Clementi, Collard & Collard catalog, 1823

The London firm of Clementi & Co. was established in 1802 and was known as Clementi, Collard & Collard from 1823 to 1831, when Muzio Clementi retired.

Thanks to Al Rice for providing a copy of this catalog from 1823. Scanned images of pages xviii through xxii plus xxviii may be found below.

I note a few things about the flute listings in their catalog. The transverse flutes are roughly grouped into

These are distinguished by the type of keys as well as other features.

"Nicholson's Improved Flutes" and "Flutes" have metal lined tuning heads, silver or ivory mounts, and silver keys equipped with 'elastic plugs' and double springs. (These keys are sometimes called 'salt spoon keys' today.) The "Nicholson's Improved" are the top of the line and were approved by Charles Nicholson himself, they advertise—see the last page for more on these flutes.

"Patent Flutes" have tuning heads and metal plug keys. The one and four key models, if in ebony or cocoa, may be had with a "tube at bottom", which is presumably a register.

Clementi used the old term "German Flutes" for their instruments whose keys have flat flaps for leathers. The material is not mentioned and I assume they were furnished in boxwood. The best quality have ivory mounts and a screw-cork (but presumbly plain heads) and one or 4–8 silver keys. Then follow a number of cheaper models.

These cheaper "German Flutes", the cheapest without mounts and with a brass key, were available in a number of sizes! All previously listed flutes are only in 'concert size'. All were one-key flutes, except for the concert size and third flute (which could be had with four keys, and in one case six). The sizes are: Voice Flute, Concert Flute, Second Flute, Third Flute, Fourth Flute, Fifth Flute, Sixth Flute, Seventh Flute, and Octave Flute. Probably, these sizes had six-finger notes g(??), d', e'b, f', g', a', b'b, c'', and d'' (piccolo), respectively.


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