A SUPERB "AUROMITE" POWELL "HANDMADE CONSERVATORY" FLUTE WITH EXTRAS

Description: WICHITA BAND INSTRUMENT COMPANY, since 1953!**** A SUPERB "AURUMITE" FLUTE FROM THE VERNE POWELL WORKSHOP, WASSER ERA, “HAND-MADE CONSERVATORY” SERIES, 100% MADE IN BOSTON, USA. Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE ***** A superb solid silver flute from the Verne Q. Powell workshop, “Handmade Custom”, serial number 64xx ,offset-G, B foot, D# roller, C# trill, low B gizmo. As I recall, the "aurumite" idea originated from Steven Wasser, who owned the company until Buffet-Crampon (France ) purchased the firm a dozen or more years ago. The aurumite name is still a bit confusing, in my opinion. Our flute has solid silver tube that's had gold fused to the exterior. The embouchure is ( we've been told ) solid 14K gold, but the riser, the bore and the inside of the extruded tone-holes are silver. But "aurumite" is not, Powell tells us a gold-plate finish that's applied electronically in a plating tank. According to what we've learned, it's the same as the "gold filled" metal that pocket-watch makers used many years ago. Sounding length is 633 mm (A : 442) and the embouchure 10.1 X 11.8 mm. The flute plays very well, is definitely a modern Powell, does get our top recommendation. New “suggested retail” price is now just a few dollars below $16,500. ***It might be interesting for flutists to read a bit of business history that our firm enjoyed during the “Wasser years” with Powell. Opinions expressed herein are only mine and do not reflect the quality of the superb musical equipment now being produced by Powell.*** After thirteen years with the Boston W.S. Haynes establishment, Verne Powell founded his own firm, located but a short distance from his previous employer. From the beginning, the minescule shop was devoted to the production of a limited number professional-quality flutes of the highest quality. Two models were offered to the musical community: the so-called “Handmade French”, based on the Paris instruments of the Louis Lot workshop and the flute we now know as “Commercial” models, patterned on the work of Theobald Boehm and William S. Haynes. “Handmade Custom” models (as they are called today) were considered “top of the line”, with soldered tone-holes, key-arms extended over the pad-cups and without stack-key adjustment screws. The Commercials were built with flat pad-cups and wore adjustment screws. Verne sold his small shop in 1961 to a quartet of long-time workers: Ed Almeida, Ed Machon, Richard Jerome and Elmer Waterhouse. From that time until the 1986 purchase by Harvard MBA-graduate Steven Wasser, the Powell company continued to create flutes of the highest quality. In the pre-Wasser years, only two models were produced: the handmades and the so-called commercials. Steven A. Wasser, a clarinet player with an MBA degree from Harvard, acquired control of the company in 1987. Wasser introduced many new ideas and models, some of which were (in our opinion) brilliant and others (also in our estimation) were not. The “2100” model replaced Powell’s “Commercials”, the former made entirely in Boston and with (as we called it) “Danish Modern” keywork. The flutes looked modern, were competitively priced and played quite well. Regretfully, production ceased a few years later. 2002 saw the introduction of Wasser’s “Conservatory” model flutes. Designed, as the name states, for advanced students. We quite like these instruments which, I believe, are still in production. I’m not quite sure why Mr. Wasser next came up with the “Signature” model flutes, but I do recall conversations with him in which I questioned the difference between the Signatures and the Conservatories. In any event, there was quite a difference in price between the two models. We did discuss the keywork between the two models and I vividly recall a conversation about the source of those parts that Steven was using on the Signatures. I don’t think I ever got a candid answer to my concerns. In any event, the flooting public should be informed that the best Powell models in those years were (top to bottom and by price) the “Handmade Custom”, the “Conservatory” and the “Signature”. On-line postings today sometime confuse these three models. The looks are, of course, similar. The introduction of the Sonare flutes, confused clients even further. I was disappointed that Steven had elected to use the same Powell name of the Sonare instruments. I had, still have, no major issues with the Sonares, did mention to Steven that I thought it ill-advised to use the name of a ( previously ) professional instrument on those flutes marketed for student use. But that was only my opinion and our Mr. Wasser pretty much ignored the same. And that’s enough said about my early contact with Steven. Powell is now owned by Buffet-Crampon and high-quality instruments are still being produced by them. My short essay on the various models are to hopefully educate internet buyers on how the early Powell-Wasser flutes compared to each other. *** THE ACQUISITION of any pro-quality flute is a very personal decision. And if there are too many variable, the musician is easily confused and frustrated. Which means we invite you to pay us an in-person visit. Wichita’s close to almost everything and a day’s flooting in our shop means you’ll have above four artist-quality flutes (soon to be five), all with French keywork, B foot and solid gold lip, to test. We’ll be delighted to welcome you! ***** AND.... Always in stock in our small workshop / sales room:*** A selection of pre-Wasser Powell flutes*** A small selection of "Golden Age" hand-made Haynes flutes, pre-DeVeau.*** A handful of vintage 19th. century flutes, fully original and restored, not re-tuned or otherwise altered.*** Plus....new flutes from Pearl, DiZhao and other firms. ALL with our 24 year service warranty.*** *********************************************************************** *** In January of 2024 our small workshop in Wichita will celebrate 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 four of the finest repair technicians in the country. We’re happy to report, a sterling reputation for top-quality restoration and ethical transactions. We are not amateurs, nor are we a “back bedroom” operation. We would be pleased to furnish you with references attesting to the above.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. Today we have 10 employees including four of the finest repair technicians in the country. 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. Wichita Band’s service warranty is the same as it’s been for more than thirty years: “ALL new and all used instruments sold by Wichita Band Instrument Company come with our 24 month service warranty. 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. The customer is responsible for shipping and insurance charges. Cases and plating finishes are not covered by our service warranty but are sometimes covered by factory guarantees.” 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! In the event that a customer requires service under factory guarantees or Wichita Band’s service warranty, the item must be returned to us and not directly to the manufacturer. International shipping is available. Buyers outside of the USA are responsible for all import duties and customs clearance charges in their respective countries. We may refuse PayPal and/or credit card payments from some countries.Returned items will be refunded within one week of our receiving the item. Ebay authorized payment methods: PayPal or credit/debit card processed through our internet merchant account. 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?” We kindly recommend an Ebay search with which you’ll learn more than we’d ever be able to tell you. Wichita Band Instrument Co. In January of 2024, our small workshop in Wichita will celebrate 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. Today we have ten employees including four of the finest repair technicians in the country. We’re happy to report, a sterling reputation for top-quality restoration and ethical transactions. We are not amateurs, nor are we a “back bedroom” operation. We would be pleased to furnish you with references attesting to the above. *** WICHITA BAND INSTRUMENT COMPANY / WICHITA, KANSAS / USA ***

Price: 10350 USD

Location: Wichita, Kansas

End Time: 2024-11-19T17:31:48.000Z

Shipping Cost: 0 USD