hawkes and son flute

Irish Flute
1

i have played many flutes, hy potter, boosey and co, butler and rudall carte and i think hawkes and son come are as good as any but dont get the respect they deserve, i would like to know what others think.

David

2

hawkes had the benefit of the research and work done before him.
That being Rudall/Rose, Clementi (of Nicholson fame), Boosey (who benefitted from Hudson), Prowse and many others.

They are good flutes…
but not enough to sustain him.
He was eventually “eaten up” by the larger, more affluent Boosey firm in – i believe – the 1920s, who eventually did the same with Rudall/Carte not long after.

I own a Hawkes & Son flute in ebonite. It’s a very good flute.

Paddy Ward is, I think, the only maker currently making a Hawkes model based on two of his own. He has two (one in D and one in Eb, both fine players)

dm

3

I would also rate the Hawkes and Son flutes right at the top. I have two of them - both cocus wood and in D. Anyone want to trade a D for an E flat?

Dave Copley
Loveland, Ohio

4

I remember that Carl Bell of the UK makes an Eb flute based upon Hawkes and Son. Here is his website: http://www.carlbell.co.uk/9930/10038.html

I’ve never seen nor tried one of Mr. Bell’s flutes. But they appear interesting. :roll:

Keep Makin Music!

Jordan

5

I’ve got a Hawkes and son that I’m just running in. I haven’t done loads on it but it does seem promising. Glad to hear the good reports especially the top ranking from David Q.
Terry McGee has pointed out on a previous post the Hawkes and Son used a narrower bore than Pratten’s, somewhere mid point between Pratten and Rudall bore.
At this early stage I think I can give my Hawkes a slightly wider range of voices than my Bossey.
What’s the feeling with others, would they think these flutes have a blend of Pratten and Rudall qualities?
David Q, I’m wondering what qualities it is that you prefer in the Hawkes?

Kevin

6

To the question for gorjuswrex the hawkes i have are from the Crown A z range which have a large bore and are really loud. These flutes play the bottom register well and have a better tone in my opinion than the Hy potter and boosey flutes. The only simple system flute i have played which matched it for tone was a rudall carte 6 key 3piece ebonite in Bflat/A this was a good instrument. I also have an ebonite hawkes excelsior sonorous class piccolo which is a dream to play this came from colchester barracks an was never played so it is in really good condition.

I am currently looking for old hawkes flutes so anyone got any to swap or trade let me know.

7

Hey David,

I just remembered Terry McGee’s Bore Chart “Classical Bores I have known”. http://www.mcgee-flutes.com/bores.htm

This chart shows relative bore diameters of several famous makers vs. the distance down the flute bore. A Hawkes flute is included in the graph. What is interesting is the relative complexity of the Hawkes bore.

Just thought you might be interested.

Jordan