I guess it is time to offer my Cocus French Styled 8-keyed Hawkes up for adoption. SOLD!
The flute head is stamped:
Hawkes & Co
33 Soho Square
London
Hawkes was at this address from 1862-1875, so the flute was made during this period.
This is a very atypical Hawkes flute, being modeled in the French Style (elegant post-mounted keywork, small holes, fully lined sockets, unlined head sans tuning slide, plus the unique socket and tennon on the head).
This flute has an especially sweet voice and the response is so fast I have to slow myself down while playing it. It plays excellent crisp ornamentations! It plays at A=445 MHz for me with the slide shut. It also has the most comfortable keywork I’ve ever used.
The flute’s previous owner repaired a crack in the head (over the socket) and turned down the shoulder and placed a wide band over it to support it (see picture below). The flute is fully functional and all keys work, except for the bottom C key which has a lazy spring and bad pad. The screw holding the rod for the bottom C# and C keys has a boogered up head and I haven’t been able to remove it. The offending screw still has a fair slot in the head, but I didn’t want to mess it up further, so I left it alone.
I am not sure what the value of this special flute would be. But with the added ring, I think it is relegated to a “Player” status rather than “Collector” and has been priced as such.
Please make inquiries via PM or Email, trades and offers will be considered.
