The Potters were a celebrated family of woodwind instrument makers and musicians working in the Classical Period in central London. Their story is a fascinating one and the subject of much detailed research specifically about flutes as they were flute specialists. Surviving Potter flutes outnumber by far those of other...
Joseph WALLIS is perhaps best known for joining forces with Carlo Tommaso GIORGI (1856–1953) to produce the Giorgi flute under patent in England. There’s much more to his story though – from the rise to the sad demise of the business he founded.Early life and careerOur Joseph Wallis was born...
Imagine an ocarina with exceptional intonation, pure sound quality and design elegance. Then its maker could be the man known as the Stradivarius of ocarinas – Cesare VICINELLI (1841-1920). From kiln man to ocarina maker par excellence, Cesare Vicinelli certainly had an exciting life. But how could that all come...
The name Scherer conjures up images of beautiful instruments, crafted in ivory that were definitely fit for a king. Who were these famous instrument makers and where did they work? The story is a fascinating one, so read on!Back to ButzbachThe Scherers were originally thought to have worked out of...
Anyone who plays or collects ocarinas knows the name Heinrich (or Henry) Fiehn. The internet is full of ads selling ocarinas in all shapes and sizes made by the Heinrich Fiehn factory in Vienna. It’s clear from the popularity, international appeal and sheer sales volume of his products that he...
The Cahusacs were an English family of music publishers and instrument makers. The surname hints at possible French origins yet to be proven. The number of family members was huge. There were several wives, many children and of course, quite a few Thomases. Referring to each Thomas as senior or...
Luigi VANOTTI worked for the company Rampone & Cazzani before setting up his own business in 1909 in Milan, at Via Solferino 46. He specialised in making Boehm flutes, but also constructed several non-standard experimental models. He was clearly an innovator.One innovation was the Albisiphon, which he built and patented...
The surname HEIDEGGER is synonymous with instrument making in Passau and Linz. The family’s instrument-making history begins in the 1840s and ceases over 130 years later in 1973. Their story is not unlike other instrument makers of those days…difficult, complicated but for many, very interesting, especially since in this case,...
Louis-Maurice KASRIEL (1815-1899) was a musical instrument maker who was born in Krotoschin, Prussia – today's Krotoszyn in Poland. In 1839, he started a company in Paris that would specialise in making harmoniums, harmoniflutes and guide-chants. Louis Maurice Kasriel was married to Sara KAHN. The company was awarded medals for...
The surname POTTER is synonymous with instrument making, especially flutes. We tend to think of a certain Richard POTTER (1726-1806), who was the first of three generations of London instrument makers. But there was another family of POTTERS, active in the manufacture of wind instruments and drums, at the same...
