Solid silver alto flute in G by Rudall Carte & Co. Ltd

Flutes

No collectables website would be complete without a Rudall Carte & Co. flute. This exquisite, solid silver alto flute is a beauty to behold and was made by England’s finest flute-makers of the mid-twentieth century.  The company was established in 1872 as successors to Rudall Rose, Carte & Co and was bought in 1943-1944 by Boosey & Hawkes. The history of this great company is fascinating and we would recommend reading Robert Bigio’s fine work on the subject.

The mechanical work of this instrument is outstanding and everything is made with superior precision. The keys for the left hand are constructed so that the flute can be easily played without so much reach [essential for such a long flute!]. The lip plate is convex in shape and the embouchure is perfectly crafted. Funnily enough, the keys for the trills are positioned on the outer side of the flute, not facing the player as usual.

All the keys and the tube are hallmarked for silver purity with English markings. This includes the lion for sterling silver, a tiger’s head for London and a ‘P’ for the year of manufacture. Also, there is a special hallmark ‘RC&CO’.

This alto flute in G plays warm at a=440 Hz.

LIBRARY OVERVIEW

Flute – KLEMM, Carl August

This beautiful ebony flute was completely restored.It is stamped with the marks of Carl August KLEMM (1769-1830). He was born... read more

Bass ophicleide – A.G. GUICHARD

This bass ophicleide was made perhaps around 1840 in Paris by the August G. GUICHARD workshop. This important maker would... read more

Fife – CAHUSAC, Thomas Sr.

This boxwood fife is very old indeed. It was made around 1780–90 by one of London’s famous instrument-making families –... read more

Emil Rittershausen – Boehm flutes made in Berlin

Who better to make Boehm flutes than a flute maker who received first-hand training from Mr. Boehm himself? Carl Emil... read more

Schwedler-style flute – ADLER, Robert Oswald

This Schwedler-style flute was made by Robert Oswald ADLER (1865-1946). ADLER is another famous surname in German woodwind instrument making.... read more

Reform flute – V. Kohlert Söhne with Pupeschi system

This reform flute was made by V. KOHLERT SÖHNE. The Kohlert company was founded in 1840 by Vincenz Ferarius KOHLERT... read more

Flicorno – ROTH – CONTINI

Ever seen a flicorno before? We haven’t! This really special combined B-flat & F flicorno is one of a kind!... read more

Bassoon – HUITTL, Ignaz

The maker of this bassoon was Ignaz HUITTL. He was active making instruments around 1800 in the city of Kraslice... read more

E. Rittershausen, Berlin

One of the beautiful stories of mythology tells of the way the first musical instrument was suggested. As the story runs, as Orpheus was walking along the shores of the sea, his foot struck a reed that had been cast up by the waters, and had dried in the sun. The reed gave forth a soft, sweet sound as it was made to vibrate by the stroke of Orpheus’ foot and the result was the lyre or hand-harp of the ancient Egyptians. A similar story, and probably the same one adapted to the wind instruments, is that of Lucretius which says that “the simple flute had its origin from the breathing of western winds over certain reeds,” and thus was suggested the musical pipe, or simple tube, which has developed into one of the most fascinating of instruments.

The most elaborate and beautiful collection of flutes ever displayed in the United States, and probably in the world, was seen by visitors to the German section of the Columbian Exposition. The display was that of E. Rittershausen, of Berlin. It was arranged in a large, square glass case, and consisted of flutes made of various woods, of Ebonite and of sterling silver. The Rittershausen flutes are the standard of the world, and have received the indorsement of the best performers upon this favorite instrument. Until 1832 the flute was not regarded as a perfect instrument. In that year Theobald Boehm, of Munich, brought the instrument to such a degree of perfection as to make it one of the most prominent of orchestral and solo instruments. The Rittershausen flutes are made exactly upon the Boehm system, and with such wondrous skill and delicacy of workmanship as to have long since become the favorite of discriminating flutists. It is, in fact, the instrument universally referred to when the Boehm flute is desired.

Like the illustrious Boehm, Mr. Rittershausen is also a virtuoso as well as a manufacturer, devoting his entire faculties to the production of a perfect flute. By his own practical skill he is enabled to appreciate the many details and requirements in the construction of such an instrument as is demanded by the most fastidious virtuoso. This, it will readily be seen, is an invaluable consideration in the selection of a flute by a skilled performer. And in the rapid progress of musical culture of America, there are many lovers of the beautiful instrument who are its admirers and enthusiastic students at the present time.

Living in the musical city of Berlin, Mr. Rittershausen is thrown in personal contact with the greatest flutists of Europe, thereby receiving many suggestions from them that are of incalculable benefit in the manufacture of his instruments. The Rittershausen factory is located at 107 Bergmann street, Berlin, and its product has been famous from the establishing of the present business in 1870. Each year adds largely to the number of Rittenhausen-Boehm flutes in use in America, and they have received the highest testimonials from the most famous composers and performers in this country as well as those abroad. The American representative of the Rittershausen flutes is Mr. Carl Fischer, No. 6 Fourth Avenue, New York.

Musical Instruments at the World’s Columbian Exposition – Frank D. Abbottt, Charles A. Daniell – 1895 – P. 200