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Boosey and Hawkes build quality

Author: Tony F
Date: 2016-09-29 10:49

Generally, when I do work on a B & H instrument the build quality is something that you can assume will be there, except perhaps in the last few months of production. I've just finished a restoration on a B & H Emperor which casts doubt on this. It was bought new decades ago, but the purchaser then had occasion to spend quite a long time as a guest of his government, and when he came out his interests had changed. The instrument was stored in a shed for decades, until I bought it from the estate of the original owner.

This could really be considered as "new-old stock" and I thought I'd scored a bargain, as I picked it up for pocket change. The serial number dates it to the mid-60's. The pads were rotted out and the corks were brittle, but I figured that with the B & H reputation for build quality it should be easy to get it into fine condition.

It has to be the worst B & H instrument I have ever come across. The keywork fit was unbelievably bad, with some key hinges bound up tight between the posts and other loose and sloppy. The wood quality wasn't up to what I expected to find, being open-grained and much lighter in weight than normal. After a couple of days work, a thorough oiling and polishing, new pads and corks and a lot of time making it leakproof it now plays as it should, but I remain amazed at this anomaly. It was as though it was build by an bored apprentice from the junked parts bin late on a Friday afternoon.

Tony F.

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