D flat Flute?

[czaucer]

I have an old Db flute that I would like to learn more about. It was made by Selmer in Elkhart, apparently for use by the military--"U.S." is engraved on the flute and stamped on the outside of the case. "S-452" is engraved below "Selmer"--I'm not sure if this is a model# or serial#. There are no other numbers where you would normally expect to find a serial#. It is also marked "Db" and is about an inch and a half shorter than a C flute. It appears to be very well built, with rolled tone holes, and I'm reasonably sure it's solid silver. And it plays very nicely.

I'm a repairman who has been working on flutes for well over 30 years, and I don't remember ever seeing a Db. Nor have I had any luck finding anything on the internet. Does anyone have any information on this strange beast, or know where I might find same? Thanks.

[fluteguy18]

I've heard of Db piccolos and Eb flutes, but not a Db flute. Hmmmm.....

[czaucer]

Exactly. I've worked on many Db piccolos over the tears--you don't see them as much anymore, but the good ones seem to have an especially bright high end for some reason, as does this flute. And, while more rare, I've also worked on Eb flutes. This is neither of those. And the fact that no one on this forum, as yet, seems to have heard of this Db leads me to believe that it really is a strange beast. Is there some good flute history site out there that I haven't found?

[tedlewis13]

Sorry to bring up a old post, but I'm looking to purchase a D-flat flute for an upcoming concert. If you'd be interested in letting this go, please contact me. Thanks!

[czaucer]

I actually just posted this flute on ebay for sale. Search "Db flute" and you should find it.

[BuckeyeFlute]

Hello,

I just purchased a D-flat piccolo. It is off having the spa treatment. It is a Phillipe Marcil. He worked for Haynes and tried unsuccessfully to make it on his own. He then worked for Selmer, in NY and then Elkhart. Below is the link to the Ancestry search. If it loads for you in the same way, the 5th entry is his portrait. The 6th entry is a letter from the Smithsonian discussing his career, and the 8th entry is a page from the Smithsonian catalog, listing the flutes he made in their collection. The catalog page is so blurry, it can't be read, and I couldn't find anything about them on the Smithsonian website. Piccolo is too general a term, and Marcil piccolo had no results. In 1985, they received a donation of 35 flutes from James Swain, and as of 1991, the date on the letter, the collection contained several of his flutes. I'm going to contact the Smithsonian, and see if they can send me a copy of the catalog page, and if they have any other info. Selmer might also have some info.

I assume your flute is one that he produced during his time with Selmer.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q ... fQQTLk4zDQ

[Longwll]

I just unknowingly bought one of these on Ebay. I'm not upset 'cause I paid less than silver value. I discovered somewhere on the web that U.S. military "high pitch" was A=457 so I downloaded a frequency analyzer and pulled out the headjoint (5/16") till the "A" was 457 and behold, the other notes were right in tune for a Db flute. Pretty cool. Will be fun transposing or just playing the tunes I know in the "wrong" key.

Anybody find a serial number guide for these? This one is S-448.

[Whistler83]

Sorry to bring up a old post, but I'm looking to purchase a D-flat flute for an upcoming concert. If you'd be interested in letting this go, please contact me. Thanks!

How are you Ted! My name is Joanie Madden and I am actually looking for a Db flute. I saw your post on Flute land and I’m wondering are you still using that Db flute?
I play Irish music and so many of the sessions are now in a flat and for myself to be able to join in I need to have a Db flute. My email is Joanie@cherishtheladies.com Or cell is 914-419-9565 if you are interested in parting with it! It will be put to good use! thanks Joanie

[Neil Flottmann]

I realise this thread has gone a bit cold, but it piqued my interest. I have recently been given an old, wooden Boehm flute made by Buffet-Crampon. I made contact with a dealer in Paris who estimates the date of manufacture at about 1880. The mechanism is mounted on posts screwed directly into the wood - no ribs are used. I have had it restored to playing condition at considerable expense. I initially thought it might be tuned to Old Philharmonic pitch, which is about A-452. However, it is even higher than that. After a bit of experimentation, I have come to the conclusion that it is actually a D-flat flute tuned to the 19th century standard of A=435. If I calibrate my electric tuner to A=435 and play A-flat on the flute, it reads a perfectly in tune A on the tuner. I assume it was built for military band use. This makes perfect sense, since most military band music is written in flat keys (concert pitch), so on a D-flat instrument, B-flat becomes A, A-flat becomes G and E-flat becomes D. Given that the simple system flute is built on D and copes better with sharp keys than flats, the D-flat transposition is a logical solution. As noted elsewhere in this thread, D-flat piccolos were common, but flutes somewhat rarer. I did find information about a Haynes D-flat flute in the Smithsonian at https://americanhistory.si.edu/collecti ... mah_606236
If anyone on this forum has any more information about D-flat flutes, especially Boehm system, I would be very interested to hear it.