This palisander, keyed oboe was made by Friedrich KULOW (1853-1939).Friedrich Karl Hermann KULOW was born in Berlin in 1853, where he learnt the craft of woodwind instrument making. He spent some time as a journeyman working for the company HECKEL in Biebrich. He moved to Magdeburg where he worked for...
This Viennese-style Romantic flute was not made in Austria, but in Milan, Italy by Ubaldo LUVONI (1798-1847). He was active making woodwinds, mainly flutes, but also some brasswinds in the first half of the nineteenth century. Not unlike some other makers, Ubaldo Luvoni was originally a jeweller before turning his...
This is a rare and beautiful English flageolet made by John SIMPSON (c.1800-1869). Little is known about John Simpson. He was a very important London flageolet maker, but also a player and teacher. It seems that he was a trained by William BAINBRIDGE (1768/9-1830) and perhaps married Bainbridge’s daughter. He...
This is an extraordinary six-keyed bugle by METZLER & SON. The company METZLER was founded in 1788 by Valentin METZLER (c.1756-1832). His son, George Richard (1797-1867), joined the business in 1816 and the name changed to Metzler & Son. Valentin died in 1832, so in 1833, the firm’s name changed...
A rare and extremely collectable Cornet a Pistons (cornopean) in B-Flat by the famous maker, (Marcel) Auguste RAOUX (1795-1871).Auguste Raoux was the last generation of a very famous family of instrument makers, spanning from the seventeenth to the nineteenth centuries – five generations in all. They were master horn makers...
This delightful piccolo in C was made by the renowned Berlin-based maker Emil RITTERSHAUSEN. Carl Emil Cäsar RITTERSHAUSEN (1852-1927) worked for Boehm & Mendler before setting up his own workshop in his native Berlin. His Boehm flutes and piccolos were much in demand by professional flutists worldwide. His partnership with...
This beautiful ebony flute was completely restored.It is stamped with the marks of Carl August KLEMM (1769-1830). He was born in Plauen in Saxony, Germany. He was a university dance master. In 1806, he founded a musical instruments shop in his home town and then relocated his home and shop...
This bass ophicleide was made perhaps around 1840 in Paris by the August G. GUICHARD workshop. This important maker would very much influence the development of brass instruments. Hand-made as well as mass-produced brasswinds were produced. Guichard even patented an ophicleide with valves known as the “Ophicléide à piston” –...
This boxwood fife is very old indeed. It was made around 1780–90 by one of London’s famous instrument-making families – the Cahusacs.It has certainly stood the test of time marvellously –the boxwood looks wonderful, the tone-holes perfect and the embouchure intact. It has a new head cork. It even has...
This Schwedler-style flute was made by Robert Oswald ADLER (1865-1946). ADLER is another famous surname in German woodwind instrument making. Robert Oswald was born in Hermsgrün in Vogtland, Germany. He learnt how to make woodwinds with his father Johann Gottlob Adler (1825-1900) and spent some time working in Magdeburg for...
