Goosman solid silver flute number 171.

Jack Goosman was born in 1945, joined the Verne Powell workshop in 1968. In the late sixties, Powell was still a small firm, devoted to creating flutes of the absolute highest quality. Yearly production was quite limited. In 1968, only 134 flutes were built.

Internet info tells me Goosman was employed by Powell as a specialist in making head sections. In 1971, he made the decision to relocate to Toronto. He is reported to have done very well there, producing a small number of flutes and continuing with making head sections under his own name (with the maker's stamp on the embouchure plate) and also for Powell.

A mystery here, though. Goosman is reported to have made fewer than one hundred flutes. Our instrument bears serial number 171. Was it one of his last instruments?

The measurements...

Silver tube is .014 inches thick; Embouchure measures 9.9 X 11.7 mm; Riser is relatively high at 5.1 mm. Soldered tone holes, pointed pad cups, in-line G, and B foot.

The flute weighs 438 grams and the sounding length is 635 mm. That means it plays very well at A=440 pitch.

Recommendations? Not if you're planning on being a member of the A:443 Berlin or Vienna orchestras. But yes, perfect for adult amateurs or anybody else who appreciates the sweet and gorgeous tone color of a Golden Age flute. Don't be apprehensive of it not being a Haynes or Powell. Articulation is easy, lower register is just a little reedy and the upper register sings like a Met soprano. I give it my highest recommendation!

The price is, in my estimation...reasonable, based on the simple fact that my acquisition costs were not high! $5,150.

GR