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Flute.

Technical description: rosewood; 5 sections; silver keys; 9 silver ferrules (including one either side of lip-plate); ferrules at joints are bushed inside with ivory; metal-lined head; tuning-slide; wooden cap; ivory screw-stopper with graduated silver tip; large oval embouchure-hole with ivory bushing; large rectangular silver lip-plate set into wood between two decorative silver ferrules; large finger-holes for L2, R1 and R2; interlocking low C/C♯ touches; indentation for L1 at side of flute; flattened area around right hand finger-holes; both the indentation and flattened area are original (the inscription is still readable in these areas); rectangular excavated area with [original] sharkskin lining for right thumb; linear design with no marked expansion at joints.; Nominal pitch: C.; Type or system: 7 keys (to C), `Nicholson's Improved'.; Keyhead type: saltspoon; shallow pewter plugs for low C/C♯, with metal plates around key-holes.; Keymount type: knob.; L0: @I{B♭.L1: @I{T.L2: @I{T.L3: @I{T.L4: @I{G♯.R0: @I{support.R1: @I{T; C.R2: @I{T.R3: @I{T; F.R4: @I{D♯; low C♯; low C.; Usable pitch: A₄ c|458|Hz (head immovable in `fully-in' position, so pitch tested with screw-stopper in corresponding `fully-out' position).; Performance characteristics: [original range C₄|-|C₇]; in present condition the low register is not clear, low C/C♯ are not speaking and the instrument speaks with difficulty from A₆ upwards, but the middle register plays with a very powerful and clean-edged sound; the instrument is heavy, but well-balanced when in playing position.

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  • Inscriptions:Stamped (in script) on head "C. Nicholson's. / Improved."; on tuning section, lower body and foot "T.Prowse / London"; on upper body "C. Nicholson's. / Improved. / 3694 / T.Prowse. / Hanway St / London."
  • Hornbostel-Sachs category:421.121.12 Open side-blown flutes with fingerholes
  • Repository:Royal Conservatoire of Scotland
  • Measurements:Overall size: 659.; Sounding length: 585.; Bore: conical.