An original 1880’s flute from the Paris workshop of Louis Lot. Soldered tone-holes, C foot, keywork showing no wear to the hinge-tubes or pad-cups. The solid silver tube measures. The flute was constructed with inline G, and soldered tone-holes. Traditional scale, sounding length is 600 mm (A = 440). I see no sign that the head has been cut shorter or altered in any way. The flute has not been “re-tuned”. Embouchure measures 9.9 X 11.8 mm. The flute is part of a small collection of French instruments that I’ve acquired over the years, which means I may offer to sell a few more in the upcoming months. But please note: This instrument wears all original parts and has not been cut shorter or re-tuned. Regretfully it is not for sale to any person who might have plans to alter it in any way. I have a wonderful English wife, I own two vintage British roadsters and I’ve visited the UK more than one hundred times. But I will not sell this flute to a resident of England where the ruination of fine vintage instruments seems to be acceptable. Always glad to hear from flute. In January of 2024 our small workshop in Wichita celebrated seventy-one years in business. Over the decades, we’ve repaired and restored more than two hundred vintage French flutes from Louis Lot, Bonneville, Claude Rive and Buffet-Crampon plus hundreds of professional-quality flutes from Haynes and Powell. Today we have ten employees including five of the finest repair technicians in the country. We are not amateurs, nor are we a “back bedroom” operation. We would be pleased to furnish you with references attesting to the above. A FEW WORDS ABOUT OUR SENDING “ON APPROVAL”. Wichita Band Instrument Company is a small musical instrument emporium located in the center of the USA. We’ve been in business since 1953 and have had the same owner since 1963. Originally we were a repair shop that specialized in woodwind and sax restoration. Virtually ALL the items we sell have been fully reconditioned in our own shop, although we do sell a few unrestored historical instruments each year. It’s in addition to any factory guarantees. For two full years, we will repair or replace, whichever in our estimation is the more advisable, pads, corks, springs or other parts required, at no charge to the customer. Wichita Band Instrument Company maintains a repair department capable of restoration work of the highest quality. Even though repairs are essentially “free” for the first two years, after that period has expired, we remain at your service to maintain and repair your musical equipment forever. It’s our “service after the sale” promise and has been since 1953! We’re happy to respond to any and all questions about flutes and other musical instruments, but please don’t write and ask What’s granny’s mellophone worth? Wichita Band Instrument Co. In January of 2024, our small workshop in Wichita celebrated seventy-one years in business. We are not in the 1952 Wichita telephone directory, but we ARE in the 1953. Over the decades, we’ve repaired and restored hundreds of woodwind instruments, specializing in woodwinds from the early twentieth century and before. WICHITA BAND INSTRUMENT COMPANY / WICHITA, KANSAS / USA.
