I got it in a fit of nostalgia–we played these things in music class back in, oh, about 4th-grade or so (that would be mid '70s). I remember that the music teacher was so dedicated to them that my mother even referred to her as “Miss Flute.” I didn’t do any kind of band or other musical stuff after that–though perhaps this device somehow lodged itself as a subliminal particle in my brain, since in my senior year of college,I started taking lessons on the concert flute and have been playing ever since.
It has absolutely no markings whatsoever.
Would anyone here know anything about the history of these? Who made them? What are they even called? I’d even welcome suggestions for other Web sites or places to look.
Made by the Melody Flute Company of Laurel, Maryland from the 1930s or so through the 70s. I think they were available in C and Bb versions. Mine’s in C; I found it in the back of a music store stockroom in the early 80s.
It is a Melody Flute and it was made for school children’s begining music classes. I have a manual that came with them dated 1940’s so they are at least that old. You can find more info on the web. Today most schools use a recorder in the begining music classes, they’re cheaper.
Cheers:)
Thanks folks! That took, what, like 30 seconds? Amazing…
As with most things, half the battle is knowing what something is called–now I can do more research and maybe dig up a manual to go along with it like yours.