A solid silver flute made during the ownership of the Louis Lot workshop by E. Barat (1889 - 1904)., number 6656 ( 1899 / 1900 ) ***
French hallmarks and maker’s mark are found on the embouchure plate and the socket ring on the body.
Soldered tone-holes, perforated (French) keywork to low C, in-line G.
We measure the silver tube as .014 inches (.35 mm.)
B to C trill, no adjusting screws.
Embouchure measures 9.8 X 11.9 mm.
Sounding length is 600 mm. We see no evidence that the head has been altered or cut
shorter, however there is no tuning ring to the head.
The body and foot clearly show signs of “seamed construction”, the seam to the head is invisible.
We note that the light weight of the instrument (404 grams) equates with a more feminine lovely voice, arguably of more appeal than other flutes from Barat. Simply said, we quite like this superior vintage beauty!
****GR/Wichita
HG
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. I have several other similar Lot flutes, all original, not "re-tuned", still with original embouchure plates. For that super-particular flutist who want "original, original, original," we invite them to come visit us and try everything in our flute vault!
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.
Flute questions? Write me! Always glad to hear from flute people!