Anyone Remember The Melody Flute?

Subject: RE: Anyone Remember The Melody Flute?
From: GUEST,Eliza
Date: 17 May 13 - 06:21 PM

Does anyone remember the plastic Ffyffes banana whistle? It had about six holes and you got it by collecting the stickers on the banana skins. I played mine constantly and made up several tunes on it until my parents were nearly climbing the walls.

Subject: RE: Anyone Remember The Melody Flute?
From: Jack Campin
Date: 17 May 13 - 07:15 PM

Never seen that one. Was it a whistle or an ocarina? (If it was banana shaped it would have had to be an ocarina).

Subject: RE: Anyone Remember The Melody Flute?
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 17 May 13 - 07:28 PM

Some with less clear memories might be interested in the picture and descriptive details at:

DCM 1550: Melody Flute Co. / Transverse Flute in A-flat (B-flat)

at the Library of Congress.

Several downloadable images are available on the page, along with some other "interesting" links.

The information given is that the company ceased to exist in 1947.

[The "DCM" in the title for the entry indicates that the company was listed in the "Index of Defense Contractors and Manufacturers" that assigned a "manufacturer Code number" to anyone doing business with the US Department of Defense. "DCM 1550" quite probably was the "CodeIdent" for the company.

This index was always one of the best ways to track companies who might change their names or move around, but is very difficult to get into unless you're working for someone "in the book."]

It would appear that nobody still makes the "Melody Flute" under that name, however it is possible to find instruments like the transverse-blown melody flute in the picture, if you search under the name of "Fifes." The majority of instruments offered as "fifes" are poor quality, usually bamboo, and in my experience "hard to play" with good tone, but the rarer metal ones are quite nice, if simple, instruments, if you get one with a good blow hole in it.

John

Subject: RE: Anyone Remember The Melody Flute?
From: Bill D
Date: 17 May 13 - 09:17 PM

Interesting image John, because this is my Melody flute which has the welded-on fipple as shown on the original booklet.

I bought it from an old 'geezer' who asserted that he made them. I 'may' have an old 35mm slide somewhere of the guy.


The booklet says 1952, so the original company existed at least that long....maybe the old guy was a former employee who kept making them,,,*shrug*

Subject: RE: Anyone Remember The Melody Flute?
From: Jack Campin
Date: 18 May 13 - 04:46 AM

They are still common on German EBay under other names.

Subject: RE: Anyone Remember The Melody Flute?
From: GUEST
Date: 21 May 13 - 11:09 AM

I think I probably should have just said Melody flute! LOL I don't think he cares if it's used or not...as long as it works!

Subject: RE: Anyone Remember The Melody Flute?
From: GUEST,anna
Date: 07 Jul 15 - 08:20 PM

I have a melody flute from 1962/1963 that I played in the seventh grade. Trying to find out the if any is

Subject: RE: Anyone Remember The Melody Flute?
From: GUEST,GTX Driver
Date: 03 Oct 15 - 01:53 AM

I got mine in 2nd grade in 1957. Still in near perfect condition including the cork. Also have the instruction book. Both were in my dresser for the last 50 years or so. I remember when we ordered them in school...I think they were a dollar, maybe two...I could be wrong.
They were your prized possession and you looked forward to your weekly music class. Just played it for the first time in more than 50 years.

Subject: RE: Anyone Remember The Melody Flute?
From: GUEST,Codega2012
Date: 27 Nov 15 - 05:24 PM

Wow, quite piece of information.. I was just given one of the Melody flutes, and the nice lady did not remember if it belonged to her daddy. I will keep this instrument as remembrance of a great era..

Subject: RE: Anyone Remember The Melody Flute?
From: GUEST,Ryan
Date: 18 May 19 - 07:52 PM

Hey,

For those like me who stumbled across one of theese and want to know more information, this is probably the best place. The best I've found, for sure. The mouthpiece for most of theese, from what I gather IS lead. I've had mine for months not knowing this, and am now very scared. A company sells new versions with plastic mouthpieces now, but are currently either out of stock, or are not being produced anymore. not quite sure. here's the site.

Ryan

Subject: RE: Anyone Remember The Melody Flute?
From: Bill D
Date: 18 May 19 - 10:31 PM

My pictures were on an old server... I just took a couple of digital pics of my flute with the first couple of pages of the manual.

here

As to the mouthpiece and construction, they are stainless steel I'd bet. The mouthpiece 'may' have some lead in the solder, but I doubt it.

In case it's hard to read, the intro (by Fredrick Beckman, Supervisor of Music, Philadelphia Public Schools) says it was originated by Walter D. Lanahan.

The cover gives the location of The Melody Flute Company who published the book as Laurel, Maryland. So... because Laurel is about an hour from downtown Wash. D.C. where I bought my flute in about 1972, the old guy selling them may well have made it.

If there is enough interest, I 'can' scan the booklet... which is mostly 'how to' with some tunes.

Subject: RE: Anyone Remember The Melody Flute?
From: Jack Campin
Date: 18 May 19 - 11:39 PM

Metallic lead is not very toxic and a varnish coat will deal with any problem.

There is an Italian ocarina maker who has recently started making all-ceramic instruments that work the same way.

Subject: RE: Anyone Remember The Melody Flute?
From: Jack Campin
Date: 19 May 19 - 11:27 AM

Ceramic version in action:

FB video

Subject: RE: Anyone Remember The Melody Flute?
From: leeneia
Date: 20 May 19 - 01:15 PM

Don't be scared, Ryan. Even if it is lead (seems unlikely) the lead won't dissolve and get in your body unless mixed with an acid, such as tomato juice or lemon juice. Just don't use the flute to stir sauces.

I agree with Bill D that it's probably steel, anyway. Lead is soft and wouldn't make a good mouthpiece.

Subject: RE: Anyone Remember The Melody Flute?
From: Jack Campin
Date: 20 May 19 - 02:43 PM

Lead makes very good fipples and most 19th century whistles used it. Shaw used it well into the 20th century.

A thousandth of an inch of paint or varnish will keep it away from your mouth.

Subject: RE: Anyone Remember The Melody Flute?
From: leeneia
Date: 21 May 19 - 12:57 PM

We don't put our mouths on fipples. The fipple should never be touched by anything.

Subject: RE: Anyone Remember The Melody Flute?
From: Jack Campin
Date: 21 May 19 - 02:09 PM

The fipple is otherwise known as the block. Yes you do put it in your mouth. You are thinking of the labium, which is one piece with the body and certainly won't be made of lead.