~John I. Gidney & Co. flute circa 1888 ~ Boston Mass
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~John I. Gidney & Co. flute circa 1888 ~ Boston Mass
I purchased this very old flute at an estate sale many years ago. I have no knowledge of John I. Gidney & co. Can anyone help me here. I would like to know if this flute is of value. At any rate, I will be having it refurbished for my 11 year old daughter. She is just now learning to play and thought this would be a great secondary instrument for her. Thanks
Re: ~John I. Gidney & Co. flute circa 1888 ~ Boston Mass
I don't find it in my little archive I am building so it is not
a common brand. How about taking some extreme closeups
and posting them here? A good flute repair person could
tell you if it can be put into playable condition.
Here's what came up in Google:
a common brand. How about taking some extreme closeups
and posting them here? A good flute repair person could
tell you if it can be put into playable condition.
Here's what came up in Google:
Gidney, John I. & Co. The Golden‑Tone Flute. Mattapan, MA: John I. Gidney & Co.; [ca. 1920], 6 p. Wind: flute, piccolo. Instruments made in silver, and also wood. Library of Congress Gidney file
Gidney, John I. & Co. [Letter from John I. Gidney to Ralph F. Hovey, Cleveland, OH]. Mattapan, MA: John I. Gidney & Co.; June 4, 1923, [1 p.] Wind: flute. Written on the company's letterhead, depicting a flute, this letter refers to an enclosed pamphlet, discussing the purchase of a flute. Library of Congress Gidney file
Trying to find any information about a John I. Gidney & Flute. It is sterling silver, plateau, with offset G. The double G key as a knuckle lever located by the Bb lever. The complete stamp as follows:
Made By John I. Gidney & Co
Boston 26 Mass.
-1565- (possibly serial number)
Re: ~John I. Gidney & Co. flute circa 1888 ~ Boston Mass
If this flute was made in 1888, then there is a good chance that its scale is tuned to A=435 instead of A=440. This means that she can play by herself, but not with a group that tunes to A=440.
The newer flutes have a much improved scale and are built to A=440 or A=442 in the US.
In Europe/Asia, they can be as high as A=444 and A=446.
A440 or Concert A or Middle A is the 440 Hz tone that serves as the standard for musical pitch. A440 is the musical note A above middle C (C4). The term literally means that the A above Middle C = 440 vibrations per second.
Prior to the standardization on 440 Hz, many countries and organizations followed the 435 Hz recommendation the Austrian government made in 1885. The American music industry reached their own informal compromise of 440 Hz in 1926, and used it in instrument manufacturing. In 1936, the American Standards Association recommended that the A above middle C be tuned to 440 Hz.[1] This standard was taken up by the International Organization for Standardization in 1955 (and was reaffirmed by them in 1975) as ISO 16 [2].
The newer flutes have a much improved scale and are built to A=440 or A=442 in the US.
In Europe/Asia, they can be as high as A=444 and A=446.
A440 or Concert A or Middle A is the 440 Hz tone that serves as the standard for musical pitch. A440 is the musical note A above middle C (C4). The term literally means that the A above Middle C = 440 vibrations per second.
Prior to the standardization on 440 Hz, many countries and organizations followed the 435 Hz recommendation the Austrian government made in 1885. The American music industry reached their own informal compromise of 440 Hz in 1926, and used it in instrument manufacturing. In 1936, the American Standards Association recommended that the A above middle C be tuned to 440 Hz.[1] This standard was taken up by the International Organization for Standardization in 1955 (and was reaffirmed by them in 1975) as ISO 16 [2].
Re: ~John I. Gidney & Co. flute circa 1888 ~ Boston Mass
A good tech would look at it in person with a leak light/MAG machine to check the coverage as well as feel the mechanism. Looking at pictures alone cannot clearly define what shape the instrument is in.I don't find it in my little archive I am building so it is not
a common brand. How about taking some extreme closeups
and posting them here? A good flute repair person could
tell you if it can be put into playable condition.
Re: ~John I. Gidney & Co. flute circa 1888 ~ Boston Mass
That's what I meant but it is rather
ambiguous the way I wrote it.
I meant, In person, for the inspection.
Photos for the purpose of identification.
ambiguous the way I wrote it.
I meant, In person, for the inspection.
Photos for the purpose of identification.
Re: ~John I. Gidney & Co. flute circa 1888 ~ Boston Mass
Oh. Okay then. :3
Re: ~John I. Gidney & Co. flute circa 1888 ~ Boston Mass
Hey thanks to all for the responses..you all were very helpful! Its too bad that there is such an antiquated variance but I will still take it in for repair of course. Ill take some pics and post them here once all is said and done.