Robert Oswald set up on his own in 1891 in Markneukirchen, as successor to his father, and started the brand name Roa. He made flutes, clarinets and other woodwinds, and was especially famous for his tarogatos. His grandson, the late Gottfried MEINERT (1935-2024), would succeed him and continue on with the business.

This is a Schwedler-style flute. It features some of the improvements of the 1895 Schwedler model. German flutist Maximillian SCHWEDLER (1853-1940) was the leading flutist in Leipzig’s Gewandhaus Orchestra and taught flute at the city’s conservatoire. He was a strong supporter of the ‘old’ conical bore wooden flute rather than the new Boehm flute. So, he worked on making improvements to the ‘old’ flute for it to become the reform flute with flute maker Carl KRUSPE Junior (1865-1929).

So, in terms of special features, it has the brille – the German word for spectacles – as it looks like a pair of spectacles. This consists of ring keys for finger holes 1 and 2. There is also an extra pad for a small tone hole between these two finger holes. The brille moves together by rotating on an axle. The flute also has the 1898 metal head joint and ebonite lip plate.

This three-part flute, complete with tuning slide, is crafted in grenadilla and has a nickel silver mechanism and rings. The head joint is made of nickel silver. It was probably made around 1910.

This flute plays at around a=436 Hz and is in good condition with no visible cracks. It has a pleasant, soft and smooth sound. It speaks easily in the high registers and has good intonation. It is sold in working condition, but an overhaul is recommended for professional use.

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