Expert: Kenton Scott - 4/3/2006

Question
Hi!

I recently purchased a fairly old Elkheart flute, and have been trying to find some information about it and the company behind it.  I would love to be able to date this flute, and my hope is to restore it and give it to a friend.

I don't know anything about flutes, so bare with me here...

On one end of the middle section, the following is engraved:  

ELKHEART
BAND INST. CO.
ELKHEART - IND.
USA

and very small on the other side of the same end:

29  39

I have not seen any other markings, but I haven't pulled out the loop yet...

Any information you can give me would be really great!  Also, any info or links about restoring/cleaning/polishing/etc would help.

Thanks!

Cheers,

Jim

Answer
Hi Jim,

I don't believe there is an "E" in Elkhart.  (Well, not counting the 1st one!)

I don't know as much about woodwinds as I do about brass instruments, but here is what I know about the Elkhart Company.  They were in business as an independent company for only a few years - from 1924 to 1928.  And, it would be fun to think that your horn came from that period.

But, unfortunately, the company merged with Buescher and Buescher continued to use the name as a trade name.  So, it could be considerably newer than that.

I think that flute serial numbers typically are just above the bottom joint.  I don't know whether that is what the 2939 might be or not.  But, I know of no serial number charts for Elkhart. And, the Buescher charts don't match up with that number. (they were into the 5000's by 1905, before Elkhart was even in business.)  And, I don't know whether Buescher kept separate serial numbers for the Elkhart line.  

A good silver polish will work just fine to clean it. But to repair/restore it, you will need to get it to a good repair shop.

kms