Artley serial number 049?
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Artley serial number 049?
Dear members - My most sincere apologies for yet another question about an Artley. Apparently there were millions sold. I am about to give mine away (my parents bought it used in the 60s; both the flute and I are quite vintage). But I did notice the serial number is 049. Does that mean anything? It is a closed hole flute and does not appear to be particularly special in any other way. It is not a bass flute. Any information would be greatly appreciated.
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frugal flutist
- Posts: 24
- Joined: Fri Sep 14, 2018 5:27 pm
Re: Artley serial number 049?
Hi Jean,
Why apologize for asking a question about a flute, on a flute forum? Artley flutes were a good value for beginners in there day. They were used and abused by students for decades. (I did both!) I think Artleys got a bad rap because so many were trashed by clumsy owners, that blamed the brand rather than than there own ineptitude.
So that number 049, where on the flute did you find it? My guess is, that it was on the head joint, not the body or foot joint. I don't think that is the full serial # In the 50's Artley would put the the last digits of the serial # on the head Joint.
Sometimes in the 50's the complete serial # was on the head joint, the underside of the B key arm, and the under side the C sharp lever on the foot joint. In addition to the number on the main body, and sometimes foot joint. The serial # was often hard to find, hidden on the body and foot ribs, covered up by the key mechanics. That flute is probably silver plated nickel body and foot. Head joint is probably silver plated brass, but it could be coin silver, or silver plated nickel.
Is it worth passing on? Hard to say. It's going to need work. Get an estimate. A bad head joint cork (by now it is) or a bad pad or two can make a good flute sound bad.
Why apologize for asking a question about a flute, on a flute forum? Artley flutes were a good value for beginners in there day. They were used and abused by students for decades. (I did both!) I think Artleys got a bad rap because so many were trashed by clumsy owners, that blamed the brand rather than than there own ineptitude.
So that number 049, where on the flute did you find it? My guess is, that it was on the head joint, not the body or foot joint. I don't think that is the full serial # In the 50's Artley would put the the last digits of the serial # on the head Joint.
Sometimes in the 50's the complete serial # was on the head joint, the underside of the B key arm, and the under side the C sharp lever on the foot joint. In addition to the number on the main body, and sometimes foot joint. The serial # was often hard to find, hidden on the body and foot ribs, covered up by the key mechanics. That flute is probably silver plated nickel body and foot. Head joint is probably silver plated brass, but it could be coin silver, or silver plated nickel.
Is it worth passing on? Hard to say. It's going to need work. Get an estimate. A bad head joint cork (by now it is) or a bad pad or two can make a good flute sound bad.
Re: Artley serial number 049?
Oh, yes, that makes sense now! The number is on the head joint. Thank you so much for your reply - the flute has had some work, re-padded and so on. I will pass it on to a young friend and hope that she does better with it than I did! Thank you again -