I am fixing up this 8 key English cocuswood flute, that I won on ebay.
The mystery of the flute is that it has a very narrow bore. The bore at the top of the cone is 17.4mm, even the Nickolson flutes (as Dave M. could verify) is about 17.8mm. The tone hole measurement from C# to Eb (Terry Mcgee’s research) fits with the A=430 tuning, but with the narrow bore, which is found in A=460 tuning it makes a interesting flute.
unfortunantly the headjoint is missing, so I have to make a new one, also the linkage going to the C key needs to be replaced.
Rigging it up with another headjoint, the flute is quite loud and has a strong Low D. Should be a nice flute when it’s finished.
Just thought I would show a work in progress…
(This is also the only way I can afford a 8 key flute!)
Jon
Looks very nice. I would have expected it to be more like 435 as are many of mine. They all play at 440 if required, though.I don’t know why people worry so much !
What is the foot measurement ?
Any marks under the keys ?
Now you are into forging keys, can I have some, please ?
(You seem to have half of the C key, so it isn’t so bad ! ).
I would have expected it to be more like 435 as are many of mine. They all play at 440 if required, though.I don’t know why people worry so much !
You are probably right, about the 435. Why worry, be happy.
What is the foot measurement ?
142 mm. Flat foot syndrome…
Any marks under the keys ?
Nothing under the keys. Does the key work look like anything you have seen? I think it is just your “working class flute”
Now you are into forging keys, can I have some, please ?
Kind of a slow learning curve. Still getting my tools together, dapping block and punches, hammers etc. (lots of bits and pieces) I will keep you in mind…
The flute spent a lot of it’s life probably in the attic, by the ocean, as the keys were pitted, nickel silver, and the brass springs were corroded off.
Do any of your flutes have a conical bore that starts at 17.4/17.5 mm?
Jon
When I said bottom measurement I meant the bore. We can’t know the taper otherwise, not that it will do me any good !
The keys look like so many of the period. Wylde, Willis and so on. Pity we don’t see the C keys from the top.
The flattened rings look unusual , though, especially, I imagine if it should be early.
I shall ask Mr Wilkes when he is up if he wants an apprentice.
I have before me an identical footjoint which the flutemaster says is Wylde. ( Identical except for that unusal little cutaway at the top of the second block up ).
If you give me your email address I can send detailed shots of the bit you have missing which should make things easier.
You won’t need all that fancy gear to make and whop on the missing bit !
This looks like a pretty close match!
Thanks Andrew, gives me something to go on. Now I know how the C key linkage was made, and you know how the block was shaped.
“It’s the grasshopper knees!”
Jon
