Hi there,
Thought some of you may be interested in this listing of mine - a 4 keyed boxwood and ivory flute by Potter London. Feel free to contact me with questions VIA the appropriate means within Ebay. Auction ends tomorrow.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3713081935
Thanks.
Very nice flute.
The word “patent,” by the way, applies to the plug keys, not the graded extension on the foot joint (which is supposed to match with the grading on the barrel).
The Patent was from application in 1785.
Whether the flute is indeed Richard Potter is fuzzy and hard to say, although it seems likely. Normally the Potter stamp has a scroll or unicorn head on it. It’s hard to tell from the many photos whether this is there or not. That would help date it better.
Besides, too, Richard Potter stopped making flutes, of course, on his death in 1806. Smart man. Gave his money to his eldest son and his woodwind shop to the next son, William Henry Potter, who went on to become even more famous. Not sure what happened to the family’s first “fortune” and elder son, Richard Huddleston Potter.
Hope this helps sell the flute.
Good luck!
dm
You have me puzzled there .I haven’t a copy of the patent application here but I seem to remember it covering the whole system of foot regulator , graduated slide , and graduated cork indicator , all designed to be co-ordinated by number ,as well as the plugs. I once had one of the 1785 patent flutes ,and it was a real sweetie .It now lives ,I believe in the Windy City .Pity about the awful keys on the present offering .If vendors were better at indicating the pitch of such flutes they might deserve a better price !
Thanks for the info fellas.
I’ve sent pictures of the flute to various ‘experts’, and the concensus was that this is a Richard Potter. I dfidn’t have a clue prior to the research. A chap named Tony Bingham has also had the flute in his hands while he was in Australia a number of years ago. I understand he’s somewhat of an authority on these matters.
It is a shame about the keys. Two of them are fashioned from old mustard spoons.
I haven’t a clue about the pitch. I wish I did, as I’ve had plenty of enquiries about it. How does one know?
You can use the free Aspire InTune download to analyse the pitch if you have a microphone .( about 8 Australian dollars for a cheap one )
It would be a very good idea to find somebody
who plays wooden flutes and have
them tell you. Myself, for instance.
Seconding Andrew’s idea, an electronic tuner,
cheaply available. Or a piano. Best
Andrew, you might be right. But I pulled out Langwill’s to be sure and it seems only to obfuscate our issue rather than clarify.
I had believed rightfully, that Potter was indeed the purveyor of the graduated register, including the one on the foot which in today’s nomenclature is a silly little thing…but ingenious for its time.
Langwill’s doesn’t help here. It shows, of course, that Richard Potter in 1785 invented the plug key concept, attributes to him the metal tuning slide, and the adjustable foot register. But the patent itself, #1499, is only for the improved flute and it’s a 6key model at that. His invention shows for a 4 key. Perhaps it’s the entirety of the parts? I have been of the belief that the patent was the keys only, which I believe I read in either Rockstro or perhaps even a Monzani treatise.
Sigh. Perhaps and old copy of the patent is laying about to help us? I wonder if Mr. Bigio has it in hand, or Mr. Bingham.
dm
I obviously don’t have a full understanding of how these things work, but being a tunable flute, can’t it be tuned to play in proper pitch?
The flute plays basically in tune with my Howard low D, without making any adjustment to the tuning slide, though a few notes are either slightly sharp or flat. I assumed this had more to do with improper fingering than anything else.
I wish I’d posted this listing a week ago. It only occurred to me to do so yesterday. I was hoping to achieve a better result with the auction than the apparent direction it’s heading. The current figure is on the absolute low end of the verbal valuations I’ve been given. I’ve only had it for about 4 years - looks like I haven’t allowed enough time for appreciation since my own investment.
Is the market for old flutes slow at the moment?
I have lent my flute books to somone who is presently working out of the country .Typical ! One of them shows the grant .I shall have to check in Mr Wilkeses library ( but he makes me wash my hands first ).I seem to remember that the Germans were usng the register foot before Potter.I think it was the totallity of the concept which was claimed to be new .I only have a four key Potter at the moment which lacks the register foot .Probably too early as it plays at A = 415 .
I am looking for an emoticon to my left here which would reflect a temporary shortage of Potters ,which might amuse the children and /or Americans .I suppose Dr Spock might call this resisting such things " Potter training ".
When I mentioned The " In Tune "software I wasn’t describing a tuner but analysing software available on a free download from Aspire which you just have to blow a note into a microphone on the computer to activate .
I don’t think any of the Potters I have had boasted unicorns.The mythical nature of the beast might nicely represent the likelyhood that I will ever play a flute at all well .
ah, so it’s possible (likely?) that the patent was indeed for the plug keys alone? especially since the Germans (not that unlikely since they were the ones in front of “flute technology” before the English did it best…although some Italians and French of the day would likely disagree!) were the best makers in the mid 1700s.
hmmmm
just interesting why Potter would have thought those kooky metal plugs clanking away would be better than the kid pads…save for them drying out…but the leaking!
I’d be interested in what you find, andrew
dm
Do you find that the Potter keys leak ?
I doubt , as I said recently , that the old makers would not have expected their output to be in use generation ahead ,let alone a century .
The Potter patent and keys in particular are discussed at some length on Rick Wilson’s excellent site .
See http://www.oldflutes.com/classical.htm
What can little old me add ?
On reflection ( or was it a sip of Jamieson’s Whiskey ) I might have observed that many of the early flutemakers seemed to have been very naughty in claiming a patent on their ( copied ) productions , thinking , it would seem that the customer expected it .Sometimes it seems as if every fifth maker claimed a patent !
thanks for the neat site on old flutes.
Old flutes are best for drinking old liquor out of Jim .Though I have dozens of old wooden flutes they can’t compare with a new Wilkes ,or no doubt Olwell. Not wishing to encourage a competitive spirit of course ( neither maker has any reason to give a damn about what anybody else does ), I should get an Olwell keyless to go with my Wilkes keyless so interested parties could compare and contrast the styles of top flutemaking .
It could be like Rudall v Pratten all over again!
Now you’re talking! 
You have just given me an idea , Jessie .
Jean -Michel Veillon is coming over next month , and will be lingering at the Wilkes residence , and perhaps in my humble abode .Mr Wilkes is very proud of his new recording facilities , and Jean -Michel will be putting on a performance in Presteigne ,on the Welsh Marches .
I must get Chris to record J-M V playing a selection of my old flutes , my new flute - the "Wilkes Wonder " which changes dimension tonally from week to week , and such other interesting flutes as are available , and make the results available for pirating by our late colonial bretheren.
I am looking at putting on a proper concert in Worcestershire by M.Veillon next year , if I last that long . ( I might die , by popular request ) .It would be interesting to hear if the concert would be of interest to anyone in the English Midlands .( Or Sarawak , or Hong Kong or…)
Ah ! That would be Glauber , the well known internet dog !
I hope you get better .
I noticed some interesting comments on the 1785 Potter patent here :-
Are you ok, Andrew? I wasn’t aware you were sick.
I hope you get better.