Help Please, trying to get the history of my mother's flute

[jewillso]

I have recently discovered my mother's flute in the basement. She said she purchased it either in Germany or the U.S. in the late 50's early 60's, so it is definitely vintage. The name on the flute is "American Diplomat" and it says it is made in Italy. Serial number is 2647. I believe it is some sort of metal, maybe sterling silver because it has a silver tone to it and has some tarnish. I cannot find anything about American Diplomat on the web. Was it a subset of Conn flutes? If anyone has any ideas about the history of this flute I would appreciate it, thanks!

[fluttiegurl]

I have only seen one of these, and I believe it was a Conn product though I am not 100% sure. That would at least give you a place to start. Good luck!

[flutepicc06]

An easy way to tell what it's made of (I'm betting sliver plate over nickel silver or brass) is to look at the bit of the headjoint that slips into the body. If it's the same silvery color as the rest of the flute, odds are good you have a silver instrument (whether sterling or coin is difficult to know), but if it's a brassy color different from the rest of the head, it's probably silver plate. This is because the tenons can't be silver plated, as the plate will wear off after many assemblies and disassemblies, eventually changing the fit of the headjoint into the body, and causing leaks.

[JeffD]

The instruments coming out of Italy in the 50's and 60's were the equivalent of the Japanese instruments in the 70's, the Taiwanese in the 80's and 90's.

I have turned several that were not worth repairing into lamps.

JD