822
Rudall Carte & Co, Ltd.
Serial #6432.
London,
Stamp: STAMPED ON BODY: (crown/ RUDALL/ CARTE & CO LTD/ 23 BERNERS STREET/ OXFORD STREET/ LONDON/ 6432. On head and foot: (crown/ RUDALL/ CARTE & CO LTD/ LONDON.
Marks:
Manufacture Date: Made c. 1924 (Langwill)
Hallmarks:
Comments: This is a good quality student flute. The wood is beautiful, the mechanism sturdy, the keys large and easy to finger. The instrument seems to have been built at A=440 or just a tad lower.
Material: Made of lovely cocus wood with silver-plated keys and trim. Corkscrew of wood. Springs blue steel.
System: English version of French System, with offset G, large plateau keys, B trill, Larger footjoint toneholes required the wood to be left proud at the tone hole rims, a much more difficult job than just cutting, as on the body. I suspect this was built as a student model, considering the large plated keys. The headjoint is fully lined with a seamed metal tube, giving the tuning slide, and a bright tone. The footjoint is to C, and is of the pinless design. The clutch system is the shoulder clutches of Lot.
Condition: There are old repairs at the Bb thumb key, a nicely repaired crack on the front of the headjoint (missing embouchure completely), and a scuff here and there. In other words, this flute is in quite nice condition for its age. The flute was last repadded quite a few years ago, yet the pads are in very good condition (no moth holes visible). She plays with a sweet tone, yet the flute does need a clean-oil--and adjust.
Pitch: Seems pitched at around A=440.
Sounding Length: 598 mm.
Measurements:
Weight: 518
Case: In original case with later wooden cleaning rod. Case shows signs of wear.