The Scherers – rich and royal
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 Butzbach The Scherers were originally thought to have worked out of…
Cross-blown flageolet – Parker, John
You thought you’d seen it all, but this lovely wind instrument is proof you haven’t! It’s a cross-blown flageolet or flute-flageolet. John PARKER (ca.1757-1813) was highly regarded in the instrument-making trade. He was also an oboist, bass singer and bassoon player. He worked out of 52 Long Lane, Southwark, England for…
Finding the flute of an outstanding flute virtuoso
When it comes to antique or original instruments, it’s normally a huge bonus if we have a maker’s stamp to identify and date the instrument. New owners are then happy to know some details about the maker’s background and the properties of the instrument itself. Organology, or the study of…
Tenor horn – Gottfried HIRSBRUNNER (Aarau-Switzerland)
The Hirsbrunner or Hirschbrunner family has been making wind instruments for over 200 years. A total of eight generations worked across three companies established in the Swiss towns of Sumiswald, Grünen and Aarau. Christian Hirsbrunner (1748–1815) was the first of 18 members of the family who were involved in the…
Flute – RAMPONE & B. CAZZANI & C
This exceptional late-Romantic flute was made by the company Rampone & B. Cazzani & C in Milan. On the death of the famous woodwind instrument maker Agostino RAMPONE (1843-1897), his son Egidio (1872-1937) went into partnership with Battista CAZZANI (1846-1920), a watchmaker and brass instrument manufacturer and married Cazzani’s daughter….
Flute – Goulding, D’Almaine, Potter & Co., 8 keys
This is a fully restored, eight-keyed, boxwood flute in four sections made by Goulding D’Almaine Potter & Co. D’Almaine & Co. was a firm of musical instrument makers, music sellers, publishers and printers that was in existence in one form or another for around eighty years. It was first established…
Heinrich FIEHN – the real man behind the ocarina
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…
Bass clarinet – MAINO & ORSI
This lovely bass clarinet is crafted in grenadilla and nickel silver. This bass clarinet was made by Maino & Orsi. It is a simple (Albert) system clarinet with two independent speakers. The company Maino & Orsi was the fruit of a collaboration and partnership between Paolo MAINO (?-1881) and Romeo ORSI…
