New wooden flute by John Calmont

bradhurley · Post by **bradhurley** » Mon Dec 22, 2003 3:24 pm

[quote="JessieK] I have not heard of chambering, so I assumed you were talking about chamfering, which refers to the holes, not the bore. [/quote]

I think Andrew is referring to the practice of using different reamers to create "chambers" in the bore, which affect the tuning and tonal qualities of the notes around which you create the chambers. This is a common practice in Rudall-style flutes; less so in Prattens, as I understand it. The bore of a Rudall-Rose style flute is not a straight, smooth taper.

andrew · Post by **andrew** » Mon Dec 22, 2003 4:29 pm

Well done, Bradhurley.
I am sorry - I had assumed that someone who "understands flute mechanics" knows all about chambering , (which is not always done with a reamer ).I can't say how important chambering is - opinions differ on this subject (like all others! ).It would be very interesting to know the views of those who have some .( And I hope some experience ).
I hope Jessie isn't suggesting to all us innocents that the undercutting of a hole is neccessarily to influence the note directly associated with that hole .

eilam · Post by **eilam** » Mon Dec 22, 2003 4:59 pm

Jessie wrote:
<<I discussed it with Dan (my husband) and asked what he thought the question <<meant and he said he thinks ........

Jessie! That's like cheating! had I asked my wife, or even my kids to proofread my posts hell, even the chickens! Half the stuff would make more sense.

I think "Chambering" is only allowed to be talked about wearing shades, and whispered very quietly!

I've heard much about it, but never seen it.

JessieK · Post by **JessieK** » Mon Dec 22, 2003 7:55 pm

Andrew, lay off. I don't think everyone is an innocent or is ignorant, or that I know everything. I do think, however, that Calmont is an unsteady individual who types before he thinks. Do you disagree, Andrew? I don't see how anyone could. Furthermore, Calmont claims to be so well-read and scholarly about flutes, so I wonder why he is satisfied with the production of low-end instruments. Andrew, YOU started antagonizing ME (not the other way around), making fun of what I said about bores being the same on flutes that are the same. Then you corrected yourself after talking with Chris. Your problem with me is your own. I won't take part in it.

Thanks, Brad. I had heard of those chambers referred to as a "perturbed bore."

JessieK · Post by **JessieK** » Mon Dec 22, 2003 8:04 pm

As for experience, here are a couple of pictures of flutes that I have made, with Dave Copley tutoring.

First one (since we had no idea how well I'd do, we didn't take a chance on expensive wood; had we known it would be a good flute, we would have used different, or one kind of, timber):

<img src=http://home.hvc.rr.com/kislindriscoll/first-flute.JPG>

A later one (blackwood; I love the sound and feel of all-wood flutes):

<img src=http://home.hvc.rr.com/kislindriscoll/b ... -small.JPG>

They play quite nicely.

Henke · Post by **Henke** » Mon Dec 22, 2003 8:27 pm

Great looking instruments Jessie.
Probably a lot better than I or most other people on this board could have made them.

eilam · Post by **eilam** » Tue Dec 23, 2003 12:50 am

Tell me Andrew, if I look down a bore of one of Wilkes's flutes, could I see where the chambering was done? Is it visible? Or do I need a bore scan to see any inconsistency in the taper?

andrew · Post by **andrew** » Tue Dec 23, 2003 3:51 am

As I understand it chambering ,as it is widely known ,can be very difficult to see .
Sorry JessieK , if I have angered you .I should have realised ( or remembered ) how easily it can be done .
I wish I had a husband to ask what " a flute of a particular design" means unless the exact bore dimensions are included in the design , especially when 0.1 mm can make such a difference .
I get the impression that a lot of old English makers got their bores wrong either in " design " or by execution ,and their work was probably dictated by what reamers they could lay their hands on . Re-reaming can resurrect a non-goer .

JessieK · Post by **JessieK** » Tue Dec 23, 2003 8:33 am

andrew wrote:Sorry JessieK , if I have angered you .I should have realised ( or remembered ) how easily it can be done .

I will not take the bait. My posts (and yours) stand on their own.

I wish I had a husband to ask what " a flute of a particular design" means

That's not what I asked him. Your question was a jumble much bigger than the above fragment. Dan doesn't know flutes. He does, however, having been a teacher for a few years before his corporate career, understand unclear communication better than I do.

Oh, but good luck finding a husband.

andrew · Post by **andrew** » Tue Dec 23, 2003 8:56 am

Whoever said it was, Jessie ?.Because I was having difficulty understanding your reference I would have liked someone to enlighten me. I think you are very hard on a novice English flutemaker who clearly does not have a clue , but whose enthusiasm should not be squashed .( It would be nice ,however,if he were to read the numerous guides available on cork placement ! ).
Happy Christmas to all.

andrew · Post by **andrew** » Tue Dec 23, 2003 8:57 am

Whoever said it was, Jessie ?.Because I was having difficulty understanding your reference I would have liked someone to enlighten me. I think you are very hard on a novice English flutemaker who clearly does not have a clue , but whose enthusiasm should not be squashed .( It would be nice ,however,if he were to read the numerous guides available on cork placement ! ).
Happy Christmas to all.