Hawkes & Son flute query

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flutee
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Tell us something.: I play saxophone clarinet and flute, the standard Boehm kind. I repair all of these but rarely have older flutes, the kind this informative site is mainly concerned with.

Hawkes & Son flute query

Post by flutee »

My Excelsior Sonorous flute has a sounding length of 60.5cm so is therefore a low pitched C flute. I'm curious about its value as it is free of splits etc.
tstermitz
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Re: Hawkes & Son flute query

Post by tstermitz »

Sounding length isn't the best determinant.

What is the tuning when you play it?

What is the slide extension to get it to A440?

Is it 8-keys, 6-keys or something else?

Is it of wood or ebonite?
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jemtheflute
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Re: Hawkes & Son flute query

Post by jemtheflute »

I presume this is a Böhm system cylinder-bodied instrument? For those, sounding length is a pretty accurate reference pitch indicator and yes, 600mm is A440. 605mm might be a little flatter, perhaps continental diapason normal A435.
Sharing some photos would help.
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