Full Metal Jacket! (for flute)

jemtheflute · Post by **jemtheflute** » Thu Jan 31, 2013 11:41 am

Have a look at this eBay flute! It appears to be a quite ordinary "nach Meyer" type German flute - in a fancy metal jacket..... Body armour? Can't really call it a "straight-jacket" as it is designed to allow all appendages free movement. Presumably it is a crack-preventer or repairer, or is it just cosmetic? Whatever, it hasn't prevented the long C key getting snapped nor the head and barrel from having the usual cracks. In fact, if you were going to have such a gadget, surely head and barrel would be the first places to add it. Body sections are far less prone to cracks, though the sockets (especially of the lower body/foot long section of a nach Meyer are pretty crack-prone). Perhaps it was for marching band sparkle - nicely polished up?

Anyway, the maker must have seen a need and expected to sell quite a few given the patent application and obviously non-unique production - it isn't a one-off hand-made rough job! I wonder if there'd be any info via the US Patents records?

Steve Bliven · Post by **Steve Bliven** » Thu Jan 31, 2013 11:55 am

I love the Turks head knot holding the "ox bone" segment together.... Haven't seen that before.

Best wishes.

Steve

woodfluter · Post by **woodfluter** » Thu Jan 31, 2013 2:18 pm

Yeah, the 3 lead, 5 bight turk's head on the bone had to be a repair - pretty spiffy. It also looks to have a head crack through the embouchure hole, although the seller didn't mention that. But some things about this are truly bizarre and mystifying.

Note that the upper body jacket is held together on the underside by three tightening bolts, and the lower body jacket by five of those. There are gaps on the underside to allow tightening or adjustment. Also a rather generous opening around each tone hole. That points toward something that could be added to various flutes, perhaps. But unless I'm mistaken, the post mounts for keys have to be either attached to the "jacket" or drilled through that and into the wood. So that points toward something made and fitted exactly to one flute design - or even one flute.

Like Jem said, this isn't where you'd need protection, as evidenced by where it cracked (the usual places). Seeing this sort of thing could keep me up at night. It looks like steampunk gear - this might be played in a band at Dragon Con.

Now that I think about it, the Fischer name seems familiar...this is W. Fischer, but wasn't there a New York based Carl Fischer company that made or imported many wooden flutes of German style?

Jayhawk · Post by **Jayhawk** » Thu Jan 31, 2013 2:36 pm

It's so ugly it is rather charming...much like Charlie Brown's Christmas tree.

I think it would be fun to take to session!

Steve Bliven · Post by **Steve Bliven** » Thu Jan 31, 2013 2:42 pm

Can an embouchure crack like that be repaired with a reasonable expectation of remaining closed?

Best wishes.

Steve

jemtheflute · Post by **jemtheflute** » Thu Jan 31, 2013 2:49 pm

Steve Bliven wrote:Can an embouchure crack like that be repaired with a reasonable expectation of remaining closed?

Best wishes.

Steve

Yes. Absolutely. And no need for pinning/stitching usually if done correctly. Have a look at some of my old Facebook photo albums of flute repairs.

I.D.10-t · Post by **I.D.10-t** » Thu Jan 31, 2013 3:15 pm

I must be the only person that likes pinning...

I'd say it's more of a flute girdle with how it is latched up in the back.

Jayhawk · Post by **Jayhawk** » Thu Jan 31, 2013 3:29 pm

I think it is more of a corset than a girdle. Flute's should have corsets whereas girdles should be reserved for tubas...

Post by **Nanohedron** » Thu Jan 31, 2013 4:08 pm

Well, it makes me think of whips, saltires, and zipper masks.

MTGuru · Post by **MTGuru** » Thu Jan 31, 2013 4:11 pm

Nanohedron wrote:Well, it makes me think of whips, saltires, and zipper masks.

TMI

Post by **benhall.1** » Thu Jan 31, 2013 4:24 pm

Sorta gimpy?

Jayhawk · Post by **Jayhawk** » Thu Jan 31, 2013 4:27 pm

MTGuru wrote:
Nanohedron wrote:Well, it makes me think of whips, saltires, and zipper masks.
TMI

Being an innocent, I have no idea what Nano is talking about...all I know is I would not trust him with this poor innocent flute.

Post by **Nanohedron** » Thu Jan 31, 2013 4:31 pm

Jayhawk wrote:
MTGuru wrote:
Nanohedron wrote:Well, it makes me think of whips, saltires, and zipper masks.
TMI
Being an innocent, I have no idea what Nano is talking about...all I know is I would not trust him with this poor innocent flute.

Smart man.

I suppose if you want another, less starkly dramatic option, it does fit rather solidly within the Steampunk aesthetic genre.

Peter Duggan · Post by **Peter Duggan** » Thu Jan 31, 2013 5:31 pm

Nanohedron wrote:Well, it makes me think of whips, saltires, and zipper masks.

Saltires? Just remember some of us are actually quite proud of those and not afraid to admit it!

Post by **Nanohedron** » Thu Jan 31, 2013 5:39 pm

Peter Duggan wrote:
Nanohedron wrote:Well, it makes me think of whips, saltires, and zipper masks.
Saltires? Just remember some of us are actually quite proud of those and not afraid to admit it!

I always suspected you Scots were a sporting bunch.

Chiff and Fipple Forums

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