Does anyone know anything about these flutes? I think he used to work for R&R.
Listed in NLI London, 1840-60, listed as flute maker in directories 1844-59. two addresses given. Flute in the DCM collection. No mention of a connection with R&R.
Terry
Thanks Terry, I’ve just bought a rather nice George French 8 key cocus wood flute by French I’ll do some measurements etc after Christmas, together with the Wylde I recently purchased.
Harry
Is it the bingham one? Nice looking flute can we see some more, better pictures? How does it compare to your new wylde. Take care pat
Yes Pat it’s the Bingham one. I’m still evaluating it, trying to find my embouchure etc, but having played it for a day or two has really improved my playing on my Garry Somers Pratten, a flute which continues to amaze me!!
Just got a G. French flute off an e-bay purchase in quite rough shape: missing crown and foot ring, frozen slide, cracked barrel, (2) broken springs, (2) cracked GS rings, and missing C & C# keys. Can’t tell if it is cocus or grenadilla just yet as it is still filthy as well. It is faintly marked G. French, London under a crown stamp on the barrel, first joint and foot. Proportions, key style, hole layout of the flute body are virtually identical to the Wood & Ivy flute I’m almost done restoring (though the wide rings on the W&I are much more attractive and functional IMHO). Hope this one turns out as nice as the W&I did as it needs more work than any antiques I’ve restored so far. Not sure about making new foot keys, and not looking forward to freeing up the slide, but the W&I had a frozen slide as well and I was able to sort it out. Love to see a photo of yours to see how it compares.
I have a 8 key flute Made by French. It is a nice Rudall sytle flute.