New to Forum, New to Flute - Help! :)

[dubrosa22]

Hi,
I play sax and clarinet (my apologies! ) and have taken the plunge and purchased an old wooden flute.
I'll receive the flute in few days from the auction house but I was hoping someone could I identify the kind of flute I've actually bought?
I'm thinking an English 8-key? Forgive my ignorance.




I know buying any instrument, especially a wood one, sight unseen/played is a big no-no, but it was too good to pass up. Hmm... I may regret this!
Well, after a visit to my tech I'm looking forward to playing whatever it is.

Nice to meet you all!
Vaughan

[Classitar]

Looks like a beauty!

[dubrosa22]

Some folks on the Chiff & Fipple forum think it's a French simple system flute with a possible silver or nickle sleeve repair on the barrel.
I'm really hoping that there's no cracks and that any repairs are kept to a reasonable amount but we'll see when it arrives.

http://forums.chiffandfipple.com/viewto ... 2&t=100032

Sorry if cross-forum posting is not good etiquette.

V

[Classitar]

Thanks V,

Please keep us in the loop.
The sound from some of those wood flutes is magnificent!

[Gandalfe]

If you get it playing, it will most certainly be a conversation piece amongst musicians if not the audience. Do let us know how it goes.

[dubrosa22]

After much anxious waiting the flute arrived from Adelaide yesterday afternoon. :party:



A cursory hands-on inspection found the following:

- No seized barrels/slides or tenons.

- No missing or damaged keys.

- All pads are present but mushy yuck.

- Springs are present and working.
- 1.8cm crack in middle section of the body (2nd 'joint', the lower left section in the above photo). The crack starts at the top of the tenon receiver (this 'female' tenon is lined with silver - a repair?) here the wood is quite thick so I'm not sure how far the crack penetrates yet. But it will have to be pinned/glued if it is yet unrepaired.

- Tuning barrel is lined in silver and as estimated by astute forum members here it is evidently to repair a crack.

- Cork stopper stuck in headjoint (the crown and screw comes out; the cork thread has broken)

- Tenon thread obviously needs to be replaced.

Poor thing was dry, dirty and dusty so I gave it a good drink of bore oil and gave the keywork a quick clean.
I can see no hint of makers stamp on any part of the flute. But I'll get out the magnifying glass.

The keywork appears to be maillchort (I thought silver initially) and polished well with little work.
I love the wee nickelsilver C roller!
Most keys are stamped with an '0', one an 'E' and '0' and one a '7'. I doubt that will point to a maker.





Sounding length = 575mm
C# to Eb = 255mm

V

[dubrosa22]

I've also proven it to be A440Hz which is fantastic (not that I plan to be playing with anyone for quite awhile!)

[Classitar]

Thanks for the photos, Its looking nice!

[dubrosa22]

have made an identification breakthrough!

Thibouville-Buffet A. Paris

I found the same flute in an old for sale listing with 3 photos that show the very flute as mine (the key orientation on the C-foot being the most recognisable and unique feature). The first image is the flute that was sold by Mickie Zekley many years ago now and the second image is my flute's c-foot (prior to oiling and cleaning!):



For sale listing located here: http://www.larkcamp.com/oneofakind.html ... h%20Flutes



Of course my flute has a repaired barrel and the crown and stopper appear to be slightly different but otherwise I am certain it is the same maker/model.
As said previously I can find no stamp or markings on my flute whatsoever. I do know that the Buffet clarinets (R13, etc.) are renowned for having stamps on them that practically fall off if you look at them too long). The head-joint and second joint each have only 2-3mm by 0.5mm 'nicks' where the stamps would be, nothing more. Suggestive...

I think there's more going on. Either this is a Thibouville-Buffet stencil (unlikely and rather pointless, why wouldn't you stamp it with another name?) or the finish and stamps on my flute have been over-zealously restored and the stamps sanded off. There is a heavy stain/varnish on my flute that seems after-market and a tad heavy handed in some places. Anyway just a thought, I have no idea how commonplace that would be, or if it is ever done?

I can now play down to D quite well, but all of the keypads on the lower joints are no good except Eb

V

[dubrosa22]

Today I finally finished oiling, polishing, padding and corking!



Getting on with playing.

I spoke too soon! Low D and below is the biggest struggle, I'm assuming that's normal? I know that on tenor saxophone Low D and below can take weeks or months to play with any sort of consistency. Strangely Eb is dead easy.

V

[Classitar]

Looks like you did a beautiful job!
Love to hear a sample