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790

Louis Lot

Serial #5669

Paris, France

Stamp: On body and silver head: L.L./ LOUIS-LOT/ PARIS/ 5669/ BREVET�. On wooden head and footjoint: L.L./ LOUIS-LOT/ PARIS

Marks:

Manufacture Date: Probably made c. 1910. This flute seems to have been made just when Chambille registered his new E#C hallmark.

Hallmarks: Magnificently hallmarked on the body with H#V, and the footjoint with E#C. Lipplate also marked H#V. headjoint tube unmarked.

Comments: This flute is a fully playing instrument of the highest 20th century professionalism. While it lacks some of the delicacy of the earlier flutes, this is because the flute is intended to be loud and bold. The silver headjoint also works very well.

Material: Grenadilla (? a very black wood), with silver keys. Additional metal headjoint of drawn silver-plated tube, with silver lipplate. Also silver tenon cover for use with metal head.

System: Model 2, wood flute with silver keys to low B, left pinkie operated.

Condition: The condition of this flute is as new. It was purchased from Madame Chambille in 1946 by an American serviceman, and clearly not used much before or since.

Pitch: Seems to play at A=440.

Sounding Length: Sounding length 647 mm.

Measurements:

Weight: 560g (wood head); 536 g silver head.

Case: In original case with spots for the two heads.

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790.full

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790.01

The wood is very dark; probably grenadilla. The finish is more a lacquer than a French polish.

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790.02

The silver head is numbered the same as the flute, making the unusual "odd" number on a silver head.

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790.03

The flute in its special case. Everything is almost as new, including the swab and the cork grease container (with old grease).

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790.04

The mechanism has the 20th century sturdiness, and of course the modern "hanging T" clutch for the right hand. The low B lever is also visible.

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790.05

Chambille has not lost the eye for grace, as these lovely touches show. The second touch is for the low B.

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790.06

Here we see a close up of the "hanging T" clutch, and the flat-topped spring pillar. Earlier designs gave these spring posts more ornate turning.

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790.07

The left hand mechanism, with the shoulder clutch for the Bb.

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790.08

The Lot company rarely made the squared embouchure on wood heads. These two show very nicely the difference between the wooden oval and the silver rounded-rectangle. They both play great, with definite individual character.

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790.09

The footjoint on this top-of-the-line model is fitted with a silver (?) slide, either for tuning or strength.

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790.10

The D# key on the foot is vaulted over the low B rod.

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790.11

The footjoint is hallmarked , while the body keys and headjoint are marked . We suspect this flute was made just as Chambille registered his own stamp.

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790.12

The backclutch is completely unharmed by the usual pliers marks and buffing damage, although there are some very slight scratches.

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790.13

The footjoint is fitted with a double pinless design, using rods for each key. I think they call this the Brogger mechanism today.

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