Antique flute identification help!

Irish Flute
1

Hello,

I have family friends who own an antique shop in New England. They found a flute and brought it down to the city for me to have and play. The name (which is VERY faded) reads “Nach H _(?) Meyer, Hannover”. The amazing thing is that the flute is completely crack-free, from what I can see, and even though the corks are worn down and the keywork (9 keys?) needs some work, it plays with a sweet sound!

Any ideas?

Also, are there recommendations for people who might do some restoration work on this instrument?

I have pics, but can’t seem to post them here…help!?

Thank you!

2

I think this might work:

http://www.imagebee.org/viewer.php?id=1185P4220060.JPG

3

I don’t think just one firm made Nach Meyer flutes. Are there any symbols on it? Any English words (it may be an export flute)?

Eric

4

Hmm…no other words or symbols that I can see…

5

Lots of makers will work on old flutes. Jon Cochran, Terry McGee, John Gallagher (did I spell it right), Kara Lochridge (works with Pat Olwell, I’m sure I spelled Olwell right, not sure about Kara’s last name)…or, you can work on it yourself. Recorking is easy, and repadding is only necessary if the key is leaking. If you need more work than that, though, go with a pro unless you’re feeling very brave.

How cool that it’s crack free!

Some of these anonymous (abandon hope of identifying the maker if there’s nothing more on it than you’ve posted) German flutes can play very well, some are terrible - but it sounds like you’ve found a nice playing one. Is it at modern pitch?

Eric

6

Old flutes are neat!

I have one that almost like that one.

Same case and same key config but for the low B.

Look on the barrel at the wood around the upper ring. It may say “Germany”.

I’ll guess late model export… its just a guess though. Post WWI?

You may be lucky and find it in tune all the way down.

I have a few Germans now and the one that look like yours is fairly in tune… the others… UGH!

Although I will admit I have its head and barrel on the two section body of a Lecomte and the short foot of some unknown origin.

What the term Frankenflute was just made for… the crazy thing plays great. :laughing:


Yours should clean up real nice.

Don’t expect too much and you’ll be alright.

Remember it hasn’t been played for a long time so treat it like a new instrument and play it in and oil it.

Do get it into a humidified environment asap.

Enjoy!