Flute repairer - London Area ?

Subject: Flute repairer - London Area ?
From: Sarah the flute
Date: 06 Oct 01 - 09:46 AM

Does anyone know of anyone in London area especially South London who might be able to overhaul my Irish traditional wooden flute. Mid gig on Sunday if gave up on a number of notes - think the padding needs replacing but I'm not having much luck finding someone to repair it. Most people only seem willing to take on metal concert flutes. Anyone out there know anyone???

Subject: RE: Flute repairer - London Area ?
From: Roger in Sheffield
Date: 06 Oct 01 - 10:31 AM

Thanks Sarah, while looking for a repairer for your flute I have found instead lots of flute makers - now I want a new one
So far I have found repairers all over the UK but not London so far
How about Devon?

Subject: RE: Flute repairer - London Area ?
From: Roger in Sheffield
Date: 06 Oct 01 - 10:40 AM

OOoops this is the Devon link

Subject: RE: Flute repairer - London Area ?
From: GUEST,Marjorie
Date: 06 Oct 01 - 11:45 AM

Try Howarths: I'm not sure which part of Londond they're in, but their web site is www.howarth.uk.com

Subject: RE: Flute repairer - London Area ?
From: Roger in Sheffield
Date: 06 Oct 01 - 12:12 PM

DIY
I remember someone telling me a few months back how he had replaced the pads himself

Subject: RE: Flute repairer - London Area ?
From: mooman
Date: 06 Oct 01 - 07:45 PM

Sarah,

I've done a lot of wooden flute repairs but unfortunately don't live in London anymore, or the UK for that matter. I can't think of any repairers I can recommend as I've been out of the UK over 10 years and have lost touch a bit. But as Roger suggests above, why not think about doing it yourself? The parts such as pads are readily available, replacement of cork joints, if needed, is not too difficult and I'm sure several of us here could help guide you through it step-by step.

You might also ask shops such as Hobgoblin, just off Oxford Street (I've forgotten the name of the side street but it's the same one as Ivor Mairants Music Centre), whether they have any flute rpairers on their books.

Good luck

mooman

Subject: RE: Flute repairer - London Area ?
From: GUEST,Manitas
Date: 07 Oct 01 - 07:32 AM

Try the Early Music Shop, they have a branch near Baker Street and nearby is a flute specialist. I think the street is Chiltern Street.

Subject: RE: Flute repairer - London Area ?
From: Sarah the flute
Date: 08 Oct 01 - 03:33 AM

Thanks for the help everyone. I tried Hobgoblin but they weren't very interested but that was the Crawley shop so I may give London shop a go. If you do a DIY job where do you get all the bits of cork etc from? Think Chiltern St may have been where I got my flute from originally many eons ago - is it called All Flutes?

Subject: RE: Flute repairer - London Area ?
From: mooman
Date: 08 Oct 01 - 04:29 AM

Dear Sarah,

The Chiltern Streen shop is, if I remember correctly, called All Flutes Plus and I think the street the London Hobgoblin is in is Rathbone Place if my memory is coming back.

There are various places you can buy cork for joints (usually sheets of 1mm or 1.5mm are about the right thickness) and sets of pads. I might have some of each left over in my "bits and pieces" boxes from my repairing days and, if so, could let you have them. I'll take a look tonight to see if I have anything left. I'm pretty sure I have some cork but can't remember if I've any pads the right size left.

What I generally used to do during such a service was also to dismantle and clean up the keys and lubricate their pivots and reinstall them, and check the state of the springs at the same time.

Best regards,

mooman

Subject: RE: Flute repairer - London Area ?
From: GUEST,micca at work.
Date: 08 Oct 01 - 06:37 AM

Sarah the Flute, if all else fails try contacting David Armitage at London Guildhall University dept.of Music Technology, near Aldgate East, they train woodwind repairers and makers and I am sure he could put you in touch with a present/former student who could probably do what you want at a reasonable cost! if you need the number or address PM me at Micca (leave out the "at work", no cookie) and I will provide.