A. Laurent Flute

A. Laurent Silverplated flute

This french flute out of the golden era of french flute manufacturing

has been built by a lesser known person. Even the Langwill index

doesn't give any information about this flutebuilder.

However, the adress stamped onto the body is not far

situated from the Lebret workshops so chances are

big that it appears to be one of Lebret's foremen

who started his own business.

It is an all original silverplated flute with the typical

french cups. Besides that its'sound is very close to

the more renowned flutebuilders like Lebret and

others. I'm not acquainted with the fact that the

famous crystal flutes builder C. Laurent could

be an anchestor.

Though this instrument was in very dirty and

allmost unplayable condition it was clear to me that

it certainly had potentials. After a cleaning and repadding

job it appears to be absolutely true.

For those interested: Soldered toneholes and of

course the inline mechanism that is thought to have

a superior soundresult as the tube is able to vibrate

more freely.

Leblanc Flute

Of course Leblanc is well known for his clarinets but his flutes
from the earlier years are a rewarding find as well.
This one is in need of a total overhaul but the notes
that do work sound really promising.

As can be seen on the lipplate this is a well used
flute from which one must conclude it is a good instrument.
The crown is worth a careful examination!

The engraving is done with care as well.
As far as I can see an unaltered lipplate.

A detail of the midsection showing its'mechanism.

L.Lebret silverplated flutes

Somewhat curious is this example of a silverplated flute

by L.Lebret. Most of his flutes are open hole.

Besides that, this is a very early one, almost
one of the first 1000 instruments he built.

As with most earlier instruments this one has a seamed tube.

The form of the keys and the ball shaped mechanism is allready

there. L.Lebret started working on his own in 1888 after

spending a decade working in the Louis Lot workshop.

A nice crown which is quite significant for the Lebret heads

and the unaltered lipplate. This instrument has got the

qualities of a good french flute of that time.

The inscription ads: fournisseur des conservatoires.

Can be dated just before 1900.

This is a silverplated open hole L.Lebret flute.

In fact there are many of them but different in quality.

This one has that sought after creamy french tone

though it is a bit later example. In the thirties of

the past century Robert Malerne took over Lebrets'

workshop and produced flutes up until the mid fifties.