S822
Rudall Carte Co, Ltd.
#: Serial #6432.
London
Stamp: STAMPED ON BODY: (crown/ RUDALL/ CARTE CO LTD/ 23 BERNERS STREET/ OXFORD STREET/ LONDON/ 6432. On head and foot: (crown/ RUDALL/ CARTE CO LTD/ LONDON.
Comments: This is a good quality student flute. The wood is beautiful, the mechanism sturdy, the keys large and easy to finger.The instrument seems to have been built at A=440 or just a tad lower.
Date: Made c. 1924 (Langwill)
Material: Made of lovely cocus wood with silver-plated keys and trim. Corkscrew of wood. Springs blue steel.
System: English version of French System, with offset G, large plateau keys, B trill, Larger footjoint toneholes required the wood to be left proud at the tone hole rims, a much more difficult job than just cutting, as on the body. I suspect this was built as a student model, considering the large plated keys. The headjoint is fully lined with a seamed metal tube, giving the tuning slide, and a bright tone.The footjoint is to C, and is of the pinless design.The clutch system is the shoulder clutches of Lot.
Condition: There are old repairs at the Bb thumb key, a nicely repaired crack on the front of the headjoint (missing embouchure completely), and a scuff here and there. In other words, this flute is in quite nice condition for its age.The flute was last repadded quite a few years ago, yet the pads are in very good condition (no moth holes visible). She plays with a sweet tone, yet the flute does need a clean-oil--and adjust.
Pitch: Seems pitched at around A=440.
Sounding length: 598 mm.
Measurements: Emb 12.6x10.7. Body scale 224.
Weight gram: 518
Case: In original case with later wooden cleaning rod. Case shows signs of wear.
Restoration status: Needs adjustments.
Price: Sorry, sold.
The right hand shows a simpler mechanism than that on Carte #2846 seen earlier. The keys are smooth, and there are no screw adjusters at the shoulder clutches.
The G key is offset, which means it rides on a separate rod and is easier to cover with one's finger. The trill lever goes to the thumb for a B trill.
Here we see the thumb key, still patterned after Godfroy Lot with the ball ended key. The tail coming down under the ball is for a B trill.
The back clutch and the side G# cup show this flute could use a polishing, and that it is in excellent condition to take a fine shine.
The embouchure is clean, with just a scrape visible on the lower left corner. A crack runs elsewhere on the head, guaranteeing the embouchure will always be safe!
This flute was made in 1924 (Langwill) while wooden flute playing was still extremely popular, especially in England.
The touches are finely sculpted on this footjoint, which uses the pinless mechanism.
Here is a close up of the shoulder clutches for the rifght hand. This mechanism is patterned after Louis Lot.
This close up of the thumb shows the main wear on this flute, namely a repair for the Briccialddi touch, including a little brass washer!
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