In the picture, I see that you have a flute marked “(Selmer?) French Flute”. Now, although Selmer originally is a French instrument maker, Selmer later also went into business in the US, although the American Selmer business was eventually sold to a Mr. Bundy. So, is your Selmer a French (Paris) made flute, or an American (Elkhart) made flute? That is, what are the markings on that flute?
BTW, Mr. Bundy then commissioned George Haynes, the older brother of William S. Haynes, to develop the original, American made Selmer flute.
Actually… There is merely a teensy symbol on the headjoint along with ‘MADE IN FRANCE’ on the body. I’m attaching a picture of the headjoint’s logo which leads me to believe it’s Selmer as it’s quite similar to their ‘S’ style.
and the stamping on the body:
The keys on that flute (French) seem European but it is a very confusing one to place! I’ve been unable to identify anything else regarding the maker of this flute.
It took me a moment to retrieve my early Selmer flute, #4xxx, but, yes, the “S” definitely appears similar to the marking on my American made Selmer flute, although the lyre is unique to your flute.
Also, I see some similarity to the shape of the lip plate, where the lower part, which rests on the chin, has a slight inward curve, as mine does.
Any idea as to what your Selmer could be made of? Silver?
See what I mean? Quite puzzling! This flute is silverplated throughout over nickel-silver, I believe. I couldn’t find the flute pictures I had so I took some new pictures a second ago. Try this link http://www.foreverwoodwinds.com/frenchselmer.html
Let me add, that I would otherwise be more interested in your early, French made Selmer flute, as a relatively rare item around here, and as a flute I would like to play, but I play only Open G# Boehm flutes.
On the upside, however, at least your flute has the much more common, and popular, Closed G# mechanism.
I see that you have a few Gemeinhardt flutes on offer.
Well, it’s a small world, as George Bundy, the owner of the American branch of Selmer musical instruments, was the person to bring Kurt Gemeinhardt to the US, from Germany, to then oversee the production of Selmer flutes in Elkhart, Indiana, the same place where Gemeinhardt flutes then later became established.
Elkhart, Indiana, BTW, likely qualifies as THE home of band instruments, of all places on planet Earth!
The Armstrong flute reminds me of my very first flute. I think that’s the brand it was.
I liked that flute a lot. It sat in the closet for a very long time because it was too loud to play with a day-sleeper living upstairs from me.
A friend of mine is a musician (as in having a union card and everything) and asked if she could borrow the flute. She gave it back fully restored and polished as she knows how to do that sort of thing. I then sold it. I never should have done that! I should have kept it.
I now have a Gemeinhardt M3 but I can’t play it. I’m too used to the wooden flute now. But I learned my lesson and I’ll keep it in case I ever want to learn the regular flute again.
Thank you very much Suzie, the flute got here in record time. Kevin has been tooting away on the headjoint today, so we’ll have a flying start for his first lesson this Monday!
BTW the flute came with some sort of silver band that slides on and off the tenon of the headjoint. I think it’s to protect the tenon, but Kevin has been using it for a slidewhistle effect.
