The following was in a message I received from Joseph Morneaux this morning:
“Sweetheart Flute has shut down and Musique Morneaux has taken its place here in the shop… Scrambling to put up a viable website and change the letterhead and moving things about in the workshop… Daunting! Happened a bit more quickly than we had prepared for.”
I wish him well.
The Sweetheart Flute Company website http://www.sweetheartflute.com/ is still up and taking orders, are we talking about another business here?
Might be worth clarifying which we’re talking about here …
So far as I know, Joe has taken over Mr. Sweet’s business, and he is working on changing the name, etc. Joe has worked for Mr. Sweet for some time, and I would imagine that Mr. Sweet has retired - since he’s well along in years. Until all these things are changed, the Sweetheart website will remain the same.
I don’t know any of this for sure, it’s just speculation on my part. It makes sense, however.
Look at the home page more closely Steve, notification of the change is there.
Ah, my mistake, sorry. Carry on
Very interesting.
One wonders why they didn’t continue using the Sweetheart name.
I also wonder why a family member didn’t continue the company.
BTW my first flute was a Sweet flute, bought around 1976. It had a very low serial number (can’t remember now but it was around 100). Amazing to see Sweet flutes with serial numbers over 2,000.
Shouldn’t this be moved to the flute forum? Well he made whistles too, but flutes were always the main thing.
His son is in business at wdsweetflutes.com.
Here 'tis, in duplicate. 
Shouldn’t be a complete surprise. Ralph is aging (unlike the rest of us) and has successfully run Sweetheart Flutes for many years. His son, Walt, set up a separate operation some years back focusing mostly on delrin instruments. His web site is noted above. Time marches on…
Best wishes.
Steve
Hello C&F! It’s been a while since I’ve been here, but I wanted to clarify what’s happening on this, Ralph’s 88th birthday! WOOT!!!
Jos Morneault has indeed gone from being the foreman of the shop, chief woodworker and all around neat guy, to being my boss. Another WOOT!!! For the past many years he has been maintaining the high quality of Sweetheart Flute’s products, and is now taking the shop forward. Same shop, equipment, materials and skills, and hands making the instruments, but a different signature at the bottom of my paycheck, and a different person taking the risks and financial burdens.
I am proud of the shop I work in, the people I work with, and the long history of Sweetheart Flute as it segues to Musique Morneaux.
With all best wishes to everyone who remembers This Cat,
Amy
Great to see you around, Amy!! And glad you’re still enjoying your work in Enfield.
Cheers, Charlie