I bought it because it was so unexpensive. But I then discovered that it’s made of cocuswood and real sterling silver, I wasn’t expecting that. I’m quite sure there is a maker’s name but it’s unreadable at the moment, but I can read some numbers on the side (209, and a 4 below it). There is a lot of work done on the tone holes, undercut on the left and “overcut” on the right. Compared to my other piccolo (an ebonite Rose Morris made in 1978) the bore and tone holes are much bigger.
It needs some work but it plays really well, at A=440hz.
Perhaps there isn’t much in its apparece that suggests a specific maker, but maybe it does say something to some of you…?
I’ll be happy even with indications on the period and provenance.
Thank you
Good odds on Italian, I’d say, Lorenzo - in an Austro-German style as usual - though it could be Germanic. Those Rampone catalogues on Rick Wilson’s site may help. Nice hit! Congrats. I saw it but wasn’t attracted by the metal head and winged embouchure Ebonite lip-plate.
It wasn’t playable because one pad was missing. The tenon might be replaced but maybe not. It’s probably still leaking from some key now, and also from the lip plate, but it still plays down to D, and quite nicely also, even if not at its full potentian.
Jem, I’m not sure the lip plate is in ebonite. I mean, it looks like blackwood but the grain might just be rough ebonite, though it doesn’t smell like burned rubber and there is a crack on it (goes to the lower part of the embouchure hole).
Tomorrow I’ll clean it and try to see if I can find the mark…
Oh well, thank you I.D.10-t for that link, I guess you’re right
“eso” may actually be “esc”, from Erwin Oesch, and “as” may be part of Basler (or Basel).
It must be Erwin Oesch senior, and made before 1970. The serial number is 209/4.
I didn’t get exactly how the serial number works though:
Erwin Oesch: «Wir wechseln unsere Seriennummer jeweils an Fasnacht. Im Moment markieren wir die Instrumente mit der Nummer 41 (Fasnacht 06- Fasnacht 07). Demzufolge dürfte ein Instrument mit den Zahlen 299/5, wenn ich richtig gerechnet habe, ca. 1970 entstanden sein. So genau ist das nicht zu eruieren, da mein Herr Papa es mit der Nummerierung nicht so genau genommen hat. Ab Serie 11 (76-77 und Beginn meiner Aera) kann man sich absolut auf den jeweiligen Jahrgang abstützen.»
Anyone familiar with German willing to help?
EDIT: oh, I think I got it now. It must be made around 1969/1970
Erwin Oesch: We change our serial numbers every year at Mardi Gras. At the moment we mark our instruments with the number 41 (2006-07). So an instrument with the numbers 299/5 should have been made around 1970, if my calculations are correct. It can’t be determined exactly, since my father was not always so careful with the numbering. Starting from Series 11 (1976-77, and the beginning of my era), the respective year is absolutely reliable.
Oesch-piccolos come in many varieties The prices range between CHF 390 - and approximately CHF 1000 -.
If it is in fact an Oesch, you could give them a call. Thier number is in the book(and online).
Thanks for pointing out the Oesch name and the instrument making connection. My mother was descended from Swiss Mennonites named Oesch that came to America in the early 18th century. And there was a fifer in that family line as well.
:
