Flutes
General Intro
The Originals
My Flutes
Ordering
My Research Models
My Irish flutes are based on the best features of the instruments described below.
Hawkes & Sons 8 Key
8 keyed cocuswood flute with Pratten's style keys (many of which have been glued and/or blocked closed), one-piece body section, and partially lined headjoint. In spite of over a century of hard use, this flute still rocks! This original currently is owned by The House Band flute/bombarde/veuze player John Skelton. I owe John a debt of gratitude for letting me measure and play this great instrument!
Boosey & Co. "R.S. Pratten's Perfected"
8 key cocuswood flute with sterling lined headjoint and one piece body section. The Pratten's model has a deservedly high reputation among Irish players for having a big tone and a hard, reedy sounding first octave. This particular specimen lives in the Dayton C. Miller collection at the Library of Congress
Rudall & Rose
8 key cocuswood flute with two heads: one standard lined head, and one "patent head" that used an intricate dual-threaded mechanism to move both the headjoint cork and tuning slide in one motion. Rudall & Rose, one of the premier makers of the late 1800s, made quite a few different models. This particular specimen is a classic example of the flutes that found their way into Irish folk players' hands after the silver flute made these obsolete in symphony orchestras.
