a Low D whistle made by a guy in Canada. I’ve forgotten his name, which I figure means he didn’t stay in the business. I opened to package and what I found was a Copeland Low D. Except it wasn’t made by Copeland, It was made by this guy. A really, really good copy. In fact, it played better than the Copeland Low D I had at the time, and even, I think, a bit better than the one I have now.
I told the guy I didn’t feel comfortable writing about it on C&F because it was such a blatant exploitation of Michael’s work He replied with some description of how it differed from MIchael’s work, which I didn’t buy at all.
I also wrote Michael Copeland and Jim Rementer. They asked me to ship them the whistle so they could look at it. Here’s where I went wrong. I sent it to them. Never saw it again. If I had it, I might feel guilty about playing it…but I’d be playing it.
Ok, why now after 8 years? What was the precipitating factor here? Are you pulling our collective leg Dale? So your research gene overrode your possessive gene, eh? See what happens…Oh, uh, you don’t happen to have that guy’s name and address do you? I hope he’s all right…
i recently bought 2 plastic whistles from evil bay, they were made for Ferris music in Ireland, there were a couple of threads written about them on C+F where they were compared with susato whistles, whilst i do admit there is a likeness, they are nowhere near the same, i paid £9.99 for a D and a C they both came in leatherette cases and they both have a really sweet mellow tone, i am very happy with my purchase and they do sound and play like whistles that are three times the price, what a bargain
Interesting topic…I too have played one of the whistles…if it’s the same guy. Basically a copy of a Copeland. He, the maker, told me that he actually apprenticed with Michael Copeland. His name is John and he lived here, in Newfoundland, while going to university. He’s originally from Nova Scotia. You right, it’s an exact copy of Michael’s and I also found that it played even better than a Copeland. Copeland low D is my main intstrument so I was certainly able to do a true comparison. I think his last name is Bishop. I could easily get in contact with him but I believe that he stopped making them some time ago.
I hope that I don’t offend anyone. But, the story sounds like the old “Tucker” story. It was an automobile. Was a movie I believe. Now, I know that this did not happen in this case. It just triggered my membor of the “Tucker”.
Let us know if you ask and get it back. I too vote for you to ask.
In1999 or so I borrowed a brass Copeland and cloned it using the tapered end of an aluminum ski pole. I felt so guilty about it that I only did it a couple of times again. These played better than the Copeland, too.
No BS here. I’ve personally spoken with the maker and played the whistle. Dale, do you remember the “copy” as being quite tarnished and not quite as shiny as the Copeland. THe one that I played was very dark and dull. It did however play extremely well. I too was impressed by how it was even “better” than the Copeland. I’ve got his last name on liner notes somewhere but I’m too lazy to be digging through my cd pile. No problem to find out. He’s a great player, now flute, and he’s very well known around here…I’m really surprised that people would doubt this “story”
Good bit of detective work there Mr. Hoover. That’s the same John Bishop that I’m talking about. He did make a really really good whistle. For those curious, Snotty Var, the band whose liner notes that I was referring to, is actually a colloquial term that we Newfoundlanders call an old fir tree with resin clotted on the bark. Var being how one would pronounce fir. eg. “Snotty var is too greasy to be cutting for winter fuel”. From the “Dictionary of Newfoundland English”.
I didn’t send one to you did I Dale?
