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