I’ve found me a puzzler of a flute, very mid-19thC-ish that I’m thinking of having restored, but before I commit I’m trying to find out a bit more about its background. At first I thought it was made by Messrs Anonymous & Co, but after applying sunlight, found out a stamp on the foot declaring the flute to have originated from “JA Turner, London”.
Cursory research on my part (er, I emailed the inestimable Mr McGee) suggests the Turner was in fact the dealer, not the maker. According to the NLI, there was a John Turner 1843-52 at 79 and later 84 Leadenhall St and then a J Turner in 1883 at 33 Bishopgate St Within, both of them dealers.
I was wondering if anyone had come across flutes like this before - ones that bear a dealer’s stamp instead of a maker, or could tell me a little more about Turner?
damnation, I’m not going to be able to post that pic properly.
But, if I may be so bold as to say, it looks remarkably similar to Mr McGoya’s Pratten](http://www.home.earthlink.net/~migoya/id87.htm%22%3EPratten) #49. Which is to say, it has eight keys and a similar style of foot key - I shouldn’t imagine that this one’s anywhere near as important, though
I’d also be happy to email pictures to anyone who’s interested.
one piece body? plugs for the bottom keys?
Did you see pictures of the one Terry got on ebay? it’s on his site, and very similar but has pads for the foot keys. I also have one of those “anonymous” Pratten style flutes, seems thats its maid extremely well, and very promising, but it’s being restored so I can’t comment on the tuning. The key pads seem large, and Peter thinks it will have good intonation, so we’ll see.
I’d like to see a picture.
good luck!
eilam
