826
Ate. Bonneville
Serial #5137
Paris,
Stamp: Engraved on headjoint and body: (monogram) AB / ATE / BONNEVILLE / (gothic) Paris /. Additionally on body: 5137
Marks:
Manufacture Date: We guess 100 flutes per year from this shop, which opened in 1876 and dates this flute at 1927. This is a lovely example of the Bonneville solid silver flute. The tone is very rich. The articulation is precise, when the air is blown in the special Bonneville way (impossible to describe, but brings the flute to full life). The "sweet spot" on these flutes is different from the Lot instruments, and the tone actually has a richer texture than a Lot. The pitch is perfect at A=440-442, with the headjoint pulled out 1/2'. This is a lively, loud, and luscious flute.
Hallmarks: Hallmarked on lipplate, body rings and keys, and footjoint ring and keys. The Boar's head of Paris appears on the body and foot as well.
Comments: The pitch is at A=440-442, with the headjoint pulled out 1/2'. This is a lively, loud, and luscious flute.
Material: This is Bonneville's Silver flute, with seamed tube, currently with gold springs. Hallmarked with Bonneville's silver mark. One replaced pad washer, on the F key. Original pad washers of Bonneville's special domed metal. Cork screw of metal. This flute is restored to excellent playable condition.
System: Classic French model, with C foot. Trill to Bb.
Condition: The body of this flute has many stories to tell. Remarkably, the mechanism shows few signs of repair. This might well be due to excellent repair work. It appears as though the headjoint tube has been cut by about 1 cm. It needs to be pulled out about 7 mm. to play at A=440. Perhaps the large section cut might have been due to past damage. The headjoint tube looks as though it was bumped around a bit.
Pitch: The body scale measures out close to the old A435 scale, yet the headjoint needs to be pulled out 1/2' to play at A=440, where the flute seems most comfortable.
Sounding Length: Sounding length compressed: 59.3 mm.
Measurements:
Weight: 447
Case: In new case.
