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Story of the Flute
of acoustics, and was out of tune.[1] Böhm's new flute appeared in 1832. Early in 1833 Gordon went toGordon's
Flutes Munich specially to obtain the assistance of one of Böhm's most skilful workmen, whose services, as well as a private workshop, were generously placed at his disposal by Böhm, who himself was in London at the time. In July 1833 Gordon wrote to Mercier in Paris, sending him copies of a prospectus of a new flute which he had made in Munich, after destroying several previous attempts by continual alterations (Page 51, Figs, 1 and 2). This prospectus was also circulated in Germany and in London. Gordon in his scale for this flute, published in 1834, himself states that it contained two of Böhm's keys (F♯ and D shake) by Böhm's express permission. Gordon again visited London, but his new flute failed to attract public attention; and, as his widow says, being very shy, without introductions or knowledge of the world, his pecuniary resources were exhausted, and he returned ill and disheartened to
Flutes Munich specially to obtain the assistance of one of Böhm's most skilful workmen, whose services, as well as a private workshop, were generously placed at his disposal by Böhm, who himself was in London at the time. In July 1833 Gordon wrote to Mercier in Paris, sending him copies of a prospectus of a new flute which he had made in Munich, after destroying several previous attempts by continual alterations (Page 51, Figs, 1 and 2). This prospectus was also circulated in Germany and in London. Gordon in his scale for this flute, published in 1834, himself states that it contained two of Böhm's keys (F♯ and D shake) by Böhm's express permission. Gordon again visited London, but his new flute failed to attract public attention; and, as his widow says, being very shy, without introductions or knowledge of the world, his pecuniary resources were exhausted, and he returned ill and disheartened to
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- ↑ Unfortunately no drawing exists of any flute made by Gordon before his meeting with Böhm. Coche's picture (Page 51, Fig. 1) is said by him to be a copy of a drawing in Gordon's early prospectus, and Ward says it closely resembles a flute he made for Gordon about 1831. It is entirely open-keyed. Clinton's picture (Page 51, Fig. 2) is probably a model of later date (? 1833), and Bohm, who also reproduces it in his pamphlet of 1847, says Gordon made it at Munich. Some of its keys were worked by means of cranks and wires (a device afterwards used on Ward's flutes). Notice the peculiar low C keys. Böhm's 1831 model (Page 51, Fig. 4) was almost certainly made before he had seen Gordon's flute. It greatly resembles the eight-keyed flute.
