This is a collection that came together as a mix of flutes either owned by friends, customers, fellow muso’s etc. and just happened to be in my possession. Naturally I took a “family” photograph!
Top to bottom;
Wylde (Jim O’Boyle Durham UK)
T Prowse (NH)
Rudall & Rose (T McElvogue Dublin) - Boxwood
Holmes McNaughton
Holmes McNaughton med hole prototype rough keys & redrilled holes to retune etc
C Wilkes (NH)
Hawkes Eb pin mount (NH formerly H Hamilton)
Boosey Pratten in F (NH formerly T McElvogue)
I think this wider band (in answer to your question) was manufactured like this originally but may have been the manufacturers attempt at strengthening this weakish area in any flute but particularly in a boxwood flute. It may have been requested by a customer. It may have been noted that the wood here was showing signs of stress when being made and Msr R&R thought it best to add this in attempt to compensate (serial number 2071)
Are those black (?ebonite?) rings original, or are they a subtle means of lengthening a High Pitch flute to get it down to A=440? The one between the crown and the top ferrule ring just slightly spoils the proportions and the ones between head and tuning slide also look a touch out of place… The others one might have ignored as just an unusual decoration, but the overall effect is somehow uncharacteristic of usual R&R aesthetics, I feel. I’m not objecting, BTW, just curious; if they are a modern modification and make the thing play right for current use by a great fluter, great way to do it. Mind you, that serial no. is a bit early for seriously high pitch… I’m just musing now, and I realise Norman may not know the answers/history of the instrument, but it is rather interesting!
The dark rings I suspect (dare I say it) are Rhino’ horn or bone and they are part of the original manufacture as there is boxwood underneath, so not an attempt to retune. It is the very flute that Tom Mc used on his website samples so as you can hear the flute plays in CP without any difficulty, to Tom anyway.
It is not a “patent head” there are no signs that it may have been in the past.
