I keep ending up in other topics, taking about F flutes. I wonder, in particular, of any of the respected makers of the 19th century, if they made many, if so, how common. I know that there are plenty of “band” flutes so I suppose I’m asking if there are many eight key mini-Rudall Rose, Pratten type things around - of this type; F has serial number 13220
I know only of a couple of F Pratten, ostensibly a mini standard version and probably made for “bands”, however it’s essentially a mini-classical flute of the 19th Century (but could (probably) have been made in the last century). I’m not certain that I’m making the distinction clear, and there may not be one! - I don’t need a re-run of the band flute lectures, just maybe an indication of any mini-classical versions. For example I am not aware of any block/saddle mounted Rudall’s similar to the F Pratten’s pictured above.
Mmm, well, your thread isn’t quite what I expected, Norman - rather narrower in focus! None the worse for that, though - I think I’ll start another for the more general F flute stuff that was arising in Lorenzo’s Frankie Gavin thread…
As for this specific area of exploration, of course I have my 8-key pin-mounted Rudall Carte & Co, but like you I haven’t (that I recall) seen even a picture of a block-mounted Rudall of any period, though I have seen Bb treble band flutes with block mounts (but not 8-keyers!) from the firm.
I think I remember a Boxwood Pratten F for sale once on an American dealers site that no longer exists. I think the site
was called the Heather Breeze or something similar. There was not a lot of information on the site and they were not
around long. I think it was an eight key and was listed a Pratten but I could be wrong as it was a good few years ago. I think its the only boxwood Pratten I’ve ever seen or heard of. Besides the band flutes I’ve seen a few one key Firth and Pond and other American types and a few German eight keys.
I think years ago there was once photos of a tiny f eight key thing that was owned by Andrew of the old chiff days. An octave up
but I could be wrong again as it was years and years ago.
Here is the thread that mentions the Pratten: https://forums.chiffandfipple.com/t/a-study-of-some-nice-old-flutes/27735/1
if that works,
I will try to find the site on the way back machine thingy though I’ve ever used it.
I am searching for the eight key f piccolo I think it was rudall as well
though this is all from my very faulty memory of old chiff threads
Here is the thread that has the picture of the Rudall F piccolo eight keyed.
If they made this surely they have made an f flute block mounted as well at some
point.
Sorry about off topic f piccolo not what we’re on about here but still cool and if they
made a small why not a larger one.
Here is what I get for the way back machine and no images. http://web.archive.org/web/20050215223541/http://www.heatherbreeze.com/sales.html
It must have been the Boosey and five brass keys
so not exactly what we are looking for here as it was probably a band and not mini classical but cool stuff none the less.
Maybe Migoya can tell us more
Patrick
there are actually a few Rudalls in F that were block mount…including at least two that were serial numbered in the concert flute sequence.
One of them was owned by our long-departed Andrew Kirby, sold after his death, the new owner a mystery. I thought perhaps Mr. Wilkes, but no. Andrew’s sister likely would know. It was an 8key cocus with ivory rings. I know this because it was one of the few times Andrew beat me to a Rudall! And only the measurement length gave it away as an F flute. I still have a photo of it inthe files.
I wasn’t deliberately trying to exclude discussion about your rather lovely F pillar mounted RC&Co. It is interesting to note, as I predicted, a dearth of flutes as per my original description so this limited thread is at least proving a point, that there aren’t many of that type available to us trad-players. As I say, my Pratten’s F is serial number 13000. (I know that this is not likely to mean that this applies only to F Flutes) so I guess that there are more of these somewhere.
It’s cool, Norman - I think it’s better this way. When I’ve a few minutes I’ll start a separate thread on general F-ery - sounding lengths etc. I wasn’t taking the hump.
I love the 8-key Rudall piccolo in F that dunnp linked for us! Good work, Patrick! I’ve a record of a boxwood and ivory block-mounted 4-key F RR&C piccolo that went through on eBay a while back which I’ll dig out for that putative other thread. Let’s keep this one for 8-keyers, block or pin.
Did we ever find out what the Pratten was? Mr. Migoya? was it boxwood and was it fully keyed or more of a band flute?
I have a feeling if it was boxwood it would not have been eight keyed at that time?
picture of the F piccolo tell us more about the spoon than the “piccolo”? The Pratten below doesn’t look too different in scale, depending on which spoon you use to scale.
I’m asking - is the F Piccolo an F Flute? - I note after posting this originally that the title of the embedded jpeg is rudallwithteaspoon or something similar, so I’ve probably answered my own question. Fancy that, a F piccolo with a foot extension!!
Well, the file title does state “teaspoon”, FWTW, and although these things are a) visually subjective and b) design variable, the proportions of that spoon (bowl to handle etc) look more teaspoon than dessert or table to me.
I found it by looking through loads of old piccolo threads and remembering that it belonged to Andrew. I remember thinking I’d never seen aything that small and that complex before at the time. Why it stuck I’d guess. Maybe Jon C would remember more as he would have been in contact with Andrew or at least got the pic from him?
Anyway Sorry its not what we’re on about really but still very cool.
