DCM 0099: Theobald Boehm Flute in C

DCM ledger: "Metal flute made by Boehm himself, No. 19, about 1850. Early type of cylinder bore.... Formerly belonged to Edward Martin Heindl, who 'gave' it to Geo. W. Haynes, about 1888, and later took it back! Haynes put on a special thumb key about 1888." Probably the first metal Boehm flute to be brought to America [1864 by Edward Martin Heindl], used by him in the famous Mendelssohn Quintette Club, and in the Boston Symphony Orchestra upon its organization in 1881. Silver head joint perhaps by Badger.
Instrument type: Flute in C
Medium: Silver-plated nickel silver, with extra wood head (with nickel silver ferrules at embouchure).; 64.95 cm. (silver), 66.23 cm. (wood)
Key Holes System: Boehm system with keys mounted on front, open G#, post and rod on ribs.
Mark Maximum: Th. Boehm / in / München / 19
Mark Additional: Mark engraved on barrel.
Condition: Crack in wood head joint. Silver head joint is missing cap, and cracked in inner wood layer at embouchure. Some keys heavily pitted. Metal patch at RH thumb, probably a repair.
Case: Case.
Provenance: Baxter-Northup Co., Los Angeles, 20 Nov. 1918.

The Dayton C. Miller collection in the Library of Congress, contains nearly 1,700 flutes and other wind instruments, statuary, iconography, books, music, trade catalogs, tutors, patents, and other materials mostly related to the flute. It includes both Western and non-Western examples of flutes from around the world, with at least 460 European and American instrument makers represented. Items in the collection date from the 16th to the 20th century.