Klarinet Archive - Posting 000309.txt from 2004/04
From: "Ted Casher" <tedcasher@-----.net>
Subj: Re: [kl] OT: Haynes-Schwelm flute
Date: Mon, 19 Apr 2004 13:57:25 -0400
Ted Casher here. If you did indeed manage to get a Haynes-Schwelm flute
w/an old serial number, it was a good student flute. Methinks the thing is
worth fixing up and playing. I don't know that much about the Olds flutes.
If the case is beat-up, find a molded vinyl case with a handle, which can be
purchased at a friendly music store for less than $40 ----I keep my antique
William S. Haynes in one of those---paying $500 for a official WS Haynes
flute case constitutes overpricing.
I myself am about to start in on the headjoint quest, as I am playing so
much jazz clarinet these days. I need to do something to get an instant
sound on my flute with a modicum of practice time. I have the Brannen,
Haynes and Powell flutemakers within a 60-mile radius, so I am ready to
make a nudnik of myself unto these people.
Good luck. Ted Casher
----- Original Message -----
From: "Lelia Loban" <lelialoban@-----.net>
To: <klarinet@-----.org>
Sent: Sunday, April 18, 2004 2:33 PM
Subject: [kl] OT: Haynes-Schwelm flute
>
> I made what was probably an overly-optimistic (i.e., stupid) impulse buy
at
> a flea market this morning: a Haynes-Schwelm Co. flute, silver plate on
> brass, SN 462157. I paid US$18. My impression, FWIW, is that this flute
> is a well-made student model. However, it's missing the tuning adjustment
> screw mechanism inside the head joint. It does have the end plug. The
> screw seems to be a standard size, since the screw assembly from my 1956-7
> Olds Ambassador fits. The Haynes-Schwelm is tarnished and needs pads.
> Otherwise, it appears to be in excellent condition. What is restoration,
> with the tuning screw, likely to cost? I don't know enough about flutes
to
> work on it myself, other than cleaning it.
>
> This brand is neither rare nor sought-after. Recent online auction and
> used prices range from $130 to $600, with the latter clearly outside the
> norm. (That dealer said he had a professional model. A few dealers who
> wanted much higher prices confused Haynes-Schwelm with Haynes.) Most were
> below $200. My question about value refers to value to me as a learning
> instrument: Is it worthwhile for me to buy the replacement tuning screw,
> get the flute professionally repadded, keep it and sell the Olds (or se if
> I can trade the Olds to the repairman for the work on the Haynes-Schwelm)?
> If not, I can unload the Haynes-Schwelm "as is" at the local buyer-beware
> auction where I get rid of my mistakes. Or I could unload them both and
> spend more money for something better that may sit around unplayed, as the
> Olds has done for four years.
>
> The nickel silver 1956-7 Olds, the lowest of the Olds student line at that
> time (the Ambassador line had been downgraded over the years), is the only
> other orchestral flute I own. I haven't learned much on it, though I play
> recorder. Under the circumstances, I don't want to pay much for a flute,
> but I don't want to get stuck with a total junker, either.
>
> I haven't been able to find a list of serial numbers with dates or much
> other information for this company (which is *not* the same as the Wm. H.
> Haynes Co.). The high quality of the case influenced my decision to buy,
> since it's been my experience that shoddy instruments usually come in
> equally shoddy cases. The black case, with synthetic leather covering
> wood, is the original (labelled), sturdy, clean and in good condition,
with
> heavy steel corners and steel handle hardware. The inside of the case is
> lined with black, synthetic plush, similar to the lining of Bundy clarinet
> cases from the 1950s and 1960s. Based on the style of the case, I
> tentatively date this flute from the 1950s, but I can't find a source of
> serial numbers online.
>
> Paraphrase from the Larry Krantz site's FAQ and elsewhere: William S.
> Haynes, Jr. was the son of the famous William H. Haynes (who started the
> fine Wm. H. Haynes company in 1886 with his brother, George, who went off
> on his own to California in 1897). The son apparently didn't get along
> with his father. He and a Haynes employee, John Schwelm, who had also
> worked as a foreman at Powell, started their own company as Haynes-Schwelm
> in 1920. Schwelm left in 1923. The company continued in business until
> the 1950s, according to most reports (including the Larry Krantz site).
> Some owners believe there's a Haynes-Schwelm "professional model," but
I'm
> unclear on whether or not anything was labelled as such. Opinions of
> (mostly former) owners of Haynes-Schwelm flutes vary, from "decent quality
> intermediate instrument" (on the Larry Krantz FAQ page) to very bad
student
> brand (Sax on the Web, poster unknown to me; he's a sax player who got
this
> info. from a repair person). Curiously, the owner of the bad instrument
> bought it brand-new in the 1970s and theorizes that it may have been a
> low-end revival of an extinct brand name.
>
> Any information received with gratitude. Private replies to this
off-topic
> post are welcome. TIA!
>
> Lelia Loban
> E-mail: lelialoban@-----.net
> Web site (original music scores as audio or print-out):
> http://members.sibeliusmusic.com/LeliaLoban
>
>
>
>
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