Antique Musical Instruments/Fernand Chapelain Flute

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Expert: Suzie - 6/7/2009


Question
I recently purchased a (cocus?) wooden flute at an estate sale.  Dayton C. Miller Flute Collection at Library of Congress has one like it.  It is in the original case w/ no cracks/breaks.  3 pieces.  Marked L.P w/ rooster mark & Fernand Chapelain.  Is it worth anything?  Just curious...

Answer
Hello and thanks for writing! Can you email me some photos of the flute? Are there many keys on it or just a few? It's most likely either cocuswood or grenadilla, the keys are most likely nickel-silver (German silver) and the L.P. would most likely indicate that it's in the key of C @ A-440hz (a.k.a. it'd be playable with current band settings). Please email me a few photos (if possible) and provide the overall length from end to end with the flute assembled. My email address is info@foreverwoodwinds.com . Hope that helps! Thanks -Suzie

Also, the Chapelain company was a great French company and I can provide company information without photos.

Antique Musical Instruments

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Suzie

Experience

I have been fixing and reselling flutes (both young and old!) for the last 5 years and occasionally some other woodwinds on occasion. I've been well acquainted with antique oboes, clarinets, and most flutes (including piccolos and fifes) and should be able to help with most questions.

Education/Credentials
A few years ago, I attended a technical college for a band instrument repair course. After I left the college, I began educating myself on antique flutes, clarinets and oboes and continue to try helping people with their instruments. I'm able to provide an estimate of the value of the instrument(s) as well as an estimate for restoration of the instrument(s). If you have a very important question and/or I haven't written back to your question within a few days, please feel free to give me a call at any time on my cell phone: 570-236-7054. Thanks!

*****PLEASE ONLY SEND FLUTE, CLARINET, PICCOLO, FIFE, OBOE & SAXOPHONE QUESTIONS!*****

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