Name/Title
Tom Turpin and Inman Turpin Trumpet YelpersEntry/Object ID
VTC001A0016Description
Tom Turpin (1871-1957) was making calls in the late 1800s as he sought a better turkey call, though it was after he retired in 1921 that he embraced his callmaking business in earnest. He pioneered turkey-call styles that bear his name to this day. His turned trumpets were, at the time, along with those of other makers, referred to as "Turpin Yelpers." Tom’s younger brother, W.
Inman Turpin, Sr. (1892-1959) would joinTom in callmaking at least by 1945,
Differntiating the brothers' trumpets can be challenging. As quoted from the 2026 book The Origin and Evolution of Turkey Calls by Rogers, Ellis, McDonald & Powell, "Trumpet mouthpieces offer insights as to which Turpin made them. Tom’s were cut with a slant at the tip, and Inman’s were flat. Steve said, “Tom preferred the slanted, or beveled, cut for the tip of mouthpieces, whereas Inman preferred the straight cut…but all of the Turpins have made calls in both cuts. Tom did turn some special-order ivory mouthpieces, but his goal was to put good and affordable calls in the hands of people. Some earlier calls would have wingbones affixed with dental cement, but his typical mouthpieces were bone.” They used what they had and could get. In the 1950s, Inman even used hair combs to make a few trumpet mouthpieces. Inman became allergic to cocobolo, which the crow mouthpieces were made of, so he went to a plastic mold."Collection
Chris McDonald and Danny Ellis collectionsCataloged By
Brent RogersCondition
Overall Condition
Very GoodDate Examined
Feb 1, 2026Created By
Brent@awthf.orgCreate Date
February 1, 2026Updated By
Brent@awthf.orgUpdate Date
February 1, 2026
