Veriam Music Trust
Historic Bassoons
The Trust’s holdings are held within the premises of Double Reed Ltd., and the Trust warmly welcomes visitors by appointment to view and study the items in the collections and, where practicable, to play the instruments.
English Bassoons
Milhouse, England
Double Reed Collection (D001)
Instrument: Bassoon
Maker: William/Richard Milhouse
Region: Newark, England
Era: Baroque style, classical era*
Manufacture date(s): 1780s
Keys: 5
Stamp: Milhouse / Newark
The Milhouse family made musical instruments from C1763-1840. Richard Millhouse (senior) began in 1763, and his two sons Richard (junior) and William continued after he died in 1775. Richard senior spelled his surname 'Millhouse', whereas his sons spelled it 'Milhouse' with only one 'l'. The 'Milhouse / Newark' stamp indicates that this instrument was made in the Newark workshop, which was the earlier location for the makers, subsequently closing and/or moving to London around the late 1780s/early 1790s. Which of the brothers ran the Newark workshop before it closed is unknown, but many of the subsequent London workshop instruments were stamped with William’s initials. Polling data continued to list Richard as a musical instrument maker at various points up until 1837. As the Newark workshop was inactive C1790, Richard may well have worked with William at the London workshops until he retired (1).
*The Milhouse brothers, who learned their craft from their father Richard, continued to make some bassoons in the baroque style well into the classical period. This bassoon, although made in the early classical era, is baroque in style. It either pre-dates the maker’s transition to making classical style instruments, or was built in keeping with the baroque style intentionally.
Ref: (1) William Waterhouse, 'The New Langwill Index' (1993), p. 264
John Hale, England
Millyard Collection (M002) - newly listed, 09/05/24
Instrument: Bassoon
Maker: John Hale
Region: London, England (Covent Garden)
Era: Classical
Manufacture date(s): 1785 - 1804
Keys: 8
Stamp: I. Hale / London / I /(Fleur de lis icon)
John Hale, based in Covent Garden, London, worked for musical instrument maker Thomas Collier, and by 1785 had succeeded Collier in making instruments. Langwill states that Hale flourished in this endeavour between 1785 and 1804. His keys are stamped underneath with his initials, and examples of them are found on many other maker’s instruments from the period (55). Like John Green, the initial for Hale’s first name, John, is designated with an ‘I’.
This instrument has an historical crook with it.
Donated by Tony Millyard, historical musical instrument collector and maker.
Ref: (55) William Waterhouse, 'The New Langwill Index' (1993), p. 157
Preston, England
Boston Collection (B002)
Instrument: Bassoon
Maker: John (Johannes) Preston
Region: London, England
Era: Classical
Manufacture date(s): 1774-1798
Keys: 8
Stamp: Preston / London
John (Johannes) Preston started his London musical instrument making workshop in 1774(4). He made wind instruments, but was also a highly regarded luthier and maker of baroque and classical guitars and pianos (and other musical instruments)(5). He was, in addition, a well-known printer, seller and publisher of music (6).
His son, Thomas Preston, took over the business after his death in 1798 (7), and the business continued until 1834. The ‘Preston / London’ stamp indicates an earlier date for this bassoon, being made before John Preston’s death (8).
Ref: (4, 6) William Waterhouse, 'The New Langwill Index' (1993), p. 311
Ref: (5) Wikipedia contributors, 'Wikipedia' (2023), p. name John Preston (luthier)
Ref: (7) 'The Monthly Magazine and British Register, Part I' (1798), p. 69
Ref: (8) William Waterhouse, 'The New Langwill Index' (1993), p. 311
John Preston, England
Double Reed Collection (D011)
Instrument: Bassoon
Maker: John (Johannes) Preston
Region: London, England
Era: Classical
Manufacture date(s): 1774-1798
Keys: 9
Stamp: Preston / London
See duplicate description for B002.
Astor & Co, England
Boston Collection (B003)
Instrument: Bassoon
Maker: Astor & Co
Region: London, England
Era: Classical
Manufacture date(s): 1799-1826
Keys: 6
Stamp: Astor & Co / London / 79 / Cornhill / London
Brothers George and John Astor founded their woodwind instrument workshop in London in C1778, which traded until 1831. George’s wife continued the business after his death in 1813. Astor & Co partnered with 'C. Gerock' between 1824 and 27 (see our C. Gerock bassoon M003). The inclusion of Cornhill on the stamp indicates this instrument was made between 1799 and 1826, when they were at the 79 Cornhill address (11).
John Astor moved to America in 1783(12), where, through various business ventures, he became one of the richest people to have lived in modern history. His great grandson famously died as the wealthiest person aboard the Titanic when it sank in 1912.
Ref: (11 & 12) William Waterhouse, 'The New Langwill Index' (1993), p. 12
Thomas Key, England
Double Reed Collection (D005)
Instrument: Bassoon
Maker: Thomas Key
Region: London, England (Charing Cross)
Era: Classical
Manufacture date(s): 1812-1853
Keys: 8
Stamp: I / Key / London / Charing Cross / (unicorn head icon)
Thomas Key established his wind instrument workshop in C1800, and had three London addresses prior to his death in 1853 – High Holborn, Pall Mall and Charing Cross. He was partnered with John Cramer for some years, and examples of their instruments are stamped 'Cramer & Key / London (unicorn head icon)'. Key's son, Frederick, took ownership of the business after 1853 (9).
Interestingly, Thomas Key and William Milhouse also collaborated on at least one bassoon, an example of which is currently housed in The National Museum of Wales, Cardiff, and is stamped with both their names (10). (The Bassoon vol. I, Will Jansen).
Ref: (9) William Waterhouse, 'The New Langwill Index' (1993), p. 204
Ref: (10) Will Jansen, 'The Bassoon Vol. I' (1978), p. 411
John Green, England
Millyard Collection (M001) - newly listed, 09/05/24
Instrument: Bassoon
Maker: John Green
Region: London, England (Soho Square)
Era: Classical/romantic
Manufacture date(s): 1815-1851
Keys: 8
Stamp: I. Green / London
John Green was a musical instrument dealer and maker, based in Soho Square C1815 (51), who is most well-known for inventing the Royal Seraphine (reed organ) (52). Green was a former employee of Clementi & Co, and likely made this bassoon between 1815 and 1851 when he died (53). The stamp’s inclusion of the letter ‘I’ for John, instead of ‘J’ doesn’t seem to appear in the stamps used on Green’s other instruments, or that of his premises in 1838 (54).
This instrument is missing the keys for F#, C, D, F. We are not aware of another John Green bassoon in existence.
Donated by Tony Millyard, historical musical instrument collector and maker.
Ref: (51) David Lasocki, ‘New Light on the Early History of the Keyed Bugle Part I: The Astor Advertisement and Collins v. Green’ Historic Brass Society Journal 21 (2009-10), p. 27
Ref: (52) J. Green, ‘The Royal Seraphine, a New Musical Instrument…’ (1840), p. 1
Ref: (53) Margaret Debenham, ‘List of wills of pianoforte and musical instrument makers (not exclusive), identified by the author from the Index of Wills registered in The Prerogative 1 Court of Canterbury: 1384 –12 January 1858 (series PROB 11), held at The National Archives, UK.’ (2013), p. 4
Ref: (54) David Lasocki, ‘New Light on the Early History of the Keyed Bugle Part I: The Astor Advertisement and Collins v. Green’ Historic Brass Society Journal 21 (2009-10), p. 24
W. Milhouse, England
Double Reed Collection (D002)
Instrument: Bassoon
Maker: William Milhouse
Region: London, England (337 Oxford Street)
Era: Classical
Manufacture date(s): 1822-1835
Keys: 9
Stamp: W Milhouse / London / 337 / Oxford Street
William Milhouse is the son of woodwind instrument maker Richard Millhouse (senior), and the brother of Richard Milhouse (junior) (2). See also description for D001.
Both brothers were musicians and musical instrument makers, learning their trade from their father, and establishing workshops in Newark, Soho and Oxford Street, London. The Oxford Street workshop was the later of the three, and bassoons stamped ‘W. Milhouse / London / 337 Oxford St’ date from 1822-1835 (3).
Ref: (2 & 3) William Waterhouse, 'The New Langwill Index' (1993), p. 264
W. Milhouse, England
Double Reed Collection (D003)
Instrument: Bassoon
Maker: William Milhouse
Region: London, England (337 Oxford Street)
Era: Classical
Manufacture date(s): 1822-1835
Keys: 6
Stamp: W Milhouse / London / 337 / Oxford Street
See duplicate description for D002.
C. Gerock, England
Millyard Collection (M003) - newly listed, 09/05/24
Instrument: Bassoon
Maker: Christopher Gerock
Region: London, England (79 Cornhill)
Era: Classical/Early romantic
Manufacture date(s): 1827-1831
Keys: 6
Stamp: (Unicorn head icon) / C. Gerock / 79 / Cornhill / London
Christopher Gerock started his woodwind instrument making workshop in London in 1805. The company traded until 1837, and from 1824-1827 was partnered with ‘Astor & Co’ (see our Astor & Co bassoon B003). Gerock then partnered with Wolf between 1831 and 1837 and became ‘Gerock & Wolf’. Gerock’s address was at 79 Cornhill from 1827-1837 (56), and so the stamp on this instrument indicates it was likely made in the short 1827-31 interval between the Astor and Wolf partnerships.
This instrument is missing most of its keywork.
Donated by Tony Millyard, historical musical instrument collector and maker.
Ref: (56) William Waterhouse, 'The New Langwill Index' (1993), p. 133
Unknown, England
Millyard Collection (M004) - newly listed, 09/05/24
Instrument: Bassoon
Maker: Unknown
Region: England
Era: Classical (?)
Manufacture date(s): Unknown
Keys: 9
Stamp: None
This bassoon has no stamp, and so its maker and exact date of manufacture is unknown. It is likely an English classical bassoon based on its design. The stamp is likely to have been sanded away at some point in its history, which sometimes happens during re-finishing. It has also had modifications done to shorten some of the joints.
A. Morton, England
Double Reed Collection (D007)
Instrument: Bassoon
Maker: Alfred Morton
Region: London, England
Era: Romantic
Manufacture date(s): 1874-1898
Keys: 18
Stamp: A. Morton / London
Alfred Morton, in his early life, apprenticed with Austrian woodwind instrument makers, the Uhlmann family. He also worked under the well-known maker Savary, and was seen by some as Savary’s successor (13).
He established his own workshop in London C1874. He died in 1898 (14).
He is credited by Langwill and Jansen as being the first to line the bassoon’s wing joint and boot joint bores, having done so from as far back as 1875 (15, 16).
Ref: (13, 14, 15) William Waterhouse, 'The New Langwill Index' (1993), p. 273
Ref: (16) Will Jansen, 'The Bassoon Vol. I' (1978), p. 445-46
French Bassoons
Prudent Thierriot, France
Double Reed Collection (D008)
Instrument: Bassoon
Maker: Prudent Thierriot
Region: Paris, France
Era: Classical
Manufacture date(s): 1765-1785
Keys: 6
Stamp: Prudent / A Paris / (fleur de lis)
Workshop established in rue Dauphine, Paris, in 1765. As was customary at the time, Prudent's stamp includes his forename, as opposed to his surname. Prudent Thierriot died in 1830 (17, 18).
Ref: (17) William Waterhouse, 'The New Langwill Index' (1993), p. 312-13
Ref: (18) Will Jansen, 'The Bassoon Vol. I' (1978), p. 504
Charles Rust, France
Double Reed Collection (D009)
Instrument: Bassoon
Maker: Rust
Region: Lyon, France
Era: Classical
Manufacture date(s): 1805-1821
Keys: 7
Stamp: Rust / A Lyon / (two star icons)
Little information is known about Charles Rust and his instrument making career. After his death his wife continued the business, in partnership with Dubois (19, 20)
Ref: (19) William Waterhouse, 'The New Langwill Index' (1993), p. 340
Ref: (20) Will Jansen, 'The Bassoon Vol. I' (1978), p. 469.
Savary, France
Boston Collection (B001)
Instrument: Bassoon
Maker: Jean Nicholas Savary
Region: Paris, France
Era: Classical/romantic
Manufacture date(s): 1816-1853
Keys: 16
Stamp: Savary / Jeune / A Paris / (sun icon)
Jean Nicholas Savary was active as a woodwind musical instrument maker and bassoonist between 1816 and 1853, when he died (21). He was regarded as one of the best bassoon makers of his time (22). He has been called the Stradavari of the bassoon (first in 1891 by Charles Day), and his bassoons were highly sought after during his life and long afterwards (23).
Jansen writes that the examples of his bassoons which still exist testify to his astonishing skill and outstanding workmanship, and that, technologically, he was decades ahead of other makers (24).
His bassoons are normally dated, but a date stamp isn’t visible on this instrument.
Ref: (21, 23) William Waterhouse, 'The New Langwill Index' (1993), p. 347
Ref: (22) 'The Horniman Museum, London' URL: Agent 5354
Ref: (24) Will Jansen, 'The Bassoon Vol. I' (1978), p. 470-71
German Bassoons
Dölling, Germany
Double Reed Collection (D006)
Instrument: Bassoon
Maker: Dölling
Region: Potsdam, Germany
Era: Classical
Manufacture date(s): 1820s
Keys: 12
Stamp: Dölling / Potsdam / (Prussian eagle with crown)
The Dölling family were German musical instrument makers. Little information is known about the maker who's mark matches the stamp of this bassoon, other than they were active in the 1820s (25).
Ref: (25) William Waterhouse, 'The New Langwill Index' (1993), p. 91-92
Unknown Bassoons
Unknown
Temporary loan (K004) - newly listed, 09/05/24
Instrument: Bassoon
Maker: Unknown
Region: Unknown
Era: Unknown
Manufacture date(s): Unknown
Keys: 12
Stamp: None
This bassoon has no stamp, and so its maker and exact date of manufacture is unknown. The stamp is likely to have been sanded away at some point in its history, which sometimes happens during re-finishing.
