Solid silver flute from the Verne Q. Powell workshop, “Handmade Custom”, serial number 3289 (1970), soldered tone-holes, in-line G, B foot.

Verne Powell sold his small flute workshop in 1961 to a quartet of long-time workers: Ed Almeida, Ed Machon, Richard Jerome and Elmer Waterhouse. From that time until the 1986 purchase by Harvard MBA-graduate Steven Wasser, the Powell company was dedicated to building flutes of the highest quality. In the pre-Wasser years, only two models were produced: the handmade and the so-called “commercial”, the former based on the classic French instruments of the previous century and the latter loosely patterned after the work of Theobald Boehm.

Handmade Custom” models (as they are called today) were considered “top of the line”, with soldered tone-holes, key arms extended over the pad-cups and without stack-key adjustment screws. The Commercials were built with flat pad-cups and wore adjustment screws. And the tone-holes were always extruded from the body tube.

Powell’s records confirm that #3289 was constructed as a “Powell traditional scale” model. With B foot, soldered tone-holes, .014 tube (body and head).

The replacement wood case is in fine condition, looks new.

Sounding length is 636 mm (A : 440) and the embouchure i 10.1 X 12.2 mm. The flute weighs 428 grams.

The flute plays very well, is unique and quite different from a modern Powell, a true work of art.

Please note that “suggested retail” price is now just a few dollars below $18,500.

This superb example : $7350.