Castle Museum, York woodwind

Woodwind Instruments in the Castle Museum, York

A Checklist
Only brief details are given here, in a condensed presentation as follows:
Maker’s name, device and address are given in the fullest version inscribed on the instrument, but with ‘London’ omitted and ‘Street’ contracted to ‘St’. A rough indication of date follows. Next comes materials of the body and, after the colon, of trim band, inlays, etc. Woods are described by appearance, without any attempt at botanical accuracy. ‘Ivory’ often means ‘slaughterhouse bone’, and ‘white metal’ is used for any metal which is not obviously a brass. Details of keywork and mounts come next. Here all instruments apart from Bassoons are treated as non-transposing, like Flute or Oboe. The last part of the entry may note other details, but these are not presented uniformly.
No dimensions are given, as it would be impossible to present them in a useful way in such a short list. The instruments are described as if complete (which most are), but ‘six keys’ indicates that an instrument should have six keys; possibly fewer survive. Other common losses not noted here include trims, stopper covers, barrels, mouthpieces and, of course, reeds. The instruments have not been numbered, to avoid confusion with any system of the museum’s own.

Illustration: A combination flageolet-flute by Metzler, early 1800s

Transverse Flutes

Fife : C…(Cahusac?) , early 19c. Light wood Keyless One piece construction

Fife : W.Camp, 81 Tottenham Ct. Rd. , early 19c. Boxwood, brass Four brass keys(D#, F, G#, Bb) on rings & knobs Pads bed onto raised brass inserts. Stamped 'Bb'.

Fife : Dulcet Improved (Trade Mark) mid 19c. Dark wood, white metal One white metal key (D#) on ring. Stamped 'B'.

Fife : Hollings late 19c. Boxwood, brass Keyless Stamped 'C'.

Fife : Improved Patent mid 19c. Light wood stained dark, white metal One white metal key (D#) on ring. Stamped 'E'.

Fife : Improved mid 19c. Dark red wood One key (D#) on axle Stamped 'Bb'.

Fife : (no mark) late 19c. Dark red wood, white metal One white metal key (D#) on ring. (-)

Fife : (no mark) late 19c. Light wood varnished black, brass Keyless Toylike

Small Flute : Cahusac, 196 Strand late 18c. Boxwood, ivory One brass key (D#) on ring Stamped 'K.Taylor, Chester'.

Small Flute : Dawkins late 18c. Boxwood Four brass keys (D#,F,G#,Bb) on knobs. (-)

Small Flute : Florio mid or late 18c. Boxwood, ivory One brass key (D#) on ring (-)

Small Flute : Metzler , early 19c. Boxwood, ivory One brass key (D#) on knob

Small Flute : Metzler & Co. mid 19c. Boxwood, ivory One brass key (D#) on knob

Small Flute : J.Muff, Leeds , early 19c. Boxwood, ivory One brass key (D#) on knob

Small Flute : Whitaker late 18c. Boxwood, ivory One brass key (D#) on ring

Small Flute : (no mark) , early 19c. Dark wood One brass key (D#) on ring

Piccolo : V.K.S. (Trademark) late 19c. Dark wood, white metal Six white metal keys (D#, F, long F, G#, Bb, C) on axles Metal lined head and tuning slide.

Piccolo : (no mark) late 19c. Ivory head, dark wood, white metal Six white metal keys (D#, F, long F, G#, Bb, C) on axles Metal lined head and tuning slide.

Piccolo : (no mark) late 19c. Dark wood, white metal and heavy brass tuning slide as external feature Six white metal keys (D#, F, long F, G#, Bb, C) on axles Metal lined head.

Flute : G.Astor & Co. (unicorn mark) , early 19c. Boxwood, ivory One white metal key (D#) on ring.

Flute : Bainbridge, 35 Holborn Hill , early 19c. Boxwood, ivory Six white metal keys (interlocking bascule C & C#, D#, F, G#, Bb) on rings & knobs Adjustable stopper.

Flute : Blackman, 93 Blackfriars Rd. mid 19c. Dark wood, white metal Eight white metal keys (interlocking bascule C & C# withpewter plugs, D#, F, long F, G#, Bb, C) on rings and knobs Large tone holes, metal lined head, graduated tenon & stopper

Flute : Cahusac , early 19c. Solid ivory, white metal Six white metal keys (interlocking bascule C & C#, D#, F, G#, Bb) on rings & knobs Adjustable stopper.

Flute : Cahusac , early 19c. Boxwood Six brass keys (interlocking bascule C & C#, D#, F, G#, Bb) on rings & knobs Has two additional top joints for tuning.

Flute : Cahusac late 18c. Boxwood, ivory One brass key (D#) on ring

Flute : Cahusac, 41 Haymarket. , early 19c. Boxwood, ivory Two keys (D#, F) on ring and knob Incomplete: lowest two secions only.

Flute : Clementi & Co. , early 19c. Boxwood, ivory Two brass keys (D#, F) on knobs.

Flute : Clementi & Co. , early 19c. Boxwood, ivory Six white metal keys (interlocking bascule C & C#, D#, F, long F, Bb) on rings & knobs. Alkl keys have pewter plugs. Long graduated tenon.

Flute : Clementi & Co. (C.Nicholson's Improved 1471) , early 19c. Dark wood, white metal Seven white metal keys (interlocking bascule C & C#, D#, F, long F, G#, Bb,) on rings & knobs Metal lined head, graduated tenon and stopper, barrel. Unusual sockets - metal over ivory over wood.

Flute : D'Almaine & Co. (Prince of Wales feathers) New Bond St. mid 19c. Boxwood, ivory One brass key (D#) on ring

Flute : J.H.Ebblewhite Maker, 24 High St. Aldgate mid 19c. Dark wood, white metal Eight white metal keys (interlocking bascule C & C# withpewter plugs, D#, F, long F, G#, Bb, C) on knobs Metal lined head and barrel, large tone holes and key touches.

Flute : Florio mid to late 18c. Boxwood, ivory One brass key (D#) on ring

Flute : Gerock (unicorn) Patent, 79 Cornhill , early 19c. Light wood stained dark, ivory Seven white metal keys (interlocking bascule C & C# with pewter plugs, D#, F, G#, Bb,) on knobs Metal lined head with barrel, graduated tenon and stopper

Flute : C.Greve …(indecipherable) mid 19c. Boxwood, darkwood trims Six brass keys (D#, F, long F, G#, Bb, C) on brass saddles Un-English appearance.

Flute : Goulding & Co. , early 19c. Boxwood, ivory One brass key (D#) on ring

Flute : Goulding & Co. , early 19c. Boxwood, ivory Four white metal keys (D#, F, G#, Bb) on ring & knobs G# & Bb keys are on the 'wrong' side and difficult to reach.

Flute : I.Hale (fleur-de-lis) late 18c. Boxwood, ivory Five white metal keys (C#, D#, F, G#, Bb) on ring & knobs Has two additional top joints for tuning.

Flute : T.Lot. (Paris) mid 18c. Light wood with patchy stain One brass key (D#) on ring Head is linked to body by double-ended tuning slide

Flute : Metzler , early 19c. Boxwood One brass key (D#) on ring

Flute : Metzler (Patent), 105 Wardour St. , early 19c. Boxwood, ivory Four white metal keys (D#, F, G#, Bb) on ring & knobs Metal lined head, barrel, ivory bushed holes

Flute : W.Milhouse late 18 0r , early 19c. Boxwood, ivory Four white metal keys (D#, F, G#, Bb) on ring & knobs From Milhouse's London period.

Flute : W.Milhouse, 337 Oxford St. , early 19c. Boxwood, ivory Four white metal keys (D#, F, G#, Bb) on ring & knobs Adjustable stopper.

Flute : M & H Opperheim , early 19c. Light wood stained dark, ivory One white metal key (D#) on ring.

Flute : Willm. Henry Potter, Johnson's Ct, Fleet St. , early 19c. Boxwood, ivory Eight white metal keys (interlocking bascule C & C#, D#, F, long F, G#, Bb, C) on rings & knobs. All keys have Potter's Patent Pewter Plugs. Metal lined head and barrel, graduated tenon and stopper.

Flute : Willm. Henry Potter, Johnson's Ct, Fleet St. , early 19c. Boxwood, ivory Six white metal keys (interlocking bascule C & C#, D#, F, G#, Bb) on rings & knobs. All keys have Potter Patent Pewter plugs. Metal lined head and barrel, graduated tenon a& stopper.

Flute : Potter (scroll) mid 19c. Boxwood One brass key (D#) on ring Incomplete: lowest two secions only.

Flute : Rudall & Rose, No.15 Piazza, Covent Garden. (serial no.1686) , early 19c. Boxwood, white metal Eight white metal keys (interocking bascule C & C# with pewter plugs, D#, F, long F, G#, Bb, C) on knobs. Wide tone holes, barrel.

Flute : Rudall & Rose, 1 Tavistock St. Covent Garden. (serial no. 4716) mid 19c. Dark wood, white metal Ten white metal keys (low B, C & C# on triple interlocking bascules, with pewter plugs and rollers to assist finger sliding, D#, F, long F, G#, double touch for Bb, C) Metal lned head, barrel. In original case with guarantee.

Flute : Simpson, 266 Regent St, Oxford St. (Improved Patent) mid 19c. Dark wood, white metal Eight white metal keys (interlocking bascule C & C# with pewter plugs, D#, F, long F, G#, Bb, C) on ring & knobs. Metal lined head, barrel, double-springing, lip guide.

Flute : Whitaker late 18c. Light wood stained dark, brass One white metal key (D#) on ring.

Flute : Williams , early 19c. Light wood stained dark, ivory One brass key (D#) on ring

Flute : Willis , early 19c. Light wood stained dark, ivory Four brass keys (D#,F,G#,Bb) on ring & knobs. Ivory bushed mouth hole.

Flute : Robert Wolf & Co., 20 St.Martin Le Grand midddd 19c. Boxwood, brass Four brass keys (D#, F, G#, Bb) on ring & knobs.

Flute : …(indecipherable) , early 19c. Boxwood, ivory One brass key (D#) on ring

Flute : (no mark) late 19c. Dark wood, white metal Eight white metal keys (interlocking bascule C & C#, D#, F, long F, G#, Bb, C) on ring & knobs. Metal lined head and tuning slide.

Flute : (no mark) , early 19c. Boxwood, brass One brass key (D#) on ring

Flute : (no mark) mid 19c. Dark wood, white metal Six white metal keys (D#, F, long F, G#, Bb, C) on knobs. Metal lined head.

Flute : (no mark) mid 19c. Boxwood, ivory Four white metal keys (D#, F, G#, Bb) on ring & knobs Adjustable stopper.

Duct Flutes

Picco Pipe : Improved (crown) mid 19c. Boxwood Holes numbered (underside) 'D - 0', (topside) 'A 1', 'G - 2'.

Picco Pipe : (no mark) mid 19c. Dark wood

Recorder : (no mark) mid 18c. Boxwood Treble in F

Tin Whistle : (no mark) , early 20c. Metal painted black Marked 'D'

English Flageolet : Bainbridge & Wood (crown, 'Bainbridge Inventor', Patent) 35 Holborn Hill , early 19c. Boxwood, ivory Two white metal keys (interlocking, with semicircular covers for the lowest semitones) on ring. Ivory pegs between holes.

English Flageolet : Dulcet Improved Patent Flageolet Flute : (Trade mark: crown, triangle) mid 19c. Light wood stained dark One brass ket (D#) on ring

English Flageolet : Goulding & Co. , early 19c. Boxwood, ivory One brass key (D#) on ring Ivory pegs & mouthpiece. Engraved with fingering scale. Ebony bush in topmost front hole gives second octave.

English Flageolet : Improved Patent Flageolet Flute : (crown) mid 19c. Boxwood One key (D#) on ring Stamped 'D'

English Flageolet : (no mark) , early 19c. Boxwood, ivory mouthpiece

English Flageolet : (no mark) mid 19c. Boxwood One brass key (D#) on ring

Double English Flageolet : Bainbridge & Wood ('B. teacher and Inventor', etc), 35 Holborn Hill , early 19c. Boxwood, ivory (Player's) Left Pipe: Seven holes, three white metal keys on ring & knobs. Right pipe five holes, three keys. On stock, two shut-off keys to windways. Ivory pegs & mouthpiece, engraved fingering scale

Double English Flageolet : Simpson (from Bainbridge's Patent), 260 Regebt St. Oxford St. , early 19c. Boxwood, ivory (Player's) Left pipe: six holes, four white metal keys. Right pipe: five holes, four keys. On stock, two shut-off keys to windways. Ivory Pegs.

Combination English Flageolet and Small Flute : Metzler & Co. late 19c. Dark wood, white metal. Six white metal keys (D#, F, long F, G#, Bb, C) on knobs. With flageolet head and Flute : head.

Ocarina : (no mark) late 19c. Pottery, painted black Fingering scale.

Musette : Ch.Mathieu (Bte.S.D.G.D., etc.) late 19c. Common metal One piece construction. Very wide tone holes. Large vents at lower end.

Musette : (no mark) mid 19c. Dark wood Two piece construction. Pear bell.

Musette : (no mark) mid 19c. Dark wood One white metal key (D#) on knob. Vented pear bell.

Musette : (no mark) mid 19c. Dark wood One white metal key (D#) on ring. Vented pear bell.

Musette : (no mark) late 19c. Dark wood, white metal (trims missing) Six white metal keys (D#, F, G#, Bb, C, octave) on axles. Flared bell.

Musette : (no mark) mid 19c. Dark wood Incomplete: pear bell only, with one white metal key

Double Reed Instruments

Oboe : Jo.Bradbury (crown) , early 18c. Boxwood, ivory trim to bell (later addition) Three brass keys (swallowtail C, duplicated Eb) on rings Twin holes for F# & G#. Heavy turning. Massive vented bell. Baluster and bobbin top.

Oboe : Cabart a Paris (musical flat and sharp device, sailing ship device , early 20c. Blackwood Fully mechanised German silver keywork on axles. Thumbplate system. Fully automatic octaves, long F, etc.

Oboe : Goulding, Wood & Co., Pall Mall , early 19c. Light wood stained dark Two brass keys (swallowtail C, Eb) on rings Double G# hole. Straight top. Vented bell.

Oboe : W.Milhouse, 337 Oxford St. , early 19c. Boxwood, ivory Eight white metal keys (swallowtail C, C#, Eb, F, G#, Bb on rings & knobs, C, octave on saddles - these may be additions Double G# hole, bushed F# hole. Onion-and-bobbin top. Vented bell.

Oboe : (no mark) late 18c. Boxwood, ivory Two white metal keys (C, Eb) on rings. Double holes for F# & G#. Onion-and-bobbin top. Vented bell.

Bassoon : C.Gerock (flaur de lis), 76 Bishopgate St. , early 19c. Light wood stained dark, brass Six brass keys (Bb, D, Eb (outside placing), F, F#, Ab) on brass saddles

Bassoon : Milhouse, Newark late 18c. Light wood stained dark, brass. Six brass keys (Bb, D, Eb , F, F#, Ab) on brass saddles Reverse of keys stamped 'WM'. Used in Water Millock Church, Ullswater.

Bassoon : W. Milhouse, London late 18c. Light wood stained dark, brass Six brass keys (Bb, D, Eb, F, F#, Ab) on brass saddles. Reverse of keys stamped 'G'. Crook stamped 'WM'.

Bassoon : Rudall Carte & Co. (crown) , early 20c. Light wood stained dark, with composition wing joint, white metal. Eighteen white metal touches on axles.

Bassoon : Rudall Carte & Co. (crown) Serial no.547, 23 Berners St. Oxford St. late 19c. Light wood stained dark, white metal Fifteen white metal touches on axles.

Bassoon : (no mark) , early 19c. Light wood stained dark, brass. Eight brass keys (Bb, D, Eb (outside placing), F, F#, Ab, two high register keys) on saddles Reverse of keys stamped 'GM'.

Single Reed Instruments

Clarinet : Bilton , early 19c. Dark wood Incomplete: mouthpiece only

Clarinet : Bilton … (indecipherable) Late Appce. & Fore. To Cramer (unicorn) , early 19c. Boxwood Two brass keys on knobs Incomplete: top joint only, with barrel by Goulding.

Clarinet : A.Buffet jne. Paris late 19c. Dark wood Boehm' system with six white metal rings and seventeen keys. No barrel in the design.

Clarinet : Cramer & Son (unicorn), No.20 Pall Mall , early 19c. Boxwood, ivory Eight brass keys on ring and knobs.

Clarinet : Cramer (unicorn) , early 19c. Boxwood, ivory Incomplete: bell only

Clarinet : D'Almaine & Co. (leaves, Prince of Wales feathers) late Goulding & D'Almaine, Soho Sq. mid 19c. Boxwood, ivory Five brass keys on ring & knobs. In C.

Clarinet : D'Almaine & Co. (Prince of Wales feathers) late Goulding & D'Almaine, Soho Sq. mid 19c. Boxwood, ivory Six brass keys on ring & knobs. In C.

Clarinet : D'Almaine & Co. (leaves, crown) late Goulding & D'Almaine, Soho Sq. mid 19c. Boxwood, ivory Eight brass keys on ring & knobs (pads screwed to keys through brass 'saucers'). In C. Mouthpiece stamped 'Geo.Wood'.

Clarinet : Gerock (unicorn), 79 Cornhill. , early 19c. Boxwood, ivory Six brass keys on ring & knob. Stamped 'B'.

Clarinet : C.Gerock (unicorn), 79 Cornhill. , early 19c.. Boxwood, ivory Six brass keys on ring & knobs. Tone holes pass through tenons and sockets, with metal insert tubes, therefore the instrument has to be pushed together, and an airtight seal was apparently made with pipe-clay.

Clarinet : C.Gerock (unicorn), 79 Cornhill. , early 19c.. Boxwood, ivory Sieven keys, six on ring & knobs, one key on saddle (possibly an addition). Truncated pear bell. Very small. Possibly in F.

Clarinet : Goulding & Co. , early 19c.. Boxwood, ivory. Six brass keys on ring & knobs. In C.

Clarinet : Goulding & Co. (star). , early 19c.. Boxwood, ivory Six brass keys on ring & knobs. No tenon to mouthpiece. Extra speaker vent with insert high on front. It has been stopped off.

Clarinet : Goulding & Co., Pall Mall , early 19c.. Boxwood, ivory. Five brass keys on ring & knobs. In Bb.

Clarinet : (inc.) Goulding & Co,. , early C19 Boxwood. Three brass keys on ring & knobs. Incomplete: lower joint only.

Clarinet : (inc.) Goulding & Co., New Bond St. , early 19c.. Boxwood, ivory. Incomplete: bell only.

Clarinet : (inc.) Goulding D'Almaine & Potter & Co. (crown), Soho Sq. , early 19c. Boxwood, ivory Three brass keys on ring & knobs. Incomplete: two joints only.

Clarinet : (inc.) Metzler. , early 19c.. Boxwood, ivory Right hand joint only.

Clarinet : Metzler, 105 Wardour St. , early 19c.. Light wood, ivory Six brass keys on ring & knobs. Brass thumbrest. In Bb. The bell, which seems a perfect match, is stamped 'Goulding, D'Almaine & Potter & Co. Soho Sq.'

Clarinet : Key (unicorn), Charing Cross. , early or mid 19c.. Boxwood, ivory Nine brass keys on ring & knobs. All pads bed onto metal inserts.

Clarinet : Key (unicorn), Charing Cross. mid 19c. Boxwood, ivory Twelve brass keys on ring, knobs & brass saddles.

Clarinet : W.Milhouse, 337 Oxford St. , early 19c.. Boxwood, ivory Five brass keys on ring & knobs. The turning of the joints and trims shows a mixture of styles. Stamped 'C'.

Clarinet : Charles Pace, No.2 Crown St. Westminster. , early 19c.. Boxwood, ivory Eight brass keys on ring & knobs. In C. Wide trim to barrel is engraved 'John Greener'.

Clarinet : Shepherd & Sutton (unicorn). , early 19c.. Boxwood, ivory. Six brass keys on ring & knobs. Stamped 'C'.

Clarinet : (no mark) mid 18c.. Light wood Five brass keys on ring & knobs. A long insturment with an extremely narrow bore tapering towards the bell. Two piece construction. An Oboe :-like 'onion' below the mouthpiece. The bell is a cross between a cone and an ellipse. A very odd instrument! Stamped 'C'.

Clarinet : (inc.) (no mark) , early 19c.. Boxwood, ivory Incomplete: bell only.