Description: This flute is made from african blackwood. The flute has post-mounted, nickel sliver keys and rings. Its head is fully lined in nickel silver. The inner and outer parts of the tuning slide are nickel silver. The flute has 8 keys – C, Bb, G#, long and short F, Eb, and C# and C foot keys. The keys, head and foot caps, have a style and configuration that is typical of German flutes, but unlike most German flutes this flute has separate right hand and foot sections. The end cap has internal threads that engage with a threaded cork holder (turned from blackwood), and can be twisted to fine-tune the stopper position. A nickel silver finial protrudes through the end cap to give a visual indication of the stopper position.
Makers marks: The head is marked “GEO CLOOS / () . The left hand section of the body is marked “GEO CLOOS / () / 3223”. The right hand body and foot sections are unmarked.
History: George Cloos arrived in Brooklyn, New York in 1854 and began working with, or perhaps apprenticing for, William Bauer. Cloos started his own business around 1863, producing instruments under his own name, and eventually becoming an OEM supplier of flutes and fifes for Ditson/Haynes. This flute dates from post 1863 and prior to his death in 1910. For a more detailed discussion of George Cloos and his role in making flutes and fifes, see this article.
Tuning: This flute plays at A=425 hz with a good voice and intonation, with the tuning slide extended around 6 mm at 70 degrees F.
Specifications: C# – D# 257 mm. L2 tone hole 7.5 mm. R2 tone hole 7.3 mm.
Condition: The flute is in good playing condition, but the bottom foot key (C) needs some work to improve sealing.