So a friend of mine has given me a wooden flute, it has a large crack in the head and we are wondering if the flute is worth repairing? we cant see any makers mark and are totally clueless as to how old it may be or if it is any good. The only thing about it is the buttons at the very bottom of the flute seem rather interesting.
If any one can tell me anything about this instrument id be much obliged.
This is a princely gift from your friend. I should have such friends The box is apropriate to the 19th century and it appears the keys are made of silver. . .at first glance, although it is “anonymous”, it appears to be first rate work. Best of all, the crack may not have any effect on the embouchure after repair.
So there was a quote of £100 to do a repair job, is the instrument worth more then that? Do you have any names of other flute built at or around the same time that are more or less the same i can take a look at?
The key work on the bottom note is very strange, beautiful really. Can anyone recommend a specialist to send it to?
http://www.arthurhaswell.co.uk/ My special area is the conservation and repair of vintage Boehm-system,
1867-system, and Radcliff flutes, particularly those by Rudall Carte. We also repair vintage simple-system flutes.
Steve Tadd who is a full-time instrument repairer and wooden flute player. Steve lives and works in Peterborough. Phone number is 01733 896340. He does repairs and also works on poor intonation but he has no lathe so he can’t turn new parts.
Chris Wilkes, flute maker,
The Old School, Moreton Eye, Leominster, Hereford HR6 0DP, UK
Tel: +44 (0)1568 615772
Email: christopher@wilkes51.fsnet.co.uk
Jem is the aforementioned Jem the Flute, and a member here. He may now be too shy to post to this thread. Oi, Jem, uncloak! And yes, 100 quid is a splendid price to pay, if you can get it mended for that, although as a price for first-rate work it seems low.
I’m not familiar with the market, but I’d think that ten times as much would not be too much to invest for a flute such as yours in perfect order, IMO. Not that I’m suggesting that you will or should pay as much now.
PS, Take Terry’s comment as well qualified; he’s as close to an expert on the flutes of this era as they come, and a well-sought maker and repairer of wooden flutes.
If you do not feel that the person working on your instrument will not give you an honest appraisal of what you have and what it is worth, then find someone else.
The box is apropriate to the 19th century and it appears the keys are made of silver. . .at first glance, although it is “anonymous”, it appears to be first rate work. Best of all, the crack may not have any effect on the embouchure after repair.