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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.

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822.full

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822.01

This flute was made in 1924 (Langwill) while wooden flute playing was still extremely popular, especially in England.

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822.02

The right hand shows a simpler mechanism than that on Carte #2846 seen earlier. The keys are smooth, and there are no screw adjusters at the shoulder clutches.

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822.03

The G key is offset, which means it rides on a separate rod and is easier to cover with one's finger. The trill lever goes to the thumb for a B trill.

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822.04

Here we see the thumb key, still patterned after Godfroy & Lot with the ball ended key. The tail coming down under the ball is for a B trill.

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822.05

The touches are finely sculpted on this footjoint, which uses the pinless mechanism.

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822.06

The back clutch and the side G# cup show this flute could use a polishing, and that it is in excellent condition to take a fine shine.

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822.07

The embouchure is clean, with just a scrape visible on the lower left corner. A crack runs elsewhere on the head, guaranteeing the embouchure will always be safe!

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822.08

Here is a close up of the shoulder clutches for the rifght hand. This mechanism is patterned after Louis Lot.

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822.09

This close up of the thumb shows the main wear on this flute, namely a repair for the Briccialddi touch, including a little brass washer!

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822.10

The rear view of the right hand shows the shoulder clutches pinned to the main rod, and the steel insert.

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822.11

The wood of this flute is a lovely cocus.

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