Armstrong First Generation "Heritage" solid silver flute; serial #H-1267.
It's a superb instrument made in the Armstrong (Elkhart) workshop in the late 1960's. French (open) keywork to low B. Sounding length is 436 mm (A=440), the embouchure measures 10.3 X 12.1 mm. Extruded tone holes, Y-arm pad cup construction. Gold springs, all new pads, modern case. 440 grams weight. We measure tube thickness as .015 inches.
The Heritage department at Armstrong was a separate division within the factory, dedicated to producing a high-quality instrument to compete with the best Boston makers. In the late sixties Haynes and Powell were both quoting three to five year delivery times. The Heritage flute was marketed as an instrument of equal quality but more readily available to the buyer.
Jack Moore and Tom Green worked in the Heritage department and, for several years, so did Bickford Brannen. Brannen began with Powell in 1962, joined Armstrong four years later and returned to Powell in 1970. He and his brother founded Brannen Brothers Flutemakers in 1974.
At the same time the Heritage models were in production, Armstrong also produced a similar "Emeritus" (model 60 / 60B) flute: solid silver body, head and keys, but heavier and without the attention to workmanship the was found in the Heritage models.
By the early eighties, Armstrong was absorbed by King Musical Instrument Company and later by Conn-Selmer. The "Emeritus" name was dropped and the "Heritage" name was given to the flute previously stamped "Emeritus". "Heritage 60B" flutes were in production for several years, are the same as the earlier "Emeritus 60B" instruments.
We call these early Brannen-Green-Moore flutes "First Generation Armstrong Heritage", in an attempt to minimize confusion.
In any event, our flute is a fine player that is, in our estimation, almost identical to a Powell 'commercial" flute from the 1960's. Keeping in mind Bickford's early years with Powell, it seems obvious that the decision was made to copy Powell's popular (but hard to get) flute.
*** And a bit more information. I spent 90 minutes yesterday, tootling on our Armstrong Heritage (#H-1267) and Verne Q. Powell from 1965 (#2554).
The two flutes are amazingly similar. The embouchure size, the "feel" and the sound are very close. The Powell is a "handmade" and that means soldered tone-holes and a few grams lighter in weight. If you didn't read the engraving, you'd swear the Armstrong was a vintage Powell. GR
*** One more comment about this particular instrument. I've taken it home several times to compare with the 1960's Powell that I've reserved for my own use. I did so last week-end and, for the life of me, I can tell almost NO difference between the two. The "first generation" Heritage models that were made by Bickford Brannen and two other artists, are superb instruments. It's a pity the quality, in our opinion, gradually evaporated.
*** THE ACQUISITION of any pro-quality flute is a very personal decision. And if there are too many variable, the musician is easily confused and frustrated.
Which means we invite you to pay us an in-person visit. Wichita’s close to almost everything and a day’s flooting in our shop means you’ll have above four artist-quality flutes (soon to be five), all with French keywork, B foot and solid gold lip, to test.
We’ll be delighted to welcome you!
***** AND.... Always in stock in our small workshop / sales room:
*** A selection of pre-Wasser Powell flutes
*** A small selection of "Golden Age" hand-made Haynes flutes, pre-DeVeau.
*** A handful of vintage 19th. century flutes, fully original and restored, not re-tuned or otherwise altered.
*** Plus....new flutes from Pearl, DiZhao and other firms. ALL with our 24 year service warranty.
HG