Oboe. Nominal pitch: C.

J.G.H. Backofen

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Instrument

Oboe

Instrument Family

Wind

Maker

J.G.H. Backofen

Place Made

Central Europe ; Europe ; Germany

Date Made

Circa 1835

Description

Technical description: Boxwood with german silver keys and four ivory ferrules at the sockets, reed well and bell. Sockets and reed well are unlined. There is an onion shaped baluster at the top of the instrument. All the keys are levers with the exception of the B♭-alt. The octave key is hinged at the back of the instrument within the onion, the vent is at the front of the instrument and the pad is mounted at the end of a semicircular curved arm. The key is kept closed by a flat spring under the touchpiece. The G♯ key and vent are both on the middle section. The R0 support is a wooden block. The linkage of the low B key between the middle section and the bell is by a small tenon which is inserted into a socket in the bell part of the mechanism. There is an inward flange at the base of the bell. L0: 8; B♭-alt. L1: T. L2: T. L3: TT. L4: G♯; F-dup; E♭-dup; low B. R0: sup. R1: T; B♭; C. R2: T. R3: T; F. R4: low C; F♯; C♯; E♭. Keymount type: blocks and raised rings with the exception of the B♭-alt, which is on pillars, and of the middle section mounting of the low B key which is a saddle (the pivot on the bell for this key is on a block). Keyhead type: flat, round. Stamped on bell only with "BACKOFEN / IN / DARMSTADT". The Bb-alt key may be an addition; it is the only part of the mechanism mounted on pillars. Usuable pitch: a=425 Hz. Performance characteristics: precise and clear response with a fairly strong, dark tone quality. Intonation seems very good although leaks on the middle section (particularly the F-dup key) make assessment difficult. Repair History: The B♭-alt key may be an addition; it is the only part of the mechanism mounted on pillars.

Notes

S. Milton, 1993.

Measurements

562.

Provenance

Purchased in 1983 with assistance from the Government's Local Museums Purchase Fund and the University's General Council Trust.

Collection

MIMEd ; Glen Collection

Accession Number

0066

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