Kazoo Clarke MKGD in Golden Metal with Box

Specifications:

• Metal construction – no plastic parts
• The sound is adjustable by rotating the membrane holder
• Replaceable membrane

The creation of the tin whistle was inspired when Robert Clarke, a poor farm worker, heard about the invention of tinplate and asked a blacksmith to help him copy the design of his wooden whistle using this new material.

Clarke heard there were great opportunities for manufacturers in Lancashire, so he and his son traveled the long distance from Coney Weston to Manchester, pushing their tools and materials in a wheelbarrow. On the way he stopped at village markets and made whistles to sell, which proved very popular with the villagers.

Sometimes he met Irish workers, who built railways and canals, and sold his tin whistles to them. These Irish took them back to Ireland, where the English whistle quickly became Ireland's favorite folk instrument.

When Robert arrived in Manchester he set up his factory in a shed and quickly became a successful manufacturer. He called his tin whistles “Megs”, a Victorian nickname for half a penny, as that was how much he charged for them.