There just isn’t enough time in the day to play all my flutes, especially since I’m partial to my Gallagher and Reviol, so I’m listing the following for sale:
Hammy Hamilton keyless Blackwood D flute with fitted locking case–like-new condition $950 plus $25 postage and insurance.
2, Fred Rose keyless Bublinga D flute–like-new condition. $250 plus $15 postage and insurance.
Swindler keyless Cocobolo D flute–like-new condition, in wooden case. $200 plus $20 postage and insurance.
Healy Blackwood D piccolo with hard case–like-new condition. $250 plus $15 postage and insurance.
U. S. sales only, please. PM me if you are interested.
Just a quick note to say that I’ve known Clara for a while now (via email), and she takes very good care of her flutes, and keeps them in top condition-if she says they’re like new, they most likely are. And she’s very easy to deal with-a good safe bet for a transaction.
Only thing is, you have to catch her between gigs-I understand she will be quite busy the next couple of days, so if you don’t hear right back, don’t think she hasn’t gotten your PM-she will answer you!
By the way, I believe she said the Hammy is only a few years old-so that’s a pretty good deal on a newer Hammy, considering the last few have gone all above $1100 or so because of the high exchange rate, and demand. Edit: Hammy’s are now $1250 new, with a good wait for one too-oh, and add another $100 for the case!
I got the Swindler flute, thank you, and in first class condition, too.
It’s of a rare design, internally of tapered head joint and of cylindrical body, ala Boehm, and keyless. It’s also quite well made, a fine piece of craftsmanship.
I now have two of them, Swindler flutes, and I’m interested in any information regarding David Swindler’s flute production, limited as that might be, please.
The reason for my interest being that these flutes play so darned well, my thanks to David Swindler!
It’s a fine one (I can even play it softly) and MsC is always a pleasure!
David Swindler’s tale seems to be one of woe!
His home and shop got clobbered by the weather nearly a year ago.
Lightning took out his computer. He’s been off the web ever since.
Then he was in and out of the hospital.
He returned my payment for his first Rudall model flute, last spring. Said he had a working prototype, but wanted to iron out the tuning in the 3rd octave, before going into production and didn’t know when that would be. Promissed to send me the first flute when it was done. That’s the last I’ve heard from him.
I too am very impressed with David’s work and was looking forward to seeing much more of it! I’m hoping he just needs time to mend.
Other than in their basic design, ala Boehm, the two Swindler flutes I have are not identical, but they both play quite well, and maybe better than that.
From what little I’ve gathered, it seems that David Swindler got the design from Terry McGee, of McGee flute fame, and that DS didn’t make all that many flutes.
So, to you, and to anybody reading this, I’d appreciate any information regarding Swindler flutes, please.
BTW, Jordan, should you ever consider it, I’d also be interested in that high D Healy flute you got, please. I have a couple of high D Sweets, and earplugs are useful!
It’s of a rare design, internally of tapered head joint and of cylindrical body, ala Boehm, and keyless.
I have an original one of these, 8-key, no name - plays very well indeed, though a different tone to the conical bore flutes, less reedy, more open and with a good embouchure hole it’s a strong player - towards the Pratten end of the flutes normally discussed round here and the stretches for right and left hands are similar to the Pratten. I say a good embouchure hole because the blowing edge on my original was a bit rounded off from age and wear but I’ve made several flutes based on this model and they turned out very well. They’re also less work to make than conical flutes which makes them somewhat cheaper. Many of these originals are high-pitched but mine actually plays well at A 440. For me at least they feel quite different in the hands because the body doesn’t taper off like the conical flutes so they are quite thick to hold initially if you’re used to the conical - bodied flutes which I suppose could be an ergonomic advantage for some players but a disadvantage for others - while making no difference at all for most players…The E is a bit softer than on the conical flutes though but not enough to be a problem - for me anyway. I sometimes wonder why there aren’t more of these around nowadays…but I suppose since there weren’t so many of them made originally they weren’t picked up in the subsequent traditional music revival.
A good review of the Swindler flute, and accurate, thank you!
Apparently it’s true that David Swindler didn’t make all that many flutes, and, as they are of a less common design, perhaps the flute playing public were largely denied an opportunity to try them. Then again, they’re not exactly “trad”, and perhaps that could be a factor, too.
As an interesting flute, however, I’d like to see some documentation of the history of DS’s flute making, just for the record. After all, maybe at some time in the future somebody could discover one of his flutes and wonder, “Gee, where’d this come from?”
The Hammy has been sold. The Rose flute is still available. It is a great lower-priced flute for someone who is considering a beautiful wooden flute. Thanks, Sillydill, for posting the photo of it.
Bet ya know what a Hammy looks like.
