Next Cab Off the Rank ...

G'day everyone,
I've just finished restoring a Siccama styled Flute from about 1850..It was in a fairly neglected state,keywork tarnished and stuck,pads worn out ,the timber in need of a good 'lube' etc.....I pulled it apart completely and cleaned it up.It came up very nicely....new pads ( 9 of 'em ! )...keys polished and a thorough oiling with food grade Linseed oil...All went well until the time for 'Floating in' the pads...This means getting each pad to seal properly...After about 5 hours of trying,unsuccessfully,to get ONE pad to seal, I thought......maybe this is the time to enlist the services of the experts...So I then mailed the Flute to a Woodwind repairer about 100 miles away...It came back a week later...sorted out and a cost to me of $85...Its good to have a crack at things yourself but there comes a time when we have to throw up our hands in defeat ....
The right tool for the right job is a term I've always liked and the professionals have these things....when I was talking to the repairer afterwards and asking about the 'Floating in' process,he said that he had a special light that is inserted into the bore.This shows where the pads arent sealing....Well,thats a good idea says I....why did'nt I think of that !.......
Its a lovely looking instrument...although it takes a bit more wind than my Terry McGee unkeyed Flute and is harder to play......also,the presence of keys takes a bit of getting used to....all fun though...
Next week,I'm going to start on an 1830 Firth Hall and Pond Flute in Stained Boxwood.....I bought this one on Ebay a while back for $200.It has a couple of bad cracks and will be a challenge. One good thing though,is that it only has one key
Thats all for now....have fun in your sheds......weedie....

Great post Weedie, much more of a project than I would be up for. Got any photos?

Thanks Bill..........
Here is a pic of the Siccama styled Flute....Abel Siccama was a 19th century Flutemaker who believed that it was better for the intonation of a Flute to have the holes where the third fingers of each hand would normally sit,futher down the body of the Flute......hence,the keys for those fingers.
This is a 'before' photo.....it now looks 'shinier' and 'oilier' ....
Not sure what that little plug is.....it was in the case when I got it....

Could the plug be just to cover the embouchure? That looks like a nice compact flute, what's the total length and weight, if you know? Did you take any "After" photos yet?

Just so everyone knows, while this forum is dedicated to flutes without working parts, I don't see any harm in members, who are here for that purpose, also discussing their projects or experiences with mechanical flutes.

If there are objections let me know either in a new thread or privately by PM.

Howdy all .........
Yep,its a bit of a mystery that little plug....it doesnt fit in the embouchure ..???
I'll see if I can get the kids to take an 'after' photo today....me not being able to drive the digital camera... .....
Also..sorry if I've trodden on any toes here regarding the posting of a mechanical flute story...I did'nt realise that this might have been an 'off topic' thing.....
Adios for now.....

I don't think any toes were stepped on, but I think it's my job to ask. No one complained to me and I'm not complaining.

Don't hesitate to post what you are working on, although I have to admit, I've never even tried to disasemble a mechanical flute.

No worries Bill....I think you're doing a good job here
It's great fun pulling these Flutes apart....I'm used to things like this from experiences of restoring motorcycles and vintage engines...although the Flutes are more fiddly...
I kept a record of the proceedings by drawing each piece as it came apart and keeping a seperate page in an exercise book for each section......and as they say in workshop manuals etc......"assembly is the reverse of the above".....hmmmm....sounds good on paper does'nt it !!

Great post Weedie, much more of a project than I would be up for. Got any photos?

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mcitp

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