This flute looks good, I’ve played a couple that are pretty good. A steal at around £150 anyway.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Old-Wooden-8-key-Flute-by-Hawkes-son_W0QQitemZ220258483976QQ
Hi Folks,
I managed to bag this D flute. But it’s not straighforward.
Adjustable cork, all 8 keys working in great order, modern type hole sizes, Embrochure similar size and shape to my Hammy Pratten, Head is shorter, but according to Terry McGee’s software it seems to be playin A440, and in tune with itself with the head extended about 2/3rds out.
the bore is definitely not as large as the Hammy, but i don’t think thats unusual.
Seems to be Rudallesque, but no makers mark. It is marked ‘London Improved’, with a crown above the letters. Seller sold it as a Hawkes and Son and it looks like one.
Silver lip-plate, with silver rings/washers on the note holes.
It looks to have been re-paded and re-corked.
It looks like cocus/rosewood, not sure. Highly polished finnish.
Cracked head, and slide barrel, looks like i’ll have to remove metal work.
Cracks on a couple of the tenons, cracks are slight, I’m not sure how far under the cork they go.
The shellac under the silver seems to be giving way and looks like the silver needs to be lifted and re-set.
I have manged to get a tune out of it with use of Beeswax, I had to find out if it played well and I’m very happy with it.
I’d appreciate it if anyone could help me identify this Flute.
cheers
Andy
Hi,
Maybe you can post a photo, as we cannot access the eBay sale anymore.
Is this the flute that came with a Hawkes case, but wasn’t the original flute?
What I do with those pesky air leaks under the ferrles, just put a soldering iron on them and re-melt the shellac, that will get them to seal. I had that problem once, couldn’t find the air leak, it was under the ferrel…
Hi Jon,
I’ll post some pictures when I get a chance.
The seller told me he found the flute during a house clearance, there was n case with it but there was an original Hawkes and Son instruction leaflet with fingering positions etc.
Thanks
Andy
London Improved D
Can anyone give me info on this Flute
Thanks
Andy
andy, i have a very similar flute.
mine is block mount, but other wise looks just like this one.
it’s very responsive and nice to play, nice oval embouchure, and i always though it to be some Nicholson type flute.
Thanks Eilam,. intersting thing about this flute is the original docs from hawkes and Son.
I think it will sound nice when completed, I can swap the head over for my Hammy.
Andy
I have a couple of these instruments they arent Hawkes and Son, mines has the improved London and crown logo. i was told they were made on license by Samuel Barnett or Barnett Samuel
Thanks David.
I don’t suppose you know on licence from who.
How do your 2 play, block or pin mounted.
Andy
The 2 i have are pin mounted i dont usually venture into block or 8 key if i can help. These flutes play brill all notes as clear as a bell and strong. All old well made flutes i have played play as good as any modern flutes i have played and usually dont cost a fifth of the price.
Im not sure who they were licensed from i was told by a friend that has the largest collection of flutes in Ireland that it B Samuel Dulcett that was a prominent maker of the day.
David
The 2 i have are pin mounted i dont usually venture into block or 8 key if i can help. These flutes play brill all notes as clear as a bell and strong. All old well made flutes i have played play as good as any modern flutes i have played and usually dont cost a fifth of the price.
Im not sure who they were licensed from i was told by a friend that has the largest collection of flutes in Ireland that it B Samuel Dulcett that was a prominent maker of the day.
David