Laurent Flute sold in Paris

[Andro]

In all seriousness, can one 3D print glass nowadays? If they can make aircraft engines in metal that withstand mechanical stress and hundreds of degrees temperature with 3D printing (the Cessna Denali) maybe it is possible? Or an extremely hard acrylic?

Does heat tempering after the precision hole grinding affect the delicate dimensions?

In all serious I would like one with 8 keys, A 440, tunable slide, simple system. But Boehm also good with all the keys.

Have you got the referenced article:

Dayton Miller (“Flutes of Glass,” The Flutist, v. 6, no. 7, 1925, pp. 151–155)

cheerio!

[Latticino]

Funny you should mention that. I recently spoke to an engineer/artist from MIT who has developed a machine that uses 3D technology to "print" using molten glass. I wouldn't have believed it possible, but here is a video of the machine: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvcpbtpWpGY. Don't think it will work for making flutes, but in the future, who knows.

[dunnp]

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=6AvbSmszJeE

It’s been posted in the last conversation we had about Laurent but I think it’s nice to see again.

Michael Lynn is selling a Laurent w/ matching ivory Monzani. I think he has posted here in the past.
I’d ring him right away if the lottery came in.

http://originalflutes.com/french-flutes ... ystal.html
http://www.originalflutes.com/english-f ... ivory.html

[MadmanWithaWhistle]

Funny you should mention that. I recently spoke to an engineer/artist from MIT who has developed a machine that uses 3D technology to "print" using molten glass. I wouldn't have believed it possible, but here is a video of the machine: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvcpbtpWpGY. Don't think it will work for making flutes, but in the future, who knows.

Fascinating stuff. I myself use a Formlabs Form2 to prototype many of my whistle designs. 3D printing has really advanced my designs; as in 3 hours I can print an entire set of whistleheads instead of laboriously grinding out only one on the lathe that still requires hand-finishing I cock up as often as not.

My smallpipes are also 3D printed!

[RudallRose]

Casey, I listened in on that auction, thinking I might be a buyer, but when it broke 10,000Euro, I was better amused to remain on the sidelines.

However, the historical nature of that flute -- it was made for Laurent's brother and is one of the few (only?) 1-key Laurent flutes existing and had the topaz topped key -- made it a natural for the price paid. In all, with fees and VAT, came to roughly $34,000. Way out of my league.

But I've had the pleasure and privilege to play a few Laurent flutes, including the aforementioned one that belonged to Napoleon. You're right, very heavy. Yet there's something wonderful about their history and their provenance. It felt very important to hold one and more so to play it.

That said......I'm not sure anyone save for the eccentric would want a newly made glass flute today. And if made, what of its cost?

And I do remember the Russian selling his on eBay some years ago.

Most of the flutes, in clear crystal, are lovely, but when you begin to see the ones in colored glass, it's breathtaking in their beauty.

We won't see another for sale for a little while, I'm afraid.

[linuxchiq]

There is a company currently offering glass flutes:

http://www.hallflutes.com