SUPERB ANTIQUE SOLID SILVER BUFFET-CRAMPON / PAUL GOUMAS FLUTE, C. 1880.

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SUPERB ANTIQUE SOLID SILVER BUFFET-CRAMPON / PAUL GOUMAS FLUTE, C. 1880.:
$5650.00

WICHITA BAND INSTRUMENT COMPANY2525 East Douglas AvenueWichita, KS 67211Tel: (316) 684-0291; FAX (316) 684-6858

Rare solid silver flute from Buffet-Crampon (Paris),number 1074. Head is stamped “Buffet / Crampon & Cie /Paris / made in / France / LP”. Bodystamp reads “made in / France / LP / Buffet / Crampon & Cie / 1074”. Foot stamp reads “Buffet / Crampon & Cie / made in/ France LP”. Keywork is typical“plateau”, with offset G and range to low C.Tone-holes are soldered and all pad washers are original. Head section is of seamed silverconstruction, but the seam is not visible on the body or foot sections.Embouchure measures 10.3 X 11.8 mm, is quite square. Current sounding length is598 / 599, probably was originally 3 or 4 mm longer. French hallmarks for solidsilver are stamped on all key pieces, on the center and foot sections. Also stamped with the initials of Paul Goumas,majority owner of the Buffet-Crampon firm between 1859 and 1885. We measure the tube thickness at .012inches. Pads and corks are new, from ourshop in Wichita. Probably from the last quarter of the 19th century.It’s a rare French flute that plays verywell indeed. Sold with TWO foot sections, the original Cfoot plus a later (?) Buffet-Crampon Bfoot, also solid silver.

*** In January of 2016, our small workshop in Wichita celebrated sixty-three years in business. We are not in the 1952 Wichita telephone directory, but we ARE in the 1953. Over the decades, we’ve repaired and restored more than two hundred vintage French flutes from Louis Lot, Bonneville, Claude Rive and Buffet-Crampon plus hundreds of professional-quality flutes from Haynes and Powell. We employ sixteen highly skilled full-time workers and enjoy, we’re happy to report, a sterling reputation for top-quality restoration and ethical transactions. We are not amateurs, nor are we a “back bedroom” operation. We would be pleased to furnish you with references attesting to the above.

Wichita Band Instrument Company is a small musical instrument emporium located in the center of the USA. We’ve been in business since 1953 and have had the same owner since 1963. Originally we were a repair shop that specialized in woodwind and sax restoration. Today we have 16 employees including six of the finest repair technicians in the country. Virtually ALL the items we sell have been fully reconditioned in our own shop, although we do sell a few unrestored historical instruments each year.

It’s sometimes possible to buy a vintage flute on for a lower price, but unless that instrument wears all new pads and corks from a reputable shop, you won’t know how it plays until you spend another several hundred to have it mechanically overhauled. With a used flute from OUR shop, you know it’s in the finest condition when it arrives at your home!

Here’s what we do to all used flutes we sell:

The instrument is taken apart and everything washed clean. Dings are next burnished from body, head and foot. After the body-shop work’s been completed, we swedge hinge-tubes tight again and re-fit them to the flute body. Finally, pads and corks are replaced and the instrument play-tested. Pre 1950 French flutes often require more than twice the restoration time that we need for a modern Haynes or Powell. We use thin double-skin pads of the highest quality and shim each pad in the manner of the best Boston makers. We don’t “float” flute pads with shellac, as did the original Paris workshops.

Wichita Band’s service warranty is the same as it’s been for more than thirty years:

“ALL new and all used instruments sold by Wichita Band Instrument Company come with our 24 month service warranty. It’s in addition to any factory guarantees. For two full years, we will repair or replace, whichever in our estimation is the more advisable, pads, corks, springs or other parts required, at no charge to the customer. The customer is responsible for shipping and insurance charges. Cases and plating finishes are not covered by our service warranty but are sometimes covered by factory guarantees.”

Wichita Band Instrument Company maintains a repair department capable of restoration work of the highest quality. Even though repairs are essentially “free” for the first two years, after that period has expired, we remain at your service to maintain and repair your musical equipment forever. It’s our “service after the sale” promise and has been since 1953!

In the event that a customer requires service under factory guarantees or Wichita Band’s service warranty, the item must be returned to us and not directly to the manufacturer.

Anything we sell can be sent to you for a short approval period without obligation. We collect NO SALES TAX, unless you’re lucky enough to live in Kansas. The customer is responsible for shipping and insurance and must pre-pay back to us any freight and insurance charges on returned equipment.

International shipping is available. Returned items will be refunded within 2 weeks of receiving the item. We’re happy to send any instrument “on approval” for five days, but ask the prospective buyer to pay shipping both ways and to reimburse us for restocking and clean-up costs (2.95% on credit card transactions/no restocking fees on PayPal transactions) on any returned instrument.

authorized payment methods:

PayPal or credit/debit card processed through our internet merchant account.

Buyers outside of the USA are responsible for all import duties and customs clearance charges in their respective countries. We may refuse paypal and/or credit card payments from some countries.

We’re happy to respond to any and all questions about flutes and other musical instruments, but please don’t write and ask “What’s granny’s mellophone worth?”. We kindly recommend an search with which you’ll learn more than we’d ever be able to tell you.

Wichita Band Instrument Co.
800-835-3006 payment line (USA and Canada),
316-684-0291 outside the USA and Canada order line, and info line,

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