Flute Identification again

Irish Flute
1

I’ve just tried this but it didn’t seem to work so here goes again

Can anyone offer any comments on my two wooden flutes relating to origin

The first is a dark wood 8 key flute marked FW Moffatt, London. Dates to around 1820-30 I think. Its very ornate with decorated silver alloy rings, top cork and embouchure. I can’t find out anything about the maker. I’m thinking that because it is so ornate it may have been made for a special order.

The second is my Ebay bargain. Its a boxwood French flute in F marked Thibouville Noblet. Think it was made around 1860. Again I’m not sure why it is in F - unusual key?

I also have an M&E RR polymer for those every day occasions!!!

Sarah

2

:confused: No info to share? Not anyone?

Oh my M&E has SIX keys not eight. I got muddled somehow!

3

Sorry, Sarah – utterly clueless in these cool old flute matters (frankly, I’m afraid to go there – I could see it becoming yet another avenue of obsession!). Anyway, I’ve heard lots of references to something called Langwill’s; apparently it’s an historical index of flutemakers, marks, models, etc. from the early 18th century on. However, I’ve got no idea how one finds it. Maybe a search of this board for Langwills?

Hope this helps, and good luck! They sound cool!

4

I don’t know if you’ve tried Google:

http://www.google.com/search?q=Thibouville+%26+Noblet&hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&start=10&sa=N

But it throws up a fair bit of information about Thibouville & Noblet. One reference I saw suggest Noblet is still manufacturing woodwind instruments under a parent company (G.LeBlanc corporation).

Hope this helps?

5

Langwill’s seems to be the answer - does anyone out there have access to a copy. I might email the horniman museum and see if they have one. Thanks for pointing me in the right direction.

Sarah (…and I’m going to sort out this profile thingy when I get time… I need a picture oviously!)

6

There was a John William Moffat making flutes in London in 1839. No more detail than that tho.

7

Try this … ?

http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/dcmquery.html

(Dayton C. Miller Flute Collection search page)
(http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/dcmhtml/dmhome.html)

8

Treeshark that’s the man! I think it is JW not FW another typo - didn’t have flute in front of me at the time. Where did you get the info from?

Sarah

9

It is not an altogether negative thing, Sarah, when people can’t read flute stamps.
I have just bought a late T Prowse flute in unused condition from 1850 because the idiot auctioneer insisted that it was by a Mr Pronsel !

10

Andrew, that’s a great story!
About twelve years ago, I went to get some Koa wood for a jewelery box I was making.
The owner of the store insisted that the piece I picked was Cherry (Koa and Cherry, is like Cocus and Blackwood in price and character), so I bought the whole stack he had for $3 a foot (Koa was $15 at the time, now Cherry is $7 and Koa $34 for that grade), I put all the money I had on it. Today the pile is dwindling, but I still accent work with it, and really cherish what I have !

11

Sarah, I got it off the web,
http://sfr.ee.teiath.gr/htmSELIDES/Flauto/html/flauto03d.htm
But I think you will need a greek reader!
Rob

12

Langwill :-
John William Moffat Fl 1839 - 1855
Dealer : 1837 - 40 listed as ’ music string coverer’,later ’
woodwind,brass, mil mus. insts.’
MARK: ‘Moffat’
ADDRESS 1839-4520 Swan St. Minorities;1845-50:
29. Minorities; 1850-55: 145 Minorities.

13

Langwill’s actually tries to list every known/documented maker from the Flood on…

At least two sources on line, including Folkers and Powell website. For the east side of the pond, try Tony Bingham in London, the current editor.

It is pricey though, well over $100.

14

Hello, I am the owner of this webpage but I dont have more infos aboute the flute of Sarah … :roll: :slight_smile: