I got my all African-blackwood, keyless Olwell late last year but can’t find any serial number on it, just the Olwell name. Any ideas before I bother the Olwells?
BTW, it’s a great instrument. If this flute was a horse I’d describe it as an intelligent, responsive, patient “teacher”, a well bred, fine creature with great capabilities. It’s loud, sweet, pure and assertive each note promising various subtleties of sound. I’d love to compare it’s voice to one of the Olwell’s Rudall types.
I know enthusiasm is frowned on here, (en = of; thuse = God), but offer this personal experience for what’s it’s worth anyway …
Please let me know about that registration number.
Just remove the end cap from the head joint. The serial number is stamped on the end of the head joint tube. This, of course, is just to confuse new owners. The bodies are not numbered.
Bear in mind that Jonathon Swift, the good Dean of Saint Patrick’s Church, Dublin, referred to Puritans and various ‘holy-roller’ type sectarians, as Enthusiasticks. His take was that while they claimed to be filled with the ‘Holy Spirit’, they were full of somethin.’ . .certainly themselves.
Herb, thanks for your help. But I’ve looked inside the end cap and down the tube with a flashlight and magnifying glass and can’t find anything stamped there. There’s a hand written, silver coloured number 3 on the end of the “cork”, that’s all. Maybe I have a rare Olwell without a serial number stamped on it, like one of those valuable misprinted postage stamps?
An Seanduine: OUCH! You mean hubris? I pray not … (heh, heh). I thought that provocative etymology would be taken out of my intended context. Serves me right.
Was this flute new when you got it? I have two Olwells without serial numbers, both from early in his career, but I thought he’d been numbering all of them for 20 years or more. The serial number of my newer flute is hard to see, as it’s stamped in pretty small numerals, which would be even harder to see if it was blackwood rather than box.
Well, yes, that is of course the reference. That wasn’t my question. Let me clarify: If enthusiasm (of all things) if frowned on here, it’s simple - tell the frowners to shove it (well, but nicely, please ). I’ve done so myself, and may yet again; at a party, no one likes a turd in the punchbowl. As for invoking the etymology: this is an egregious stretch of rationalisation that in effect implicates the moderatorship in said offense, which isn’t true, and bless my heart, I take it a bit personally. “Enthusiasm” (“enthuse” is a back-formation, BTW, never originally an actual word in English, not that it matters nowadays) does not mean anything it used to, so the moderators would never go so far with a needless exercise in the dustily bookish like that in the name of oppressing you. We have our own mad evil skillz without that already, thankyouverymuch. And in case you didn’t know, “egregious” used to be a compliment, akin to how we usually use “outstanding”. It ain’t now. We prefer to operate in the up-to-date. It’s so much easier for everyone, don’t you think?
Sorry - if what I’m ranting about was all actually supposed to be humor, spank me and call me Grinch.
Well, Nanohedron, you have the distinction of being the first man to ask me to spank him, Grinch or no … Thank you, but, er, no thank you.
And for that matter, not just first male, not even any female. Never been asked, never thought of doing it; too hotly busy when the opportunity might otherwise have suggested it …
Given the proper time and place, I have found it to be actually a rather jolly pursuit. I usually don’t wait to be asked, though; surprise has its benefits.
Since when are us flute makers required to stamp serial numbers on the instruments we make?
I’d say, don’t worry about it. Its how it plays that is the most important. Not how big the number on it is. Otherwise, we’ll start by numbering the first ones at 1,000,000,000,000.
Then everyone will think you’re numbering them in binary, and the first 4095 flutes (sorry, I mean 111111111111 flutes) were duds that went to keep your home fires burning.
Aw c’mon, Casey. Of course it’s optional. But useful for posterity. Both we and our instruments are only just passing through …
Patrick says the serial number should be under the endcap, stamped onto the rim of the headjoint itself, not the endcap wood itself. He says if there wasn’t one there it’s possible they forgot it in the process of sending it out of the country. “If we forgot, we apologize,” he says. He suggests I can always get it stamped when I visit their “lovely corner of the continent” someday, or if the flute goes back for any repair/maintenance.
So there we are, mystery solved. The flute now has a maker’s anecdote attached to it …
Since when?
). I’ve done so myself, and may yet again; at a party, no one likes a turd in the punchbowl. As for invoking the etymology: this is an egregious stretch of rationalisation that in effect implicates the moderatorship in said offense, which isn’t true, and bless my heart, I take it a bit personally. “Enthusiasm” (“enthuse” is a back-formation, BTW, never originally an actual word in English, not that it matters nowadays) does not mean anything it used to, so the moderators would never go so far with a needless exercise in the dustily bookish like that in the name of oppressing you. We have our own mad evil skillz without that already, thankyouverymuch. And in case you didn’t know, “egregious” used to be a compliment, akin to how we usually use “outstanding”. It ain’t now. We prefer to operate in the up-to-date. It’s so much easier for everyone, don’t you think?