The WIM db was initially populated with data from The New Langwill Index by William Waterhouse, published by Tony Bingham in 1993. In the two years leading up to WIM's January 2025 debut as an online resource, large amounts of new information on makers, recently published sources, and instruments were added to the database. Besides including much new and corrected information, the database adds the ability to search the data in ways that were impossible in the print edition. 

From the Methods and Principles page...
In general, the makers listed are mouth-blown wind instruments that have been predominantly used in literate Western traditions. Such instruments include those that have commonly been employed both indoors and outdoors, in the drawing room, in church, at court, in the concert hall, on the hunting field, by civic officers, and by the military. Excluded are such folk instruments as the alp-horn, and the mouth-organ. Makers solely of spare parts and accessories such as keys and valves are omitted. However the makers of woodwind and brass instrument mouthpieces are included, as these often marked their products, and woodwind reed makers are included.

It is the nature of a resource of this type that it can never be more than a work in progress. Corrections and additions are made to the content almost daily, and every effort is made to be accurate. Yet the information is only as complete as time allows and can be no more accurate than the sources we consult, all of which are listed as clearly and completely as possible. 

The editor of WIM db is Dr. Albert Rice. You may contact him to suggest new or corrected information for the database. He can be reached by email.

WIM uses SQL-Server as the back-end database. The front-end user interface is created using C#, Knockout, and ASP.NET Core (Ver 5-6).

The Musical Instrument Research Catalog (MIRCat) is a not-for-profit organization that exists to seek and administer funds in support of the Wind-Instrument Makers database and other free online digital archives and databases serving researchers, collectors, makers, and caretakers of historical musical instruments and to foster the continual growth and improvement of those digital resources. See https://mircat.org/.