Oboe. Nominal pitch: C.

W Milhouse

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Instrument

Oboe

Instrument Family

Wind

Maker

W Milhouse

Place Made

London ; Europe ; United Kingdom ; England

Date Made

1815

Description

Technical description: Boxwood with silver keys. There is an onion shaped baluster at the top of the instrument. The top of the instrument is in the form of a tenon which has been turned to take thread; suggesting there was a tuning slide the top section of which is now lost. The B♭ key, which is attached to the upper section, curves elegantly round the wide turning on the socket of the middle section to enable it to be reached by the R1 finger. The octave key is cut through the turning at the top of the upper section below the onion, the vent for the key is at the back but slightly to the right, probably to discourage water from collecting in the hole. The G♯ key and hole are both on the middle section. The C key has a fish-tail touchpiece despite the comparatively large number of added keys. There are two vent holes in the bell. There is an inward flange at the base of the bell. 7 keys, modified to 8 L0: 8. L1: T. L2: T. L3: TT. L4: G♯. R0: sup? (missing). R1: T; B♭. R2: T. R3: T; F. R4: low C; F♯; C♯; E♭. Keymount type: raised rings and blocks with the exception of the F♯ key which is mounted on a saddle. Keyhead type: flat, round. Stamped on the upper and middle sections with "W. MILHOUSE / LONDON", and on the bell with "W. MILHOUSE / LONDON / 337 OXFORD STT."; the final character is unclear, but the whole bell inscription resembles that reproduced in Waterhouse 1993. The upper section of the tuning slide is missing. A screw-hole at the back of the middle section appears to be where a thumb rest was attached; this may have been removed at an early stage by a player, although most of the thread of the screw has also vanished. The different mounting of the F# key and its close proximity to the maker's stamp on the middle section suggest that this key is a later addition. Usuable pitch: a = 422 Hz in present condition. Performance characteristics: the absence of the upper section of the tuning slide makes an accurate assessment of this instrument impossible. However in its present condition it made a clear and exceptionally stable tone quality with excellent intonation. Repair History: The different mounting of the F♯ key and its close proximity to the maker's stamp on the middle section suggest that his key is a later addition.

Notes

S. Milton, 1993.

Measurements

555.

Collection

MIMEd ; Rendall Collection

Accession Number

0065

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