Advice or help

Irish Flute
1

I have an eight-key flute made in 1882 with a missing short F key. The wood block was crunched when I got the flute, but has been expertly repaired and is ready for a key. I have plugged the tone hole and I had a usable key from a matching piccolo for aesthetic purposes, but it obviously won’t do the job. Until recently, I haven’t really cared because the long F key works just fine (and is the preferred key of the two IMO, anyway). However, I recently had some work done that makes me realize that this superb instrument is completely restored to being like new, except that I’m missing the one key.

So how do I get my hands on a key, and do I have to actually send the flute to someone in order to have it fitted?

It looks just like the eight-key that Glenn Watson makes

http://www.watsonflutes.com/products.html

I emailed him a few weeks ago, but have not gotten a reply.

What should I do?

2

Talk to, PM, whatever, JonC.

3

:smiley: HEY JON!!! How are those keys coming???


That would be our forum member Jon C.: http://chiffboard.mati.ca/privmsg.php?mode=post&u=522

4

I’ve sent Jon C. a PM, but he gets around and will probably see this post, anyway. Thanks to both of you for the suggestion!

5

Has Jon started to make keys now?


Alan, it should be a “relatively” simple task to make one by hand if you have tool… and er, the practice.

If I only knew where the hell my dapping set went!!! :swear:

They aint cheap.

I hate to think it but one of my neighbors may have nicked it.

6

I loves ya, Peri, but I won’t entrust my flute to someone with a collection of anvils. What can I say - it makes me nervous.

7

To paraphrase… When your problem is too many anvils.

Every solution is a new hammer!


My AnOA HamOA are currently in remission.

:stuck_out_tongue:


I see you survied the return flight..btw.

:slight_smile:

8

Hi,
shouldn’t be a problem, to hand forge a new short F key for you, Been there done that, got the T shirt! (pretty cocky considering that is the only key I’ve made) And I still have my dapping block set, and only one anvil, which is a antique 100 pounder that was made in England. :smiley:
I will PM you with further info…
http://chiffboard.mati.ca/viewtopic.php?t=44204&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0

9

Glenn Watson isn’t doing any repair or restoration work at present.
He’s too busy making Watson flutes.

10

One of which will be coming to me in late August :smiley: :sunglasses: