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Do you collect the Black Forest whistlers produced in Germany from about 1935 until the late 60's? Does the selling prices for these original figures "scare you to death"? Do the high prices mean that you can no longer collect these wonderful carved figures with the windup tune whistling mechanisms? If so, I have wonderful news.
A well-known Germany company has acquired the equipment from the former (now deceased) maker to again produce whistlers. The newly produced whistling mechanisms have been upgraded to eliminate past problems, i.e., the inside paper air valves system has been replaced by metal valves and the zypher skin covering for bellows is now rubberized cloth.
Carvers with skills to match "the early days of whistlers" are very difficult to find, particularly if you want to keep prices low. However, after producing a few "unsatisfactory" carvings in 1996, "master carvers" were located that produce figures just as good , if not better than the old originals. Inspect the "German Letter Carrier" and the "Baseball Player" shown here!! Nice, huh?
Now the good news. The "master carvers" are producing a line of new whistlers that will be duplicates of the "hard to find" originals. How long has it been since you saw the "Cowboy" whistling "Home on the Range". How about the "Bag Piper" whistling "Scotland the Brave" or "The Campbells are Coming"? How about the "Clock Peddler" or the "Bum With Clock Under His Arm"? "The Poet"? The American WW I Doughboy whistling "Its a Long, Long Way to Tipperary". How about "The Organ Grinder" with a bearded figure "turning the crank". These and many more are now available. So get in line with your orders.
Generally the prices are $400 dollars (US) each (such as the Baseball Player and the Postman), if a clock is included the price is about $475. Delivery to your doorsteps in the US is included. All non-US orders, please add $25 US. The cost of the new figures is less than half the cost of an original. So send me a list of what you are looking for and I will answer your questions. There are presently 12 different figures available and about 12 more to be added. You may select from about 20 different tunes - tune list is available on request.
The size of a typical whistler is about 14 inches (without lamp) to 19 inches (with lamp). It varies about 1 inch depending on the figure. A seated whister is about 12 inches.
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