Verne Q. Powell and Dr. Albert E. Sloane

We’ve read many historical accounts of Verne Q. Powell’s life – namely about his first “Spoon Flute” and his early days as a flute maker in Massachusetts.  We’ve also read about the inspiration for some designs (like the “gizmo”) and historically significant flutes.  When looking through our archives, we found a very interesting account of Mr. Powell and how he inspired one very unlikely student as you’ll see from the letter below…

When my young son needed a flute for his music lessons around 1948 I was sent to the Powell workshop where I was told he had an old used flute for sale.  He was located on Huntington Avenue close to Symphony Hall and en route to my hospital.  My medical bag in hand, I met Mr. Verne Powell as arranged.  He was a dignified, white-haired gentleman who was in obvious great discomfort.  He was squinting one eye which was red and tearing copiously.  I was told that he was being treated for an infection for three months and it was getting no better.  Infections that lasted a long time were not uncommon in this period before anti-biotics were available.  

The presence of a doctor’s bag, like the gun in the holster of the policeman, gives the owner the feeling that he can ask questions or give orders that he would otherwise flinch from doing.  “Let me look at your eye”, I dared to say.  The same bag which gave me the authority to make my request had an opposite effect on the patient to become submissive and show respect.

So, without further ado, I put a drop of anesthetic from my bag into the sore eye so I could better examine him.  Of course, the severe pain in his eye immediately disappeared.  Mr. Powell was enormously impressed with my skill at so quickly removing his discomfort.  A magnifying glass and a good light, in addition to the sight in my young eyes, showed that what he had was not an infection, but a tiny sliver of metal deeply imbedded in the front surface (cornea) of his eye.  I went to my bag, put another drop in his eye to insure good anesthesia and then, with a sterile instrument, promptly removed the foreign body.  In twelve hours he was completely cured and free of symptoms.

Well, from then on we had a special relationship which led to me taking flute lessons at age 42, and of course buying a Verne Q. Powell flute - the Commercial type.  In 1952 I decided I had to have the French open key model.  My teacher was Jimmy Pappoutsakis who was also a patient of mine and lived six doors away.   The normal wait was two years, but Jimmy recommended a flute which had just been made for him - #1142.  Mr. Powell was kind enough to engrave this flute with his own signature - a sort of personal special thanks for helping him overcome his eye problem.  And, incidentally, the only Powell flute with such an inscription.

Albert E. Sloane, MD

Past Clinical Professor of Ophthalmology

Harvard Medical School

P. S. On a number of occasions I had the use of his original first flute made by him from melted--down family silver, for which he said he was never forgiven.

Clean, Dry, Polish

How do Powell flutes get so clean and shiny?  Well, in the process of making flutes, the bodies and keys may start out looking a bit different, but they certainly are shiny in the end!  When flutes are sent back in for a COA or overhaul, we work to bring them back to their original shine.  We caught up with Rachel Baker as she was going through the cleaning and polishing process with a few flutes in for a COA.

First, the flute bodies and footjoints are placed in a tarnish removal solution.  It doesn't take too long -- about 20 seconds will do according to Rachel.

After the tarnish removal bath, the bodies and footjoints are rinsed in the sink.  Then, they are placed in the ultrasonic cleaner, which we took a look at in this previous post: http://www.repairmyflute.com/2013/03/the-ultrasonic-cleaner.html.  After the ultrasonic, they go through another rinse and are dried.

Drying the flute in this process is a bit different than one might imagine.  In the photo above, we see Rachel drying a footjoint.  How exactly does this work?  Well, in her right hand, she is holding the nozzle of an air hose that is attached to an air compressor -- so these flutes get dried quickly and thoroughly.  You'll see a close-up of the air hose in the photo below.

After each piece goes through the cleaning and drying process, they are put on a rack like the one in the photo below.  Then, it is time to take them to the polishing room.

Keys that are cleaned are much smaller than bodies and footjoints.  They are placed in baskets (as we see in the photo below) before going into liquids. 

The bodies and footjoints that Rachel was cleaning have been taken over to the polishing room.  She polishes them with a buffing wheel that is coated with polishing rouge.

In the photo below, we see Rachel polishing a footjoint.  The two footjoints on the rack in the bottom right corner of this photo have already been done.  As she finishes polishing, she puts each piece back on the rack -- and they are done!

PS-750 Testimonials - Technicians

The Powell Sonaré PS-750 piccolo has made quite an impact in the piccolo world.  Its innovative design certainly distinguishes it from the traditional Powell Custom and Signature piccolos.  The stainless steel mechanism features square keys, yet the tone holes are still round.  How do the keys feel?  Well, we’ve taken the piccolo to shows, and many flutist/piccolo players have felt that the keys were quite comfortable.  Several male players in particular have been surprised by the comfort level of the keys for their hands – perhaps because there is more surface area with the square-shaped keys.

Another distinguishable feature of the piccolo is the wood.  The American hardwood used for the body is available in three different color stains – Indian Onyx, American Amethyst, and Tuscan Umber.  Regardless of the color, the piccolos perform equally from a mechanical standpoint – so the color is purely for aesthetics.  Speaking of the mechanics of the instrument, what do professional repair technicians think?  Well, we had the chance to gather some feedback, which we hope will be the first installment of “PS-750 Testimonials.”

The Sonaré Piccolo has gotten excellent reviews from our customers and teachers.  I have found it  very easy to play, and as a technician, I really like how well it set-up it arrived and how stable the mechanism is. 

Miles DeCastro 

Repair Shop Manager

Bridgepoint Music

The Powell Sonaré is very innovative and rather extraordinary with the key design and art deco feel.  From a technical standpoint, it seems to be very well made.  My customer was willing to wait 3-4 months for the piccolo

Tim Anzalone

Repair Technician

Music Center Deerfield

Powell Sonaré piccolos in production.

Close-up on the piccolos in production.

Powell #365 - A Platinum Flute for the World's Fair

First Powell Platinum Flute - second from top

In 1938, Verne Powell was commissioned by Engelhard Metals to create a Concert C flute made of platinum for the Engelhard exhibit at the 1939 World’s Fair.  Mr. Powell immediately set to the task, and in 1939, he completed Powell #365 – a platinum flute with sterling silver keys.  He engraved the Trylon and Perisphere (the logo for the fair) on the barrel to indicate its unique origin.

One week before the flute was supposed to be delivered to the Fair, William Kincaid (Philadelphia Orchestra, principal flute) came to visit Mr. Powell in his workshop.  Powell asked Kincaid to test the new flute he had made.  Kincaid tried the new flute and was amazed at its fluidity and color.  He offered to purchase the instrument on the spot.  Mr. Powell explained that the flute was to be delivered to the Fair, but that after the show Mr. Kincaid could purchase it. 

As soon as the instrument was back in Boston, Mr. Kincaid picked it up – and from that day until his death in 1967, it was his number one flute. 

When Mr. Kincaid passed away, he left his platinum Powell flute to Elaine Shaffer, a favorite student of his at the Curtis Institute of Music. She went on to become principal flutist with the Houston Symphony and later enjoyed a career as a soloist.  In a tragic turn, Ms. Shaffer passed away in 1973 at age 47 of lung cancer. Kincaid’s platinum flute, along with Shaffer’s 3 other Powell instruments were left to her husband.

Ms. Shaffer’s husband, Efrem Kurtz, was a conductor (Houston Symphony) and understood the value of these flutes.  He kept them in his possession until 1986 when he put them up for auction at Christie’s auction house in New York City.

The auction was held in November and was attended by many fine musicians.  The first silver flute offered at the auction was sold for $4,400 to a professional orchestral flutist, and the second silver flute went to the (then) President of the New York Flute Club for $4,950.  The 14k gold flute was sold to an anonymous bidder for $27,500.

When the bidding for the Platinum flute began, there were only two parties involved - a New Hampshire antiques dealer and a well-known collector of antiques in New York City who was also a flutist.  The auction also drew some very notable celebrated figures, including Andy Warhol, who was a friend of the New York City-area collector.  As the bidding increased to $80,000, the New Hampshire-area dealer dropped out, but a yet another collector stepped in his place.

The antiques collector from New York City won the auction with a closing bid of $170,000.  He paid a total of $187,000 with the buyer’s premium and a record for the purchase of any flute.  Today’s equivalent is $356,000.  At the time, a new platinum flute would have cost $16,000 – today a platinum flute starts at $36,000.

After the sale, the winning bidder said, “I own a dozen great flutes, but this one is the best there is.  If you’re a collector, the greatest in its field is the only thing worth having, and you have to expect to pay well for it.”

In the recent past, Powell #365 was on loan to the Metropolitan Museum of Art as part of their Musical Instruments collection but is now in the hands of a private owner.

Fitting Keys - Part I

One of the tasks that our flute finishers have is that of fitting keys.  The mechanisms involve several parts that must fit together in order to function properly, so the keys need to be "fitted" first.  Fitting keys takes several steps, but we had a chance to catch up with flute finisher Lindsey McChord to talk about some of the very early steps in the process.

Lindsey begins by taping the keys so that they do not get scratched in the finishing process.  Then, Lindsey begins the key fitting process by checking the mechanism tubing on each key.  When the key mechanism is assembled, a steel rod (or "steel" as it is commonly called in the shop) runs through the inside of the key mechanism tubing.  In order for the keys to move smoothly on the steel, the inside of the tube must be a perfect cylinder.  Sometimes, the inside of the tube still needs a bit of tweaking when it arrives at the finisher's bench.  So, a small gauge that looks like a double-ended screw driver is used to check the inside of the mechanism tubing.  This gauge is referred to by finishers as the "go/no go gauge."  This gauge has a green end and a red end.  If the green end of the gauge fits smoothly and evenly into the mechanism tubing, the key is a "go" and does not need any further work.  If the green end does not go in smoothly, there is a problem at hand.  If the red "no go" end goes into the tubing, the key is overly reamed and must be returned to the stringing department (which supplies key mechanism components to the finishers).

The "go/no go gauge" is used in a few different ways to help determine what might need to be adjusted on a key's mechanism tube.  If the green end goes in smoothly at both ends of the tube, the key is "good to go."  If it does not go in at all, or if it is extremely difficult for it to go in, the mechanism tubing needs to be reamed.  When reaming the tube, material is removed from the inside so that it is smooth and cylindrical, with an even diameter throughout.  If the gauge goes in but feels a little loose or a little tight in one area of the tube, the tube is "spun" by the finisher -- which is essentially a step used to even out the inside of the tube.

To spin and ream tubes, the finisher uses the bench motor with a steel that has a flat end and a pointed end.  To ream a tube, the steel is placed in the bench motor with the pointed end facing outward.  The motor is turned on, and the reaming tool spins very quickly.  The finisher runs this reaming tool through the tube to remove excess material inside.  A very straight motion is used in the reaming process.  In the "spinning" process, which evens out the inside of a tube, the same steel is placed in the bench motor -- but the flat end of the steel is facing outward.  The key is place on the steel, and the motor is turned on.  The finisher is then able to grab the end of the steel and "spin" it in a circular motion to even out the inside of the tube.  The finisher may use a tissue or paper towel to grab the end of the steel so that s/he does not hurt her/his hands.

There are several additional steps to fitting keys, but checking the mechanism tubing to make sure the steels run through smoothly is one of the first steps to key fitting.  Stay tuned for future posts as we explore more on the topic of key fitting.

Taping keys so they do not get scratched.

The "go/no go gauge" -- red for no go, green for go!

The red "no go" end is not going in, so this is good!

Testing the green "go" end.  It should fit in smoothly throughout the tube.

Pointed end of the steel used for reaming.

Steel in the motor, getting ready to ream.

Reaming the key mechanism tubing with a very straight motion.

Changing the steel for spinning.  A longer portion is used, and the flat end faces outward.

The steel is "spun" in a circular motion during the key "spinning" process.

Key placed on the steel, getting ready to spin the mechanism tube.

10th Anniversary of the 19.5K

This year marks the 10th anniversary of the 19.5K Rose Gold Handmade Custom Flute, which was introduced to the public in a very special event at the Harvard Club in Boston on June 7, 2003.  The special black-tie event at the Barlett Room of the Harvard Club featured French Music performed on the new 19.5K flute by Powell Artist Paul Edmund-Davies.  When it was introduced, the 19.5K Custom was available with a 19.5K body and 14K mechanism or a 19.5K body and silver mechanism.  The model with the 14K mechanism was priced at $29,800, and the model with the silver mechanism was priced at $20,100.  In its first year on the market, the 19.5K came in a handmade French-style Moroccan leather case and special accessories designed by Wirkkala designs, including a hand-carved wooden swabstick, a flute mat, flute cover, and a Cross pencil.  The flute and accessories were all presented in a velvet drawstring pouch.

Powell was the first flute maker to offer the 19.5K gold, and Powell's President, Steven Wasser, felt the new gold option offered "many of the characteristics of a platinum flute while maintaining the warmth and subtle colors of gold."  The 19.5K joined a list of metal options for Powell Handmade Custom flutes, which in 2003 included silver, 10K gold, 14K Aurumite, 14K gold, and platinum.  Introduced with two metal options for the mechanism in 2003, today's 19.5K is available with a sterling silver, 10K yellow gold, or 14K rose gold mechanism.  As the price of precious metals has increased since 2003, the price of a 19.5K today would be quite different than it was in 2003.  You'll want to check with your local Powell dealer for exact pricing, although today's prices for the 19.5K would range from around $39K to $59K, depending on options.  If you're in the market for something of 19.5K gold but aren't quite in the position to get a flute, Powell does offer (as with all their metal options for bodies) the headjoint only.  If you've never tried a 19.5K Powell, you should!  Check it out -- it may be the perfect flute for you...

*Note - Quote and event details from article in MMR Magazine, August 2003

The Powell "Bible"

Hard Copy Volumes of the "Powell Bible"

One of the most popular features on the Powell Flutes website is the online version of the "Powell Bible."  You can find it at http://www.powellflutes.com/qclub/bible.  All you have to do is enter a serial number, and you will find specs on the instrument -- including options and the year it was made.  This part of our website is quite handy for a number of reasons, especially as a starting point for the appraisal process (which you can also do on the website at http://www.powellflutes.com/qclub/appraisal).  Whether you are looking to purchase a new flute, searching for more information on an older Powell, or just curious, the Powell online Bible is a terrific resource.

The original "Powell Bible" exists in several volumes at the Powell office.  In 2007, the hard copy files were converted to an electronic file, which now serves as the foundation for the searchable database on the Powell website.  Unfortunately, there were large portions of missing information in the hard copies, so if you come across information in the online Bible that you believe is incorrect, please do let us know.  You can contact our Marketing Manager, Christina Guiliano-Cobas, at cg@powellflutes.com.

Also, it is important to register your Powell on our website, because this is how we keep our records updated.  It is never to late to register your flute!  Whether you have a brand new Powell, an older model that you bought from another person or dealer, or if you've simply not had a chance to register your flute over the years, please feel free to do so.  Regardless of its age, your flute can be registered with Powell by visiting http://www.powellflutes.com/qclub.  Once you register your Powell, you will become a member of the Powell "Q Club" which offers benefits and special offers to its members (like free shipping for items in the VQP Shop).  Take a look -- and if you have or are going to register your flute, take pride in the fact that you will be helping create Powell history!

Verne Q. Powell's Workbench