Who's whistles are these?

CHIFF FIPPLE · Post by **CHIFF FIPPLE** » Sat Jul 12, 2003 2:55 pm

raindog1970 wrote:That's the thanks you get for putting such a detailed whistle making tutorial on your website for all the world to see... it was bound to happen sooner or later!
Seriously though, it is rather underhanded to so blatantly copy someone else's work like that... which reminds me of someone else, but I'll not provoke anyone's anger by mentioning his name.
Speaking of your whistle making tutorial, Stacey... it was a real help to me recently when I needed to find a better way to cut the lip radius of my whistle heads.
Your method of milling it works very well... thanks for the tip!
My little milling machine fitted with the horizontal conversion kit makes light work of a job that used to be the most difficult part of whistle making for me.

Cool Gary.
Its a good job I have the new one up my sleeve

Oh an thaks for your support guys its at times like these you find out who's who

kevin m. · Post by **kevin m.** » Sat Jul 12, 2003 3:01 pm

CHIFF FIPPLE wrote: This is part of an E Message Text: Hi,
I live in South Africa and have been manufacturing whistles very similar to your design.
it went on to say how cheap it was to make them there,and did I was
interested in perhaps some sort of manufacture agreement, let him know. Perhaps we can be of mutual benefit.
So I asked for the pictures, and thats what I got

Hi Stacey, THAT just beggers belief!!-the 'neck' of some folk!

Bagfed · Post by **Bagfed** » Sat Jul 12, 2003 8:30 pm

If it don't have "Alba" on it, it ain't a scottish whistle. eh?

As Mike Myers said: "If it's not scottish.....It's CRAP!"

CHIFF FIPPLE · Post by **CHIFF FIPPLE** » Sun Jul 13, 2003 11:26 am

Bagfed wrote:If it don't have "Alba" on it, it ain't a scottish whistle. eh?

As Mike Myers said: "If it's not scottish.....It's CRAP!"

As always, to the point Bagfed

Walden · Post by **Walden** » Sun Jul 13, 2003 1:47 pm

But does it have that "Happy Birtday, Mister President" sound? There's only one Alba, methinks.

jim_mc · Post by **jim_mc** » Sun Jul 13, 2003 5:35 pm

Stacy:

Some people do have nerve, eh?

Perhaps you should put up a notice on your website with information on how to positively identify a whistle as an Alba. You could mention that there are cheaper whistles being made that may look very similar, but that are not Albas.

There was a fife maker in the U.S. who had a very similar problem a couple of years ago. He put up some close up pictures of tiny details that showed how to clearly identify his work.

Other than that, if you don't have a patent, you can't do much except stop them from putting the Alba name on their whistles.

Best Regards,

Jim

CHIFF FIPPLE · Post by **CHIFF FIPPLE** » Mon Jul 14, 2003 2:52 am

jim_mc wrote:Stacy:

Some people do have nerve, eh?

Perhaps you should put up a notice on your website with information on how to positively identify a whistle as an Alba. You could mention that there are cheaper whistles being made that may look very similar, but that are not Albas.

Best Regards,

Jim

Thanks Jim.

Thank goodness I have the skill to make my own stamps, so as already said if it has not got this on it its not an Alba Standard.
Copying is one of the things we all as makers have to put up with it would seem,after all just look at how many Overton lookalikes that are about :roll:

pthouron · Post by **pthouron** » Mon Jul 14, 2003 7:43 am

Stacey,
You also have the stamp in the back ("Made in Scotland") that distinguishes yours from copies. Perhaps you should consider etching your signature and a make date into them as well (perhaps on the inside like Colin Goldie does)?
Patrick

trisha · Post by **trisha** » Tue Jul 15, 2003 2:44 am

Etching a sig and date - also done on Burkes, or numbering them and providing a signed cert of authenticity like Silkstones.

At the end of the day - they may look similar, but they won't sound the same. Sadly, the uninformed won't know any different. You only need to look at the number of whistles in the UK being sold as Overton (unmarked) on ebay "because that's what I was told in the shop (in Ireland) when I bought it".

Main thing is to keep ears open for these things being affordably distributed from within the EU.

Maybe the guy thinks he's doing you a favour by offering you these to save you the work of making them

. Just thinking of all the fake designer stuff you see on sale in the Far East - they certainly don't see it as fraudulent, just a way of making a living.

Trisha

Zubivka · Post by **Zubivka** » Thu Jul 17, 2003 1:24 am

Having one's design copied is certainly not pleasant--but do take this as a helluva recognition!

pthouron wrote:Stacey,
You also have the stamp in the back ("Made in Scotland") that distinguishes yours from copies. Perhaps you should consider etching your signature and a make date into them as well (perhaps on the inside like Colin Goldie does)?
Patrick

Just wait before the copy starts wearing stickers boasting :
"authentic man-made Zulu whistle--beware of cheap Doric female imitations!"

kevin m. · Post by **kevin m.** » Thu Jul 17, 2003 12:46 pm

Patrick[/quote]
Just wait before the copy starts wearing stickers boasting :
"authentic man-made Zulu whistle--beware of cheap Doric female imitations!"

[/quote]

"Zulu's sarge-'fousands of 'em - and playing whistles!!"
"Don't you go blowing those Zulu whistles at me!" (Michael Caine).

Script Excerpts from the Chiff and Fipple remake of 'Zulu'

DCrom · Post by **DCrom** » Thu Jul 17, 2003 8:11 pm

kevin m. wrote:
Patrick wrote: Just wait before the copy starts wearing stickers boasting :
"authentic man-made Zulu whistle--beware of cheap Doric female imitations!"
"Zulu's sarge-'fousands of 'em - and playing whistles!!"
"Don't you go blowing those Zulu whistles at me!" (Michael Caine).

Script Excerpts from the Chiff and Fipple remake of 'Zulu'

Cool - the world's largest kwela group!

blackhawk · Post by **blackhawk** » Thu Jul 17, 2003 8:32 pm

DCrom wrote:
kevin m. wrote:
Patrick wrote: Just wait before the copy starts wearing stickers boasting :
"authentic man-made Zulu whistle--beware of cheap Doric female imitations!"
"Zulu's sarge-'fousands of 'em - and playing whistles!!"
"Don't you go blowing those Zulu whistles at me!" (Michael Caine).

Script Excerpts from the Chiff and Fipple remake of 'Zulu'
Cool - the world's largest kwela group!

CHIFF FIPPLE · Post by **CHIFF FIPPLE** » Sat Jul 19, 2003 4:36 am

DCrom wrote:
kevin m. wrote:
Patrick wrote: Just wait before the copy starts wearing stickers boasting :
"authentic man-made Zulu whistle--beware of cheap Doric female imitations!"
"Zulu's sarge-'fousands of 'em - and playing whistles!!"
"Don't you go blowing those Zulu whistles at me!" (Michael Caine).

Script Excerpts from the Chiff and Fipple remake of 'Zulu'
Cool - the world's largest kwela group!

He He

I can just see Micheal holding of the hoards with ALBA Whistles

10 playing washer woman,all in differant keys at the same time should hold off thousands.

knorris908 · Post by **knorris908** » Sat Jul 19, 2003 7:54 am

kevin m. wrote:Patrick
Just wait before the copy starts wearing stickers boasting :
"authentic man-made Zulu whistle--beware of cheap Doric female imitations!"

"Zulu's sarge-'fousands of 'em - and playing whistles!!"
"Don't you go blowing those Zulu whistles at me!" (Michael Caine).

Script Excerpts from the Chiff and Fipple remake of 'Zulu'

As a Zulu warrior myself, I take GREAT offense at this statement. Furthermore, I would like to take this opportunity to announce the following lawsuits... (Please see Brassblower's Metallica Is Suing Me thread for relevance's sake.)
Oh, wait...

This isn't the Metallica, "Sue 'Em all" thread... Sorry. Must have gotten turned around in all the excitement. :roll:

Carry on.

Kenneth (Who is STILL determined to get an AUTHENTIC Scottish Alba!!)

"Head!!! Pants!! Neouwwww!!!!"