Keith, Prowse & Co - the other perfected 8-keyWhen we think of third-generation 8-key designs, we naturally think of Pratten's Perfected, and maybe Hawkes & Son. But Keith, Prowse and Co? Who were they? Let's just pause first to clarify our terms. By first generation, I mean the first 8-key designs that were essentially four or six key flutes with a few more keys. Names like Potter, Monzani, Clementi. By second generation, I mean the "Improved" era flutes started by Nicholson and carried on by the likes of Rudall & Rose. Third generation or Perfected era flutes came in reaction to Boehm's 1847 cylinder flute design - they were the last gasp of the 19th century conical flute. This is our period of interest here. Who were Keith, Prowse and Co?According to the New Langwill Index, Keith, Prowse & Co was a company of music sellers, publishers, musical instrument makers and dealers, flourishing in London from around 1830 to a surprisingly late 1950. The first thing to note is the comma - it wasn't a Mr. Keith Prowse, but a partnership between Robert William Keith (1767-1846) and William Prowse (1801-1886). The next thing to note is that there is no apparent link between William Prowse and Thomas Prowse - the chap in Hanway St who made Nicholson's Improved flutes for Clementi to sell. The Langwill entry is rather confusing, but seems to suggest two periods in which the company bore this name at the 48 Cheapside address. The one that interests us is probably the latter, 1865 to 1905. Interestingly, the company still exists, indeed flourishes, but only as a ticketing agency, and not selling flutes. According to their website , the business of Keith Prowse was formed in 1780 in the city of London. Robert Keith and William Prowse were musical instrument makers, music sellers and publishers. the earliest reference to selling tickets was in an article in the 'Morning Chronicle' in 1786, which refers to "The New System of Ticket Agents". The Keith Prowse business of selling tickets can be firmly traced back to as early as 1815. See Keith Prowse for their more recent history. A flute by Keith, Prowse & CoThe flute below is owned by well-known American Irish-flute player, Frank Claudy. I caught up with Frank and the flute in the little town of East Durham, NY, during Irish Week, on my 2002 Self-Indulgent Flute-maker's Tour. Frank was one of the tutors for the summer school.
Keith Prowse & Co 8-key. The Flute certainly has the hallmarks of a third-generation design:
How's the Intonation?Very good. Now remembering I'm on the road and checking out this flute with a portable tuning meter in the Catskill Mountains in 90 degree heat, don't expect a full analysis. But here's the short story:
Especially notable is the lack of flat foot syndrome. If anything the lowest note seems to be trending sharp, perhaps suggesting (in conjunction with the slightly flat top-of-tube notes) that the intended pitch was a smidge higher than A440. Anyway, the kind of flute you can pick up and not have to struggle with the intonation. How does it compare with other Third-Generation designs?Let's compare basic dimensions with the other two well-known 3rd Generation designs: |
