I have been wanting (and have been asked) to make some high whistles in black, but try as I may, I had not found a source of suitable pipe in America. I found one possible source a couple years ago, but they just sold the last of their black stock and were not ordering more. A few months ago I found a source for 1/2" PVC in black, but not CPVC, so made some alto whistles in black. (Which you can see on my web site at http://www.parkswhistles.com)
Then several weeks ago I found a web site that will make "any size, any color" PVC shapes. OK, this should be easy. And it would be, if I wanted to purchase 20,000 feet of the stuff. Yes, you did the math right - almost four miles. I'd have to put it in my will.
Quite a while ago, I did a swap with our very own Jem flute player, fixer-upper and piccolo maker, and the pipe he obtains in England for his piccolos would make a nice Parks whistle. But I couldn't find a practical way to get the stuff over here. (I never asked Jem, as I didn't want to put the burden of a regular commitment on him.)
One of my dealers, Phil at Big Whistle Music in England, called last week and while we chatted he mentioned that he thought he could sell more black whistles than white in Europe.
"Maybe the white color doesn't cross the Atlantic well" he suggested.
"No, I think people would like a black whistle here too" says I, "But I can find the stuff over here."
So began Phil's quest for the proper pipe. From Jem's sample I had the manufacturer and size, and was happy with the single whistle I was able to make from it. I gave the info to Phil and after only a single day I see the following in an e-mail from Phil: "I found where I can get it, but they have to order it in special. If I waited a day to place the order, it would come in a week later. So I placed the order before speaking with you. I had to order 90 meters. I hope that's OK, because it's too late if not."
HA! My man Phill seems as excited about this project as I am.
Suspecting it might make an interesting tale to follow in real time, I plan to report on the progress as the material arrives, comes across the Atlantic and is turned into the first batch of black Parks high whistles. So as milestones are reached I'll post some photos and reports to this thread.
Phil Brown of Big Whistle Music (and Friday BBC radio fame) receiving the first shipment of conduit in England.
A better shot of what ninety meters of pipe looks like.
Phil will be cutting into rough size for whistle parts for me so it can be shipped more easily.
From what I can tell having played around with a short section of the material I got from Jem, the whistle will sound enough different from the white Every that I don't want to use the same name. Plus the material will be more costly with the shipping over etc. so it will be a different price. So it will need a new name. The first name to come to mind is "Ninja", because of the blackness. Not sure that's Celtic enough.
Thoughts?
(edit to add a second photo)
), Halloween? How about Hannibal, for that macabre touch?