A superb solid silver flute from the Verne Q. Powell workshop, “Handmade Custom” (1976), in-line G, B foot; serial #4669
Verne Powell sold his small flute workshop 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 was dedicated to building flutes of the highest quality. In the pre-Wasser years, only two models were produced: the “Handmade” and the so-called “Commercial”, the former based on the classic French instruments of the previous century and the latter loosely patterned after the work of Theobald Boehm.
Handmade Custom” models (as they are called today) were considered “top of the line”, with soldered tone-holes (a few in the mid-seventies with extruded 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.
Powell’s records are a bit confused, typical of the seventies in their shop. On-line, we read that #4669 has .018 heavy silver tube, soldered tone-holes. Right now, I'm holding the flute in my hands, confirm that it was built to .016 tubing, in-line G and with extruded tone-holes. The body length is two mm shorter than a "traditional scale" Powell of the time period, which does confirm "Cooper Scale" to us.In any event, it's a superb player, arguably the best of anything now in our vintage vault.
The original case is in good condition, some original scuff marks.
Sounding length is 634 mm (A : 442) and the embouchure i 10.3 X 12.1 mm. The flute weighs 443 grams.
The flute plays very well, is unique and quite different from a modern Powell, gets our top recommendation.
New “suggested retail” price is now just a few dollars below $20,000.***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.***
***GR/Wichita
HG