There’s an Eb Hamilton 6 key flute for sale on E-bay now. Location Plesio, CO, Italy:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/S-C-Hamilton-Eb-6-Keyed/303842053706?hash=item46be65ce4a:g:iF4AAOSwrKNf8yAt
His flute will only get fewer and fewer.I don’t know if the price is worth it.But this flute doesn’t look very good from the outside.
Looks a little dry, doesn’t it. Needs some oiling. Inside as well, probably.
This is a very interesting Hamilton flute.
It has a squared embouchure hole, a fully lined head joint, leaf springs, adjustable crown, and a makers stamp on the tuning slide.
And being Rudall style, it must have been a custom build.
These all are elements that he didn’t use in his later flutes.
I’d be curious to know the date of this flute, and who it was made for.
Beautiful instrument.
And no tenon reinforcements.
I wonder though how often you’d get to use an €3600 6-key Eb flute outside your home? Were there many Eb sessions before covid-19? Perhaps if you’re making a CD, or playing a gig?
For €3811 you can buy A Stephen Morvan 8-key D flute from the Irish flute store:
I think which key is not important.But this is a Hamilton flute.
“I think which key is not important”. I doubt very much that many people will agree with that statement. The opportunities for playing that flute in a session are extremely limited.
“But this a Hamilton flute”. And no doubt an excellent instrument, probably bound for someone’s “collection”.
I think which key is not important.But this a Hamilton flute. Quifan Zhu
I disagree the key is very important if you’re taking the flute to a session, or to play Irish traditional music with other musicians at a gig. They may not wish, or want, to play tunes in Eb. No problem of course if you’re playing solo, or the other musicians have agreed to play/ or tune to Eb.
I guess most of the members in this forum have more than one flute.Why not choose a proper flute to play with others?
I guess most of the members in this forum have more than one flute.Why not choose a proper flute to play with others? Quifan Zhu
Yes, I’m sure the Hamilton Eb flute is a fine instrument, and whoever buys it already has a D flute. If you really like playing in Eb then go for it. I suspect though that the owner is selling it as it doesn’t get played much.
I asked Hammy about this Eb flute.
Here’s his reply:
“That flute was in fact a standard Eb…of its time.
It’s a really early one, sometime in the mid 80s, so at that time I was doing most of the features that you’ve mentioned as standard.
It is a R & R model, and would have a fully lined head. I think it dates from before when I used to put a number on them.
Seems to be in fairly good condition, although the touch of the long F seems bent…a very minor thing.”