Vintage J C Haynes "Bay State" Grenadilla Flute

Our Description

This rare flute is one of the first flutes - and one of only ten known to have survived - to have come from the hand of William S Haynes, the pioneering American flute maker, and is an important instrument in the story of Boston flutes.

Made c 1895, J C Haynes flutes bore the "Bay State" name.

The flute is stamped:

128 /
Bay State /
J C HAYNES & CO /
BOSTON, MASS /
USA

Technical Notes

This closed-hole grenadilla wood instrument is a fascinating part of the Haynes flute history. William and George Haynes made their first 506 flutes under the J.C. Haynes and Co. “Bay State Flute Company” brand, before cementing the new company name “Wm. S. Haynes” that flautists know today. This flute is number 128, and thus comes from rather early in this period of the brothers’ history. 

This flute at one point had an attachment for a “Boehm’s crutch”, which was a semi-popular addition to Boehm flutes in the 1800s and early 1900s. This device, conceived by Boehm himself, was meant to distribute the weight of the flute into the palm of the left hand, and can still be found today in the crutches of bass flutes, whose greater weight all but necessitates the device. This crutch attachment has since been professionally removed and the screw-holes filled, but the crutch itself (seemingly made of bone) is still with the flute.  The foot joint also features a double-roller setup for the C4 and C♯4 keys that is particular to the Haynes brothers’ flutes during this time. 

The flute struggles to play smoothly in its current condition, but with firm finger pressure on the keys, the instrument’s potential is clear. The very square embouchure is characteristic of Haynes flutes, but it isn’t quite as large overall as more modern examples. The result is a wooden flute with extraordinary response in the upper registers for an instrument of this era. With careful restoration of the pads and calibration, this instrument could play very beautifully and freely indeed. 

General Condition

This flute is being sold as seen. It comes with its original case. This flute can be played in its current condition, but will benefit hugely from a conscientious service by someone familiar with vintage instruments. 

Its corks, particularly the footjoint cork, are rather worn and could do with replacing. The cork protector for the foot joint cork is missing, but the headjoint cork protector is present. The action of some of the keys is rather slow, suggesting a strip, oil, and recalibration of the keywork would be beneficial. The pads are old, and some could do with being replaced or reskinned. 

The condition of the keywork itself is very good for an instrument of this age. The wood shows no sign of cracking or splitting, nor repair thereof. 

Specifications

Item Details