So, I'm currently selling my UNTUNABLE Overton Low D whistle that I got around 2004. It's in excellent condition and only has some minor scrapes; plays very well! How much would they go for these days/any takers?
No, but "Overton" is inscribed on the end of the underside of the whistle.
Oh, also selling my Tony Dixon whistle in D (2005) for $50. Here's a description from the website:
"Tony Dixon Manufacturing has pleasure in introducing the re-designed and improved Soprano D Whistle with an aluminium body. Back by popular demand, the return of an old friend - now renamed - the DX006 incorporates the internal tuning slide on an aluminium bodied high D."
Where did you get it? If it was new 2004 with no inscription then I'm afraid to say it's almost certainly a fake, unless it's one of the last Overtons Bernard himself made. I'm not sure how many he made laterally but unless you got it directly from him then it's probably not genuine. Sorry.
Colin Goldie only started inscribing "Goldie" on them within the last year. Up until then they all said "Overton". There used to be a guide on the Goldie/Overton website about how to spot a fake. I can't find it just now though.
What you may be thinking of is the Overton stamp being stopped since last year now that they are Goldie whistles but as I say genuine Goldie Overtons have 'Colin Goldie' inscribed just inside the bottom of the whistle.
Are you sure? I have an anodized blue high D which were only made by Goldie but it is not inscribed with Colin Goldie inside the tube. I got it from a reputable Chiff & Fipple member around two years ago he said it was a Goldie and I'd be very very very very surprised if he was wrong or lying. I doubt its more than 10 years old judging by the condition it was in when I got it. It is possible that I cannot see the inscription and/or that it was not inscribed due to its unique color.
True, some early anodized ones don't have the stamp. Mine which I got from Colin doesn't but I have 12 standard whistles and they are all stamped.
Just checked up what Colin's site says regarding the name change........
What is the difference between a Colin Goldie Overton Whistle and a Goldie Whistle?
Not much except the marking of the name and the fact that I have developed my instrument making skills over the last 16 years so I expect a natural progression in the small details. I have been making Overton whistles since the early 1990s until August 2009, a year after Bernard Overton's death. All Overton whistles I have made, have either my name engraved inside the end of the whistle or would have had CSG stamped before the Overton on my very early instruments (pre 1998). Since August 2009 I mark my instruments "Goldie". I have not changed the basic look of the instruments and incorporated many details over the years, not always visible to the eye.
Hi TSS, not positive but I don't imagine Colin will be able to stamp new whistles Overton but even if not it will take a while before the 'Overton' Goldies are out the system. How are you getting on with it?
By the way, the engraving on the narrower bore whistles can be very small and older ones can be quite tarnished, meaning you have to look very closely.
All I can tell you is that this was made fresh for me sometime between Dec 08 and March 09 and it says Overton. I'm getting on with it all right. I need to play it more, but the pipes are my main love and I tend to be somewhat monogamous with these things.
Are you saying that the recent ones marked "Overton" are likely to be fake, as Mr. Overton died a few years ago, or that the ones from more than a few years ago marked "Goldie" are likely to be fake, as he only started marking them a few years ago? I don't quite understand.
I have an Overton high D. It says "Colin Goldie feb 2000" on the inside. I got it from Hobgoblin London in August. They would be able to spot if it was a fake, surely?
Anyway, it's a damn good whistle, so I don't really care if it's fake.
As I said above, a whistle definitely made by Colin after Dec 08 is marked Overton. I can't remember exactly when I got it but I remember when I ordered it, as I'd had a break-up then and I decided a fancy whistle, ordered directly from the maker, would make me feel better.
Joe, all Colin's whistle from about 1998 until only a few months ago were stamped Overton on the outside. What you have is a genuine Overton. Colin held the license to make them but due to circumstances let it go a year after Bernards death. Bernard made very few whistles over the last few years. Goldie whistles are what you're looking for and the stamp on yours is a sign of authenticity.
Another bit from the website to help clarify things.....
"Website and Goldie Whistle launch
2009-09-01 19:15
This is the launch of the new website and with it comes a new name for the instruments that I make. After 16 years of calling my instruments Overton I will now use my own name "Goldie" to mark the whistles that I make. A year after Bernard Overton’s death the family put forward a new agreement in such a way that I decided to let go of the name Overton. There are more important things ahead of us now other than thinking “which name to call my instruments", so it was not a hard decision to change to Goldie.
We are hoping to add to the website as time goes by and can assure you that the whistles will remain first class as nothing has changed apart from the stamp that is used and that if you now say “Goldie Whistle” it is clear one of my instruments is meant."
Right, so now that we've figured that out. How much should I sell a fake Overton for? It plays well, sounds like a low whistle, and is great for self-defense. Right now, I'll price it at $150.
Hi Armand, It has been complicated at times unfortunately but I think what you have is possibly an original Overton made by Bernard unless it has been sitting around for 6 years in a shop and then it could have been made by Phil Hardy.
Bernard did not stop making whistles until he died although he did not make many in the last years but they are still out there. He mainly sold to Hobgoblin and Soar Valley, Early Music Shop and directly to players. I personally stopped dealing with Hobgoblin in 1997, so the other whistle mentioned here from 2000 was not bought direct from myself by Hobgoblin and I am yet to come across a forgery that also was engraved as I do.
The fake Overtons I came across had no stamp and only one flat surface on the mouthpiece and easy to see, not like the three flat sides of the Overton head. These have been cropping up second hand on ebay over the years as the seller had bought them as Overtons hence they try and sell them as Overton, just 2 weeks ago one was spotted there. If I see these I still correct them even though I do not need to protect the Overton name anymore. One person being ripped off it bad enough so I try not to let that continue.
As said by bogman the Overtons were stamped Overton on the backside of the whistle near the bottom and on my whistles I also engraved my name, month and year on the inside of the bore at the bottom and early ones may have had CSG Overton stamped on them to differentiate them from Phil Hardy's or Bernard's. Since I started hand engraving inside the end of the tube in the mid nineties I have never stopped doing this, partly it is interesting for me if I come across a whistle I built to know when I made it. The first batch of anodised whistles after moving to Germany were not engraved only because I thought I would engrave them after they were anodised but I did not realise that the teflon coating was so hard and I could not engrave anything on them. There are very occasionally whistles that are not engraved with my name (not to confuse the engraving with the stamp) just because I forgot which unfortunately happens but I would hope this would be less than 10 in the last 16 years.
One thing for sure is if I have a whistle in my hand I can tell who made it within a few seconds, if I see a photo I could spot if it was made by Bernard instantly because of the way he sanded the head.
Selling my Overton Low D (2004)
Selling my Overton Low D (2004)
Heyo,
So, I'm currently selling my UNTUNABLE Overton Low D whistle that I got around 2004. It's in excellent condition and only has some minor scrapes; plays very well! How much would they go for these days/any takers?
Cheers,
Armand
# Posted on February 16th 2010 by armandale
Re: Selling my Overton Low D (2004)
Hi Armand, has it got 'Goldie' inscribed just inside the bottom of the whistle?
# Posted on February 16th 2010 by bogman
Re: Selling my Overton Low D (2004)
interested, but waiting on price...
# Posted on February 16th 2010 by BrownAleMugger
Re: Selling my Overton Low D (2004)
Bogerman,
No, but "Overton" is inscribed on the end of the underside of the whistle.
Oh, also selling my Tony Dixon whistle in D (2005) for $50. Here's a description from the website:
"Tony Dixon Manufacturing has pleasure in introducing the re-designed and improved Soprano D Whistle with an aluminium body. Back by popular demand, the return of an old friend - now renamed - the DX006 incorporates the internal tuning slide on an aluminium bodied high D."
It's listed for 43 euro.
Cheers,
Armand
# Posted on February 16th 2010 by armandale
Re: Selling my Overton Low D (2004)
Where did you get it? If it was new 2004 with no inscription then I'm afraid to say it's almost certainly a fake, unless it's one of the last Overtons Bernard himself made. I'm not sure how many he made laterally but unless you got it directly from him then it's probably not genuine. Sorry.
# Posted on February 16th 2010 by bogman
Re: Selling my Overton Low D (2004)
Colin Goldie only started inscribing "Goldie" on them within the last year. Up until then they all said "Overton". There used to be a guide on the Goldie/Overton website about how to spot a fake. I can't find it just now though.
# Posted on February 16th 2010 by No Cause For Alarm
Re: Selling my Overton Low D (2004)
Not true NCFA. They have ALL been inscribed 'Goldie' for at least 10 years. Others, unless purchased from the late Bernard Overton, are fake.
# Posted on February 16th 2010 by bogman
Re: Selling my Overton Low D (2004)
What you may be thinking of is the Overton stamp being stopped since last year now that they are Goldie whistles but as I say genuine Goldie Overtons have 'Colin Goldie' inscribed just inside the bottom of the whistle.
# Posted on February 16th 2010 by bogman
Re: Selling my Overton Low D (2004)
Are you sure? I have an anodized blue high D which were only made by Goldie but it is not inscribed with Colin Goldie inside the tube. I got it from a reputable Chiff & Fipple member around two years ago he said it was a Goldie and I'd be very very very very surprised if he was wrong or lying. I doubt its more than 10 years old judging by the condition it was in when I got it. It is possible that I cannot see the inscription and/or that it was not inscribed due to its unique color.
# Posted on February 16th 2010 by Why Bother?
Re: Selling my Overton Low D (2004)
Mine says Overton and Colin made it for me last year. You've even played it, bogman.
# Posted on February 16th 2010 by DrSilverSpear
Re: Selling my Overton Low D (2004)
True, some early anodized ones don't have the stamp. Mine which I got from Colin doesn't but I have 12 standard whistles and they are all stamped.
Just checked up what Colin's site says regarding the name change........
What is the difference between a Colin Goldie Overton Whistle and a Goldie Whistle?
Not much except the marking of the name and the fact that I have developed my instrument making skills over the last 16 years so I expect a natural progression in the small details. I have been making Overton whistles since the early 1990s until August 2009, a year after Bernard Overton's death. All Overton whistles I have made, have either my name engraved inside the end of the whistle or would have had CSG stamped before the Overton on my very early instruments (pre 1998). Since August 2009 I mark my instruments "Goldie". I have not changed the basic look of the instruments and incorporated many details over the years, not always visible to the eye.
# Posted on February 16th 2010 by bogman
Re: Selling my Overton Low D (2004)
Not stamped but ingraved.....
# Posted on February 16th 2010 by bogman
Re: Selling my Overton Low D (2004)
I got mine in March 09 (I think) so that explains that.
# Posted on February 16th 2010 by DrSilverSpear
Re: Selling my Overton Low D (2004)
Hi TSS, not positive but I don't imagine Colin will be able to stamp new whistles Overton but even if not it will take a while before the 'Overton' Goldies are out the system. How are you getting on with it?
# Posted on February 16th 2010 by bogman
Re: Selling my Overton Low D (2004)
Ah cross post there.
By the way, the engraving on the narrower bore whistles can be very small and older ones can be quite tarnished, meaning you have to look very closely.
# Posted on February 16th 2010 by bogman
Re: Selling my Overton Low D (2004)
All I can tell you is that this was made fresh for me sometime between Dec 08 and March 09 and it says Overton. I'm getting on with it all right. I need to play it more, but the pipes are my main love and I tend to be somewhat monogamous with these things.
# Posted on February 16th 2010 by DrSilverSpear
Re: Selling my Overton Low D (2004)
Are you saying that the recent ones marked "Overton" are likely to be fake, as Mr. Overton died a few years ago, or that the ones from more than a few years ago marked "Goldie" are likely to be fake, as he only started marking them a few years ago? I don't quite understand.
I have an Overton high D. It says "Colin Goldie feb 2000" on the inside. I got it from Hobgoblin London in August. They would be able to spot if it was a fake, surely?
Anyway, it's a damn good whistle, so I don't really care if it's fake.
# Posted on February 16th 2010 by Joe CSS
Re: Selling my Overton Low D (2004)
As I said above, a whistle definitely made by Colin after Dec 08 is marked Overton. I can't remember exactly when I got it but I remember when I ordered it, as I'd had a break-up then and I decided a fancy whistle, ordered directly from the maker, would make me feel better.
# Posted on February 16th 2010 by DrSilverSpear
Re: Selling my Overton Low D (2004)
Joe, all Colin's whistle from about 1998 until only a few months ago were stamped Overton on the outside. What you have is a genuine Overton. Colin held the license to make them but due to circumstances let it go a year after Bernards death. Bernard made very few whistles over the last few years. Goldie whistles are what you're looking for and the stamp on yours is a sign of authenticity.
# Posted on February 16th 2010 by bogman
Re: Selling my Overton Low D (2004)
Another bit from the website to help clarify things.....
"Website and Goldie Whistle launch
2009-09-01 19:15
This is the launch of the new website and with it comes a new name for the instruments that I make. After 16 years of calling my instruments Overton I will now use my own name "Goldie" to mark the whistles that I make. A year after Bernard Overton’s death the family put forward a new agreement in such a way that I decided to let go of the name Overton. There are more important things ahead of us now other than thinking “which name to call my instruments", so it was not a hard decision to change to Goldie.
We are hoping to add to the website as time goes by and can assure you that the whistles will remain first class as nothing has changed apart from the stamp that is used and that if you now say “Goldie Whistle” it is clear one of my instruments is meant."
# Posted on February 17th 2010 by bogman
Re: Selling my Overton Low D (2004)
Right, so now that we've figured that out. How much should I sell a fake Overton for? It plays well, sounds like a low whistle, and is great for self-defense. Right now, I'll price it at $150.
Cheers,
Armand
# Posted on February 17th 2010 by armandale
Re: Selling my Overton Low D (2004)
Hi Armand, It has been complicated at times unfortunately but I think what you have is possibly an original Overton made by Bernard unless it has been sitting around for 6 years in a shop and then it could have been made by Phil Hardy.
Bernard did not stop making whistles until he died although he did not make many in the last years but they are still out there. He mainly sold to Hobgoblin and Soar Valley, Early Music Shop and directly to players. I personally stopped dealing with Hobgoblin in 1997, so the other whistle mentioned here from 2000 was not bought direct from myself by Hobgoblin and I am yet to come across a forgery that also was engraved as I do.
The fake Overtons I came across had no stamp and only one flat surface on the mouthpiece and easy to see, not like the three flat sides of the Overton head. These have been cropping up second hand on ebay over the years as the seller had bought them as Overtons hence they try and sell them as Overton, just 2 weeks ago one was spotted there. If I see these I still correct them even though I do not need to protect the Overton name anymore. One person being ripped off it bad enough so I try not to let that continue.
As said by bogman the Overtons were stamped Overton on the backside of the whistle near the bottom and on my whistles I also engraved my name, month and year on the inside of the bore at the bottom and early ones may have had CSG Overton stamped on them to differentiate them from Phil Hardy's or Bernard's. Since I started hand engraving inside the end of the tube in the mid nineties I have never stopped doing this, partly it is interesting for me if I come across a whistle I built to know when I made it. The first batch of anodised whistles after moving to Germany were not engraved only because I thought I would engrave them after they were anodised but I did not realise that the teflon coating was so hard and I could not engrave anything on them. There are very occasionally whistles that are not engraved with my name (not to confuse the engraving with the stamp) just because I forgot which unfortunately happens but I would hope this would be less than 10 in the last 16 years.
One thing for sure is if I have a whistle in my hand I can tell who made it within a few seconds, if I see a photo I could spot if it was made by Bernard instantly because of the way he sanded the head.
I hope this helps.
Colin
# Posted on February 17th 2010 by colingoldie