Remember David...on his recovery from a broken hip

mrrymen2 · Post by **mrrymen2** » Thu Jan 10, 2008 6:29 am

I haven't seen the the news posted before so I guess it may not be widely known that David Morgan had a fall about six weeks ago and broke his hip.
He seems to be doing o.k, he has a few nails and screws holding him together but he is getting around with the aid of stick and hopes to get rid of that soon. I reckon David is about eighty two years old by now and is talking about getting back into plaiting as soon as he is able. I guess you can't keep an old whipmaker down.
You all know what David means to the development, styling and popular appreciation of the american bullwhip and how he has given knowledge freely and willingly to all.
I was kind of hoping that we could show our appreciation of him by sending him our best wishes by whatever means. email, regular cards or whatever you think.
There are not many people on this forum that don't owe something to him, we may own a whip of his or even if we just appreciated the Indiana movies, if we all sent something it would turn into a flood of thanks. I think David would be very very pleased. He deserves this.

all the best....
litlejohn

whiskyman · Post by **whiskyman** » Thu Jan 10, 2008 6:33 am

Oh poor guy! I hope he's on the mend and makes a full recovery. I'm a huge fan of Mr. Morgan and he's been very helpful to me over the last couple of years. A very nice man. Get well soon.

Post by **Mike** » Thu Jan 10, 2008 7:32 am

This is the first I've heard of it. Glad to hear he's on the road to recovery.

K on the run · Post by **K on the run** » Thu Jan 10, 2008 7:37 am

With hopes of a speedy recovery.

Best regards,
Kim

Satipo · Post by **Satipo** » Thu Jan 10, 2008 10:31 am

I wish David the best of health and thanks for my fantastic bullwhip.

Warmest regards,

Satipo

BendingOak · Post by **BendingOak** » Thu Jan 10, 2008 10:47 am

Sorry to hear about Mr morgans fall but glade his is on his way to recovery. I'm not only a fan of his but is very greatfull for the time he spent with me on my visit to his shop and all the infomation and help about whipmaking. He is very giving of his time and himsel. Get well soon.

The_Edge · Post by **The_Edge** » Thu Jan 10, 2008 12:39 pm

The title of this thread made my legs go weak. My heart is racing as I type this. I thought we had lost him.

I'm so pleased that he is still with us.

whiskyman · Post by **whiskyman** » Thu Jan 10, 2008 2:10 pm

This just in from Mr. Morgan:

Thank you. I am getting better…somewhat irritably and impatiently.

With kind regards,

David Morgan

BendingOak · Post by **BendingOak** » Thu Jan 10, 2008 3:48 pm

Thanks for posting this Nick.

Indiana G · Post by **Indiana G** » Thu Jan 10, 2008 3:55 pm

my 2 cents....you should really change the title of the thread as it eludes to david morgan passing away.....scared the #### out of me actually.

i was relieved to know that he is still with us and even more relieved to see that he is recovering. i wish him the best and hope he's back doing what he loves to do.

much regards,

G

Satipo · Post by **Satipo** » Thu Jan 10, 2008 4:16 pm

Yes, I agree with Indiana G. You don't want to come across as an alarmist or something.

Sergei · Post by **Sergei** » Thu Jan 10, 2008 4:32 pm

Subject was modified. Sorry littlejohn, for the edit, but given the recent death of Ron Edwards, this was being mistook for something more serious. Although a broken hip is really bad.

David, if you are reading, get your hands ready for platting again. You should be using your squeeze ball. <shaking fist towards Bothell>

Dr._J · Post by **Dr._J** » Thu Jan 10, 2008 5:41 pm

SERGEI?!? Where the heck have you been my friend? Great to have you back!

Regards, Dr. J

Sergei · Post by **Sergei** » Thu Jan 10, 2008 5:46 pm

Dr. J... yep, I have been gone awhile and too long. Slowly getting back in the saddle. I think we need an old timers convention in LA - break bread, smoke some fine cubans, listen to Adam's salsa music, ... how's the little family?

ST · Post by ST » Thu Jan 10, 2008 8:28 pm

I was in Bothell six weeks ago visiting my Aunt, and when I went there I wanted to talk to him but was told he broke his hip. I'm interested in whipmaking so I wound up in the back of the shop were he doss his whipmaking with his apprentice (I forgot her name) and she taught me how to par and to cut the hide. When we were dun I walked out to the front of the store and there was a police officer telling the employees there is a voluntary evacuation. Because the bridge we just came over 20 min. ago had washed out (it was raining really hard). So we decided to leave but before we did my parents bought me roo hid as a early Christmas present

$\:D/$ It was the best present I got.

LZeitgeist · Post by **LZeitgeist** » Wed Feb 27, 2008 1:36 pm

Wow, just discovered this thread - I will definitely add my well wishes to the rest.

I never realized that David was the same age as my recently-late father... you never know how much time you've got. I'm happy to hear David is still up and at'em...

I bought a 12' DM Indy whip back in early '95 I swear I remember it being 16-plait, but most of what I see these days mentions 12-plait, so perhaps my memory is faulty. Regardless, it's one of my most-prized possessions.

Satipo · Post by **Satipo** » Wed Feb 27, 2008 1:54 pm

LZeitgeist wrote:I bought a 12' DM Indy whip back in early '95 I swear I remember it being 16-plait, but most of what I see these days mentions 12-plait, so perhaps my memory is faulty.

Do you have a picture? The experts around here could probably tell by looking whether it's 12 or 16 plait.

Sergei · Post by **Sergei** » Wed Feb 27, 2008 2:01 pm

Well David definitely made a 16 plait bullwhip in the past. Just looking at the website he doesn't offer it anymore. I remember discussing this in the past with him on whether I should order a 16 plait. He convinced me to stay with the 12 plait whip for durability purposes - the strands are wider and less stress vs. the 16 plait.

Pictured is a 16 plait, 6 foot Bullwhip made by David Morgan:

Bernardodc · Post by **Bernardodc** » Wed Feb 27, 2008 2:10 pm

To the best of my knowledge, DM only offered his 16 plait "Classic Bullwhip" in 6 and 8 ft lengths. Since LZeitgeist's whip is a 12 footer, perhaps it's 12 plait. Like Satipo said, with a pic it will be very easy to tell what it is.

Bernardo

whipwarrior · Post by **whipwarrior** » Wed Feb 27, 2008 5:33 pm

I remember that whip from his website. Very finely-cut strands, and expensive as all-get-out ($700 back in the day). I really wanted one, too. So I ordered a 6-foot 16-plait from Bernie, thinking that it would look like David's, and it didn't. The overlay looks exactly like a 12-plait bullwhip. Still, she's a beaut!

Canyon · Post by **Canyon** » Wed Feb 27, 2008 6:11 pm

This is the first that I knew of David's fall. I appreciate you letting us know.

David, get well soon!

Post by **BullWhipBorton** » Wed Feb 27, 2008 6:58 pm

LZeitgeist wrote:I bought a 12' DM Indy whip back in early '95 I swear I remember it being 16-plait, but most of what I see these days mentions 12-plait, so perhaps my memory is faulty. Regardless, it's one of my most-prized possessions.

While All the movie style model 450 whips he made where 12 plait, he did 16 plait whips for a while too. Most where 6 or 8 ft, but he may have made longer ones back when he was doing special orders.

There are 2 quick ways to tell the 16 plait classic bullwhips apart from the standard 12 plait. The overlay on the 16 plait whip David did, was done in an 8 seam pattern as it left the handle, then went into the 4 seam herringbone pattern down the rest of the thong. The 12 plait whips go right from the handle into the 4-seam pattern hearing bone style plait.

Another way is to pick a stand a few inches up from the handle, then count how many other strands it goes under and multiply that number by 4. If the strand goes under 3, it’s a 12 plait whip, if it goes under 4 it’s a 16 plait whip.

or you can just post a picture and we can tell you

Dan

giovanniceleste · Post by **giovanniceleste** » Thu Feb 28, 2008 4:56 am

No David, No Whip!!
Ciao David, I wish you untroubled and happy healing
Get well soon

Kind Regards
Giovanni Celeste

LZeitgeist · Post by **LZeitgeist** » Mon Mar 03, 2008 12:00 am

Sorry, didn't mean to hijack the thread, but I'll do some counting and pic taking/posting in a few days - I'll check the receipt for it as well. Order date would have been around January 1995...

Anybody got the latest news on Mr. Morgan's condition?

louiefoxx · Post by **louiefoxx** » Mon Mar 03, 2008 1:45 am

From what I could tell on my last visit with him he's doing fine. Honestly I probably wouldn't have known about his fall from his appearance if I didn't know about it.

Louie

genexs · Post by **genexs** » Wed Mar 05, 2008 12:18 pm

I'm so glad David is doing ok.

I purchased one of David's 16 plait bulls a few years ago. It's still not broken in! Heh! There's no secondary front knot covering the transition zone, so it's interesting to see. I recall it also has an extra belly, which I think accounts for it's long breaking in period.

best,
Gene

midwestwhips · Post by **midwestwhips** » Wed Mar 05, 2008 6:46 pm

genexs wrote:I'm so glad David is doing ok.

I purchased one of David's 16 plait bulls a few years ago. It's still not broken in! Heh! There's no secondary front knot covering the transition zone, so it's interesting to see. I recall it also has an extra belly, which I think accounts for it's long breaking in period.

best,
Gene

Hi Gene,

I would love to see a picture of the whip, and I am sure everyone else would as well.

You are right, the ad in the catalog said that it has a 3rd plaited belly. I didn't know there wasn't a knot on the transition though. I am very interested to see this whip.

Regards,

Paul Nolan
www.midwestwhips.com

Bernardodc · Post by **Bernardodc** » Wed Mar 05, 2008 6:51 pm

Gene,

Got any pics?

)

genexs · Post by **genexs** » Wed Mar 05, 2008 10:22 pm

Paul, Bernardo:

A challenge! I rise to the occasion! Heh!

This is the first pic I've posted, so I hope it's ok. Sorry 'bout the cracker, been too lazy to tie one on in the off-season.

best,
Gene

JMObi · Post by **JMObi** » Thu Mar 06, 2008 1:19 am

Forgive me for briefly changing the subject, but Gene how do you post a pic on COW? Can you point me toward a tutorial or something on this site as I looked but couldn't find one. I have access to a digital camera, so I'm half way there.

Satipo · Post by **Satipo** » Thu Mar 06, 2008 3:49 am

genexs wrote:There's no secondary front knot covering the transition zone, so it's interesting to see.

That's a nice looking whip! But am I misunderstanding what is meant by a "secondary front knot covering the transition zone". I assumed that referred to a ring-knot, which I can see your whip has.

whiskyman · Post by **whiskyman** » Thu Mar 06, 2008 6:20 am

Perhaps he meant the second braiding transition. The braiding pattern changes twice - once at the end of the handle section and then again a few inches further on.

Bernardodc · Post by **Bernardodc** » Thu Mar 06, 2008 10:53 am

Very nice whip Gene! Thanks for posting the pic. We don't get to see many of those 16 plait Morgan whips. There's a ring knot there, so the first transition at the end of the handle is covered. Were you referring to the second transition?

Jon,

To post pics, first upload them to a website like www.photobucket.com
Then copy the pic's URL (the address). Go to your message window and clic on the Img tab once (to the right of your text field), then paste the picture URL, and clic again the Img tab. (You'll see it now has an *). That's it. Repeat as neccessary for posting more pics, and to see if you've done it correctly, clic PREVIEW below.

Regards,

Bernardo

whipwarrior · Post by **whipwarrior** » Thu Mar 06, 2008 11:36 am

OMG that's a beautiful bullwhip. I bet it rolls out like a dream. Could you post a few close-ups of the plaiting and handle detail for the rest of us to drool over?

P.S.- If you send it to me, I would be happy to tie a new cracker onto the fall!!!

genexs · Post by **genexs** » Thu Mar 06, 2008 9:31 pm

Hi folks:

First off, thanx for all the nice comments on the whip.

Whiskeyman, Bernardo, and Satipo:

Yeah. I always called the knot just off the handle touching the thong the "front" or "forward" knot, to distinguish it from the Turks head knot. So yes, there's one "ring knot" covering the first transition, but the second transition is naked and there to see. For those who want to look around, I seem to recall Joe Strain had some pics at his site of whips with two ring knots. I think Western Stage Props had some for a while, too.

Whipwarrior:

Here's your pick. Hopefully the transition we are discussing will be visible, in the upper left hand corner of the pic. In regards to how it handles, it's really some whip! As I said, it's not broken in yet, and I'm going very slowly in that regard. The stiffness near the handle reminds me of Australian style bullwhips, more than David's 12 plait bullwhips; yet, there is no light, dainty, thin and long handle--it's the heavy beefy Morgan handle. It's as if it's and Indy whip having a dream of being and Australian bullwhip. Heh. In the next day or so, I'll post a pic of a Mike Murphy 16 plait 6 foot next to this whip. You can't imagine two completely different creatures!

best,
Gene

Post by **BullWhipBorton** » Fri Mar 07, 2008 1:17 am

Hey Genexs, That is a beautiful example of David’s 16 plait Classic bullwhip. Thanks for sharing it here, we don’t see too many of those. It’s a bit more beefed up compared to a few others of David’s 16 plaits I’ve seen over the years, clearly a very serious whip!

As far as I know, David never a 2nd knot over that 2nd transition from the 8-seam pattern to the more traditional 4-seam patter he uses when plaiting his whips.

Dan

Satipo · Post by **Satipo** » Fri Mar 07, 2008 3:51 am

It's interesting to see how detailed the handle is compared to the 12 plait.

BTW, didn't some of the Zorro whips have a second ring knot?

Post by **BullWhipBorton** » Fri Mar 07, 2008 4:08 am

Satipo wrote:BTW, didn't some of the Zorro whips have a second ring knot?

Only the ones Joe Strain made, but they where a differnt style of bullwhip then the ones David did.

Dan

Satipo · Post by **Satipo** » Fri Mar 07, 2008 5:21 am

Ah, yes. I had a feeling they were Strain whips. I think I saw them on Western Stage Props.

genexs · Post by **genexs** » Fri Mar 07, 2008 9:29 pm

Hiya:

Thanx, BullwhipBorton. It does indeed seem to have received some extra beefing up. Glad I could contribute to the forum.

Here's the DM along side a Mike Murphy. Both are 6 foot, 16 plait whips, yet they are two very different beasts.

best,
Gene

Post by **BullWhipBorton** » Wed Mar 12, 2008 6:09 am

Thanks Gene, That 16 plait bullwhip Mike Murphy made, looks like a real beauty.

Dan

Bernardodc · Post by **Bernardodc** » Wed Mar 19, 2008 11:50 pm

A quick update on Mr. Morgan's recovery:

I called him last Saturday and he told me he was back to braiding! He had just finished a 12 footer. He said he has almost fully recovered from the broken hip!

His new book is almost ready to be sent to the publisher! It should take anywhere from 2 to 6 months for the book to leave the printers, he added.

Regards,

Bernardo

JMObi · Post by **JMObi** » Thu Mar 20, 2008 2:53 am

I'm very glad to hear that he is back to braiding, and that he is well. I can't wait for his new book! I'll be checking his site regularly.

Cracker · Post by **Cracker** » Thu Mar 20, 2008 8:39 am

Is that short herringbone pattern common on David's whips? I haven't noticed it before in the pictures I've seen?

Remember David...on his recovery from a broken hip

Remember David...on his recovery from a broken hip

whips

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Re: Remember David