Images(4)

Flute, C

Maker C. G. Conn

Date1903 ca

Place MadeElkhart, Indiana, United States, N. America

ModelWonder

Serial No.8878 (on underside of G-sharp key)

SignedOn barrel part of body: = / MADE BY / C. G. CONN / ELKHART / - IND. - / =
Description2 sections: headjoint, one-piece body and foot. Cylindrical Boehm system with closed holes. Silver-plated body and gold-plated keywork (Conn's "finish 2"). Ebonite head with gold-plated endcap and ferrule. 17 touchpieces. Offset G. Closed G-sharp. Briccialdi B-flat key. Trill keys: B-flat/C, G/A, C/D, C-sharp/D-sharp. Ebonite left hand rest with inlaid mother-of-pearl dot in center. Receptacle for left hand thumb crutch (crutch not present).

The original owner, Hobart A. Davis (ca. 1860-1938), was hired by C. G. Conn in September 1895 to teach flute and piccolo in the new Conn Conservatory of Music in Elkhart, Indiana, as well as to be a tester in the flute and piccolo department. Previously, Conn's Wonder model Boehm system flute was referred to in advertising between 1894-1896 as the Howe model, in honor of Cincinnati, Ohio-born flautist Charles T. Howe. Although an identical model continued to be produced after 1896, the association with Howe was dropped when flautist Hobart A. Davis was employed by Conn to test flutes and piccolos. The Conn and Howe relationship was completely severed by 1898, when ads appeared for a Howe model flute manufactured by Conn's former employee and new competitor, Ferdinand A. Buescher. This instrument is the ca. 1903 Wonder model flute. Davis was affectionately known as "Hobie" and "Piccolo Pete," because of his virtuosity on the latter instrument. Davis worked for Conn for 40 years.

DimensionsMeasurements exclude tenons and end cap.
Total assembled length (from top to bottom): 612mm
Acoustical length (from center of embouchure hole to bottom): 559mm
Head: 162mm
Body: 437mm
Inner bore at end of head: 16.2mm
Inner bore at bottom of head: 18.0mm
Inner bore at bottom of body: 18.0mm
Embouchure hole diameter (length X width): 12.8mm X 10.3mm
Provenancereviously owned and played by Hobart Davis (ca. 1860-1938), who was hired by C. G. Conn in September 1895 to teach flute and piccolo in the new Conn Conservatory of Music in Elkhart, as well as to be a tester in the flute and piccolo department from 1895-1935. Gift of Hobart Davis’ great grandson, Kevin Madden.
Published ReferencesBanks, Margaret Downie. "Hobart A. Davis: Conn's virtuosic flute, piccolo, and saxophone performer." _National Music Museum Newsletter_ 45, no. 1 (Winter 2021): 8.

Credit LineGift of Kevin Madden, 2019

Object number15082

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