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Theobald Boehm continued his experiments in the 1840s, eventually enlarging his tone holes so much that they could not be closed directly by the fingers, and open standing, padded hole covers were necessary. Another major change was the use of a cylindrical bore, rarely seen except in fifes since the late 17th century. Boehm also experimented with size and shape of the head and embouchure hole, and the materials used. The result was his 1847 system flute which, with a few minor modifications, remains the system most widely used in Europe and America today. This example has an additional Rockstro F# lever, an extra D vent and a Briccialdi Bb thumb lever, these being modifications made by the flautists R.S. Rockstro and Giulio Briccialdi. Lent by J.B. Dick.
Transverse flute
Rudall Carte & Co.
London
Europe
England
United Kingdom

Instrument Information

Title

Flute, nominal pitch: C

Accession Number

0051

Collection

MIMEd

Date Information

Date Made

1917

Period

20th century; 1910s

Gallery Information

Gallery

Wolfson Gallery

Case

Woodwind case 1

Maker Information

Maker Name

Rudall Carte & Co. (estab. 1872)

Maker Biography

Richard Carte (1808-1891) was a British born, London based instrument maker and noted flautist. He spent his years as a maker working for the firm Rudall Rose & Carte, where he made two types of popular flutes, ‘1851 System’ and ‘1867 System.’ He was succeeded by his sons, Richard and Henry, who continued to make his flute models following Richard’s death. Rudall Carte & Co. Ltd were established as successors to Rudall Rose Carte & Co. in 1872. The latter had, themselves, been established in 1852 as successors to Rudall & Rose (q.v.) on Richard Carte becoming a partner. Carte’s son, Henry, became a partner in 1883. To him is attributed the application of ebonite in place of wood for the bassoon wing-joint in the 1880s. Henry W. Carte had become manager / prtner in Rudall Carte and Co in 1883. His brother, Richard d’Oyley Carte became famous as the theatrical impresario whose name is indelibly associated with the performance of Gilbert and Sullivan operettas. The firm was eventually bought by Boosey and Hawkes during the Second World War.

Made In

City

London

Country

England

Description

Technical Description

This cylindrical bore flute is in 3 sections with silver keys and ferrules. It bears the serial number “5683”, dates form 1917 and, according to Rudall Carte & Co. Ltd’s archives (stock books), was made by “Schumacher” and added to stock on 24th October 1917. The instrument was purchased by J.D. Miller of Edinburgh from the makers on 15th December 1917.

The overall size is 656mm and the sounding length (embouchure to foot) is 579mm. It is stamped with a crown and “RUDALL / CARTE & CO LTD / 23 BERNERS STREET / LOINDON/ 5863”. The instrument was probably shortened, as suggested by the remains of a label glued to the bar holding pillars, the closeness of the makers’ mark on the body to the upper tenon and the instrument’s very high pitch (A4 = c 460 Hz). With slight adjustments to the mechanism, the instrument would play very well throughout its range.

Technical description: Cocus; 3 sections; silver keys; 4 silver ferrules; large oval embouchure-hole; metal-lined head; metal tenons and sockets; metal-tipped head cork; short lower tenon; modern-style foot mechanism arrangement.Boehm 1847 system fingering except for:

L0: B; Br B♭. R1: F; dup B♭; D♯ trill (also opening D vent).
R2: E; D trill (also opening D vent).
R3: D; Rockstro F♯.

Keymount type: rod/pillar; needle springs except for L0 keys (leaf).
Keyhead type: cylinder cup.

Performance characteristics: Range C⁴ - D⁷. With repadding and slight adjustments to mechanism, this would play very well throughout range.
Usable pitch: A⁴ = c 460 Hz.

Provenance

Royal Scottish Academy of Music; sold by the makers 15th December 1917 to J.D. Miller of Edinburgh. ; on loan to the Collection.

Classification

Instrument

Transverse flute/Flutes/Wind/Musical Instrument ; Transverse flute

Instrument Family

Wind

Hornbostel Sachs Classification

421.121.12 ; musical instrument