Hi guys. I need a skilled flute repairer who has very low prices and little wait and preferably lives in the north-western half of Europe. Does anyone know of any? I’ve got an antique, looks English made (with my very limited knowledge) 8-key flute. I think it’s Cocus wood, it’s got blockmounted keys and it’s in concert pitch. It needs extensive repairs, the head is badly cracked, there is a half block missing, the keys and everything is in pretty poor condition, but it’s surely not un-repairable. I can’t find any maker tags or serials anywhere on the flute or in the case. Seems like a nice flute tough if put in playing condition. It’s not mine, I’m holding it for an old fellow who’s an instrument collector, can’t imagine he’d be willing to pay very much for the repairs, but I thought I’d give it a shot since it’s painfull to see such a nice flute just laying around and collecting dust.
Any help would be appreciated, also if you have any questions about the flute, I’d be happy to answer as best as I can, although I don’t know much about it yet.
Anyone finding a gifted mentally defective maker/ restorer (Asperger’s Syndrome ? ) like you describe can quickly make a good collection or a fortune.
How could such work be done cheaply and quickly?
Do you want a new cocus headjoint, or will the mean uninterested owner settle for a repair for a small fee ?
It is nothing but a wild goose chase, with nothing in it for you !
( But do send a photograph, out of interest. I have quite a few flutes like you describe but will have to do them myself !)
Well, I know that what I’m asking for is probably quite impossible, I’m merely looking for the best alternatives that comes closest to what I said.
Thanks for the pm Marcus. I’ll look into it.
And Andrew, I’ll try to get some photo’s for you, problem is that I don’t have a digital camera myself, all I have readily available is a lousy webcam, and the pics from that one will just not do. I’ll try to get some real photo’s later and send them to you. BTW, any news on that Wilkes? I’ll give you a call some day so we can have a chat.
But there are some very expensive ones. A violin dealer of my acquaintance is hoping to take me out for lunch, get me drunk, and buy some bargains from me !
Remember that David Levine always seems to be offering a free lunch.
Henke there’s a woodwind repairer (clarinets & oboes) in the north of Sweden who is said to be also very good with wooden flutes and has helped some people out. This man does repairs as I understand and isn’t a flutemaker so he probably can’t make a new headjoint. There was talk about him at a session here last year. Our next session is on Feb 13th, so I’ll ask around then and try and get a name, Henrik Norbeck, the ABC/flute bloke, may know of this repairer. As Andrew and others have mentioned though, good probably isn’t cheap, and fast probably isn’t good so…
