Flute, C
Maker
C. G. Conn
Date1890-1892 ca.
Place MadeElkhart, Indiana, United States, North America
ModelWonder
Serial No.28
SignedOn head just to right of embouchure plate: MADE / [short leaf garland] BY / C. G. CONN / [3 line resembling fleur-de-lis] ELKHART [3 lines] / IND.MarkingsFound on post strap on body above or to left of keywork, on post strap on foot below or to right of keywork: 28
"28" also found on underside of keys for: thumb B, G-sharp, 2 trill keys mounted at middle of body, and on foot underside of: E-flat, C-sharp.
Description3 sections: headjoint, one-piece body and barrel, and foot joint. Cylindrical Boehm system with closed holes. Silver-plated body and gold-plated keywork. Seamed tubing with soldered toneholes. 16 touchpieces. Offset G. Closed G-sharp. Briccialdi B-flat key. Trill keys: B-flat/C, (F-sharp or G/A?), C/D, C-sharp/D-sharp. C-foot.
This is the earliest known surviving Conn flute, made ca. 1890-1892.
DimensionsMeasurements exclude tenons:
Total assembled length (from top to bottom, excludes endcap which is missing): 650mm
Accoustical length (from center of embouchure hole to bottom): 587mm
Head: 167mm
One-piece body: 342mm
Foot: 133.7 mm
Inner bore at bottom of head tenon: 18.3 mm
Inner bore at bottom of body tenon: 18.5 mm
ProvenancePurchased from Randy Weiss, East Brookfield, Massachusetts.
Weiss purchased the flute at a yard sale ca. April 2010, in his area (not too far from Worcester, MA). The flute had been passed down through a local family.
Published ReferencesBanks, Margaret Downie. "NMM acquires oldest known Conn flute." _National Music Museum Newsletter_ 44, no. 2 (Summer 2020): 7.
Credit LinePurchase funds gift of Barry and Margaret Downie Banks, 2019
Object number15078
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