Veriam Music Trust
Historic Flutes
We are aware that there are gaps in information about some of the instruments in this section and would love to fill those gaps. If you can tell us more about the instrument(s) on this page we would be very keen to hear from you.
Goulding and Co, England
Boston Collection (B005)
Instrument: Flute
Maker: George Goulding & Co
Region: London, England
Era: Classical
Date(s): 1787-1800
Keys: 1
Stamp: Goulding & Co / London / 3
Goulding & Co was started by George Goulding in C1787. Multiple partnerships throughout his woodwind instrument making career saw numerous iterations of the Goulding stamp, but ‘Goulding & Co’ was the first mark he used for his instruments. This iteration of the stamp places the making of this particular flute between 1787 and 1800. The company traded until 1834. Langwill notes Goulding was designated as ‘music-seller to the Prince and Princess of Wales’ (29).
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Ref: (29) William Waterhouse, 'The New Langwill Index' (1993), p. 142
George Astor & Co, England
Boston Collection (B006)
Instrument: Flute
Maker: George Astor & Co
Region: London, England
Era: Classical
Date(s): 1784-1814
Keys: 4
Stamp: Gx Astor & Co / London / (unicorn head icon)
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. The ‘Gx Astor & Co’ stamp indicates this instrument was made between 1784 and 1814 (30).
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John Astor moved to America in 1783, 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.
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Ref: (30) William Waterhouse, 'The New Langwill Index' (1993), p. 12
C. Gerock, England
Boston Collection (B007)
Instrument: Flute
Maker: Christopher Gerock
Region: London, England
Era: Classical
Date(s): 1804-37
Keys: 1
Stamp: C. Gerock / 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’. Later Gerock partnered with Wolf and became ‘Gerock & Wolf’ (31).
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Ref: (31) William Waterhouse, 'The New Langwill Index' (1993), p. 133
C. Gerock, England
Boston Collection (B008)
Instrument: Flute
Maker: Christopher Gerock
Region: London, England (76 Bishopsgate St)
Era: Classical
Date(s): 1805-23
Keys: 0
Stamp: C. Gerock / 76 / Bishopsgate St / London
Christopher Gerock started the woodwind instrument making workshop in London in 1805. The company traded until 1837, and from 1824-1827 was partnered with ‘Astor & Co’. Later Gerock partnered with Wolf and became ‘Gerock & Wolf’. Gerock’s address was at 76 Bishopsgate from 1805-1823 (32).
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Ref: (32) William Waterhouse, 'The New Langwill Index' (1993), p. 133
Longman & Broderip, England
Boston Collection (B009)
Instrument: Flute
Maker(s): James Longman & Francis Broderip
Region: London, England (26 Cheapside)
Era: Classical
Date(s): 1776-98
Keys: 1
Stamp: Longman & Borderip / London
James Longman and Francis Broderip made many types of musical instruments in partnership with each other between 1776 and 1798. They were also very well-known sellers and publishers of music (rivals to John Preston - see D011).
The company went bankrupt in 1798, after which Longman partnered with Clementi, forming Longman Clementi & Co, between 1798 and 1801 (33).
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Ref: (33) William Waterhouse, 'The New Langwill Index' (1993), p. 240
