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Vintage Flutes We believe the great flutes of the past can be used in earnest today. But first every fault that time and misuse has inflicted must be corrected. Otherwise a flute can never play consistently. In working on a vintage flute, our preference is towards conservation. We show respect, avoid short-cuts such as mechanical buffing that might cause damage, and only replace parts that are beyond repair.
Wood Flutes and Old French Flutes present their own problems. Typical work includes cleaning and repairing components, correcting old repairs, oiling wooden bodies, renewing the solder on key-arms and silver tone-holes, and tightening the mechanism. Repadding can be time-consuming: an old French flute with open-hole keywork might take as long as 20 hours. As a rough guide, the cost of repadding a vintage closed-hole wood flute such as a Rudall Carte starts at £300; for an open-hole French flute £450. Before padding can begin most vintage flutes will require conservation and preparation.
Over the past year we have conserved, overhauled, or repadded:
Wood flutes by Collard, Flutemakers Guild, Godfroy, Louis Lot, Mollenhauer, Rittershausen,
Rudall Carte, and Rudall & Rose. Old French flutes by Bonneville, Godfroy, Lebret, Louis Lot, and Rive.
To discuss your requirements and arrange delivery of your flute, please contact us. |
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