Peloubet/Olwell cocuswood D flute, 4 silver salt spoon keys, double ivory rings, unlined cocus headjoint with wooly mammouth tusk end cap, intermediate cut in very good condition. The flute body was made by Chabrier Peloubet , most likely between 1830-1836, as the flute pieces are stamped New York City, and Peloubet moved his factory to New Jersey in 1836. The flute was purchased in the summer of 2009 from Patrick Olwell, who made the perfectly matching headjoint and end cap, recorked the tenons, and repaired an ivory ring. I purchased the flute from Lewis Carlson in January of 2011. Lewis told me that Patrick was very pleased with how well this flute performed with the new headjoint. I am asking $1,000 (insured shipping included) for this flute, and I prefer to restrict the sale to the USA. I have a durable pistol case that I will include with the flute.
I really like this flute, but I have a sensitivity to cocuswood, so rather than just keeping it in its plastic box, I decided to offer it for sale. The flute plays for me at A=440 hertz with the headjoint pushed in close to the flute body. Low D plays strongly and without much effort. The key pads are not new, but they seal well with no problems. This is a very easy flute to play, as the finger holes are on the smaller side and are easy to cover. Some of Peloubet’s flutes are in the National Flute Museum and the Dayton C. Miller Flute Collection in the Library of Congress, and these flutes can be seen by searching on his name.
Rob Sharer, a member of the C & F flute forum and an outstanding performer on the Irish flute, commented about this flute: “smallish-holed, cocuswood flute that plays like an Olwell. It’s lovely to look at, as well. I got a cracking sound out of it, and it’s really comfortable in the hands”.
A short history of Chabrier Peloubet: Chabrier’s father, Louis Alexande Peloubet, was one of the more colorful and historical men in America’s 19th century musical industry. He was born in France in 1764 and fought in the king’s army during the French Revolution. He was tried and sentenced to death by a revolutionary tribunal but managed to escape to Germany before his execution. While in Germany, Peloubet apprenticed as a musical instrument maker, specializing in wood-wind instruments. In 1803 he immigrated to New York City, where he went into partnership with another French refugee by the name of Monniot. Chabrier Peloubet, having learned instrument making from his father, became visible in New York’s musical industry in about 1829. For the first several years he built flutes and other wood-wind instruments, and he often won awards for the instruments that he exhibited. He also made some of the finest melodeons and cabinet organs. Chabrier died in 1885.
