DCM 0025: Alfred G. Badger Flute in C

DCM ledger: "Experimental Flute?... Badger's regular work on body and head....No clue whatever, as to the 'System.'" By 'Badger's regular work on body,' Miller refers to the maker's normal foot joint design plus his usual key cup design applied to the middle joint despite its bizarre fingering scheme. This apparently experimental system is perhaps the most unique in the Miller collection. The foot joint is standard, low C#, C, standing open, but the body contains 13 keys, all standing closed requiring a reasonably awkward technique if to function as a fully vented system according to Boehm. To hold this instrument is awkward in that the tonehole placement leaves no practical place to rest the right thumb and the left thumb placement is nearly as difficult. It is possible that this instrument was to receive a crutch for the RH, possibly also for the left, and never completed.
Instrument type: Flute in C
Medium: Silver plate over brass, embouchure barrel consisting of metal/wood/metal.; 68.8 cm.
Key Holes System: Cylindrical bore, post and rod on ribs, roller for C.
Mark Maximum: A. G. BADGER / 179 BROADWAY / NEW YORK (on shield)
Mark Additional: Mark on raised silver shield, head joint.
Provenance: Pawn shop, the Bowery, New York, 20 Aug. 1910.

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.