DCM 0610: Anonymous Piccolo in unidentified key (See Notes.)

Pitched approximately an octave above normal C piccolo. This instrument is obviously the work of an amateur builder in an attempt to produce a flute approximately an octave above the standard C (D-flat?) piccolo. The upper end has been turned on a lathe to form a head joint of approximately 7.2 cm in length, which appears to be growing from that end of the instrument! Similarly, the bottom end has also been turned to provide a decorative simulated foot joint. The actual functioning bore is installed in only the upper half. The toneholes, if actually in approximately accurate positions, are too close together to actually be covered. It is curious that as clever as this design may be for an amateur, he left no way to adjust the head joint cork further away from the embouchure, only closer to it.
Instrument type: Piccolo in unidentified key (See Notes.)
Medium: Unidentified hard wood, bone head joint cap and bottom ferrule, brass key guard plates, brass keys.; Rectangular shape approximately 32-34 mm. by 14-15 mm. See Notes. Sounding length is 13.2 cm.
Key Holes System: 6 keys, square flat flaps, operated by long brass levers which extend downward, along the underside. Each incorporates a 90 degree bend extending upward through perforations in the wood and each terminates in a brass concave finger button riveted to the key end. In effect, this is a 1-keyed piccolo. In addition to the amateur but cleverly done keywork and lever system, there are 3 brass guard plates, the largest of which is a right thumb rest, each applied with brass pins.
Mark Maximum: C F (flat sign) ?
Mark Additional: Mark on back.
Provenance: Auguste Buffet (daughter of Djalma Julliot), Paris, 26 July 1926.

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.