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Lion Tamer's whip -Thanks to Meagan Baldwin and David Morgan

Posted: Mon Feb 07, 2011 10:30 am
by giovanniceleste
Hi Guys,
I know that this whips are not oriented Indy whips, but I think are example of whipmaking.
I made this whip for a famous italian circus.
I know that Mr. Morgan in whip and whipmaking shows some pictures of this kind of whip.
So I contacted Mr. Morgan to get some information on the technical aspects of this whip.
In the following days I talked to Meagan, She was very kind and helpful to me, giving me all the informations and photos.
This whip was made according these advice.
I made some small changes in to the handle area to recreate a "retrò" style
I hope you like it
Thanks so much for your kindness and professionalism :TOH:
This was what she wrote.
Hello Giovanni,
We used to offer a lion’s tamer whip which David made. It was an 8-plait 6-ft with a swell belly. David doesn’t remember the particulars of its construction, but he thinks that it is probably best to have an inner core or a braided belly plus the overlay. The bolster may not be necessary. You will need to build up the core to achieve the swell belly. We are guessing that for an 8-ft thong you might want the swell to begin two feet from the handle end. We think perhaps two feet with no swell, 3 feet of swell, then three final feet with no swell. Probably ending in 6-plait is fine, but if you prefer 4-plait, also fine. Match the weight of the fall to the thong.


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Re: Lion Tamer's whip -Thanks to Meagan Baldwin and David Mo

Posted: Mon Feb 07, 2011 11:00 am
by Canasta
Wow. That's really cool.
I have a whip with the twisted handle. The thong is made of twisted rope.
What a great project.
Well done Giovanni.

Chris

Re: Lion Tamer's whip -Thanks to Meagan Baldwin and David Mo

Posted: Mon Feb 07, 2011 11:11 am
by giovanniceleste
Thanks Chris,
glad you like it, the thong was made in roo hide 8 plait. the cracker will be plaited directly by staff of the circus.

Re: Lion Tamer's whip -Thanks to Meagan Baldwin and David Mo

Posted: Tue Feb 08, 2011 8:58 am
by Marhala
That is one amazing whip, Gio! It is good to see now and then something besides blacksnakes, Australian stockwhips, Florida Cow whips and Australian, American bullwhips.

The whip just looks gorgeous, my friend: the taper of the thong, the strands... absolutely gorgeous!

ATB,

Aldo.

http://elasticrods.wordpress.com

Re: Lion Tamer's whip -Thanks to Meagan Baldwin and David Mo

Posted: Tue Feb 08, 2011 10:03 am
by giovanniceleste
Hi Aldo,
thanks so much :TOH:
in the next topic you'll will see a 3ft signal in two tone!!!
All the best
g

Re: Lion Tamer's whip -Thanks to Meagan Baldwin and David Mo

Posted: Tue Feb 08, 2011 3:37 pm
by kwad
Marhala wrote:That is one amazing whip, Gio! It is good to see now and then something besides blacksnakes, Australian stockwhips, Florida Cow whips and Australian, American bullwhips.

The whip just looks gorgeous, my friend: the taper of the thong, the strands... absolutely gorgeous!

ATB,

Aldo.

http://elasticrods.wordpress.com
I agree! It is nice to see some different types of whips being made.

You did a beautiful job Gio! How did you make that twisted handle?

Re: Lion Tamer's whip -Thanks to Meagan Baldwin and David Mo

Posted: Wed Feb 09, 2011 11:38 pm
by hit80s
how does she crack?

Re: Lion Tamer's whip -Thanks to Meagan Baldwin and David Mo

Posted: Thu Feb 10, 2011 10:13 am
by giovanniceleste
Thanks again for your fine words!!!
the twisted handle was constructed by an Italian craftsman, according to the traditional way of the last century.
I have just plaited the knots and the grip.
Unfortunately I have not had a chance to crack this whip because there will be a special "cracker" braided by the same Tamer.
In fact he asked me to make a fall with the tip very thin.
I suppose will be a cracker braided over the last inches of the fall.
I've built for this Circus three models of whips with the same characteristics but different lengths:
in these pics we have:
handle lenght 110 cm (about 43" )
braided thong 8plait --> 6plait point 7ft
the other two whips are just shorter:
handle lenght 90 cm
braided thong 8plait --> 6plait point 5ft
According Morgan's Book the dimension of the first whip are particularly oriented to the control of tigers. the other two for the control of the Lions