A RARE FLUTE from the W.S. Haynes Workshop, "handmade" pattern, soldered tone-holes, all sterling silver, 1937.

A rare silver flute from the workshop of William S. Haynes (1964 – 1939), serial number 15,054, made in Boston in August, 1937.

"Hand-made” pattern, stamped “sterling” on the embouchure and on the B-key touch. French (open holes) keywork, traditional French “in-line” G key, range to low C.

Body, head and foot are of .016 inch silver. Tone-holes are soldered, key arms extend over the pad-cups. Sounding length is 599 mm, which means the flute plays well at 440 (perhaps 441, not 442) pitch.

Embouchure is original, measures 12.2 X 11.9 mm. The flute weighs 431 grams.

The red-lined case bears the Haynes stamp and appears to be the 1937 original.

According to the records at Haynes, only 38 hand-made flutes were produced in 1937.

There are original grease-caps for the two tenons.

Engraving is sharp on the head and body sections and there is no evidence of dents or dings to the body. Hinge-tubes are still tight, indicating that the instrument’s been played very little in the past 87 years.

This particular flute exhibits superb workmanship, arguably quite different to that of modern instruments from the Haynes firm.
 
**GR/Wichita
 
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HG