Any of you Boehm players out there familiar with Deford flutes? I’ve read a bit about Deford’s history as a flutemaker, and understand there are flutes of varying qaulity bearing the Deford name, is this correct?
If so, what’s good about the good one’s and bad about the less good Deford flutes. Also, how might one tell them apart: Serial Number, factory stamp, etc.
Any info would be greatly appreciated.
Loren
Oh, wow. I remember one or two of those … was it E.L. Deford? Anyway, like your info, I have mixed memories about them. I recall being surprised by someone who had a lovely one (French model?), but mostly I think I recall a few not-so-good student models – BUT I’m also thinking they weren’t in great shape, either; I believe were plenty to be found in Louisville pawn shops at one point, which probably gave them an undeserved bad rap.
But hey, if yours is cheap and sounds good and is $50, what have you got to lose? I mean, the joy of metal is that it’s pretty consistent – and pretty easy to fix. A hundred-dollar overhaul, and Bob’s your uncle.
deford flutes were certainly no better or worse than a gemeinhardt or armstrong. haynes or powell they weren’t.
Hey, I think Deford flutes are the early work of Emerson Deford, also the founder of Emerson flutes. There might be some reference to them on an Emerson website. Emerson looks like a really innovative company – they have angled headjoints and some other neat stuff, though I’ve not played any of their flutes. Don’t know if there was any neat stuff going on in the Deford flutes.
Loren:
I have a DeFord flute that I bought about 1977. It is an excellent instrument, and at that time Emerson DeFord was still owner of the company and headquartered in Elkhart IN. He was noted for being an innovator, as I recall.
A few years later I understand that Emerson DeFord sold his company and the “DeFord” name to another instrument maker, who continued to make flutes under that name in Elkhart. I heard that the quality of the instrument was not up to the previous standard.
Emerson DeFord opened a new flute manufacturing operation in another state and produced flutes under the name of “Emerson”. The flutes were the new reincarnation of the original DeFords and quickly gained a good reputation.
Recently I heard that that Emerson DeFord is no longer making the “Emerson” flute, but is back to making flutes under the “DeFord” name.
You might check on Google to see what you can find out about DeFord and his products. He probably has a website of some kind.
Mal
Thanks folks 
I had done some research, and was familiar with most of what has been mentioned in this thread, unfortunately I haven’t really figured out how to sort the good Defords (early, then recent, and possibly some in the middle as well) from the one’s where the quality dropped.
Not a big deal though.
Thanks again to those who replied.
Loren
You may very well get an answer if you post your question on the FLUTE listserv, the web’s nerve-center for Boehm flute geekdom. www.larrykrantz.com
Micah
Heh, heh, I like that 
Thanks Micah.
Loren