Can you recommend a flute repairer?

Irish Flute
1

Hope to find someone local ish who would repair a Boosey co 8 keyed flute.
Has a crack along the tuning barrel bit ( whatever it’s proper name is).
The low C and C# keys are missing the cups pads and mechanisms (beyond the finger keys).
And it needs re corked.
Hope to find someone local, on the same continent or at least the same hemisphere.
Cheers tooters
James

2

You might want to get in contact with George Ormiston as he is one of the few Scottish makers. I don’t know if he does repairs or restorations but I’d say he’ll be able to point you in the right direction if he doesn’t.

3

May be Norman Holmes could be your man. He is a forum member and did a brilliant repair job in a Rudall and Rose belonging to a good friend of mine. The flute looks like new now. Check this:
http://www.holmesmcnaughton.com

The name of Chris Wilkes came to my mind too:
http://wilkesflutes.co.uk/Site/Home.html
He lives a bit further from you that Holmes, but in UK anyway.

Good luck
S.

4

I would recommend Forbes Christie, a Scotsman, here in New Scotland, but I guess we’re a little too far away. If you don’t find anyone over there, contact Forbes over here. He’s great. http://www.windwardflutes.com

5

Fixing a barrel crack is routine stuff. Replacing missing keys is a bit more awkward, especially if they are German Silver rather than sterling.
The names already mentioned should be able to help. John Dodd in Ireland has a good reputation. I could do the barrel and general overhaul, but unless I could find something similar to cannibalise/adapt, I’d be stuck for the missing keys.

6

I’ll second Jem’s recommendation of John Dodd in Ireland.

7

Andy May (no, not that Andy May) in Edinburgh does flute repairs. If he’s too far away, he might know someone nearer you. P.M. me if you want his phone number.
m.d.

8

Hi Folks.
Thanks for the feedback.
Have had Any May recommended to me previously and his cotact details are available off his web site.
Would love for Terry MacGee to have given the flutes a once over since he made one of them. For which I hold him in very high regard.
But parting with ones flute seems uncomfortable enough without sending them to another hemisphere of this blue ball we live on.
Edinburgh I can live with.
Cheers and happy tooting.
James