- Completed on August 7, 1930 in Boston
- Sterling silver throughout
- 0.014″ tubing
- Soldered tone holes
- Open hole
- Pointed keys
- C-foot
- Embouchure: 10.2 mm x 11.9 mm
- Weight: 381 g
- Sounding Length: 598.5 mm
- Traditional Powell Scale
- A=440 Hz
After working for William Haynes, Verne Powell started his own shop in 1927. This early Powell flute was made at a time when he perfected his emulation of a Louis Lot flute but was still finding his “voice” as a flute maker. It wasn’t until several years later, in the mid to late 1930s, when Verne Powell began making flutes that defined the American sound, championed by William Kincaid, John Wummer, Joseph Mariano, and many others.
#133 is a wonderful blend of Louis Lot and the classic Powell sound. The sound is richer, with more body and character than a Louis Lot flute of the same era; you can almost hear the classic Powell sound wanting to break through. The tonal quality is consistent in all registers, providing fluidity and evenness when jumping registers. Overall, the sound is rich, vibrant, and clean.
The flute also allows you to dig into the low notes of the right hand, helping you cut through the strings when playing those low-note solos in Sibelius and Dvorak symphonies. But the flute is flexible and light enough to help you blend in with others when playing Debussy’s Trio for flute, viola, and harp.
The flute is unaltered, and the mechanism is reliable. The pads are in excellent condition. The original case has been lost to time, so the flute is housed in a newer wooden case. #133 has a tremendous historical value of exemplary American flute-making. It truly is one of the finest flutes we’ve encountered.
Price: $12,995
Sold as is. Sales tax applies to purchases within California. For inquiries on purchasing, please contact Gary Lewis.
