English triple flageolet. Boxwood. Ivory ferrules, endcap and studs. Brass keys. Apart from windcutters, all keys are block mounted with octagonal flat flaps and leather pads. Mouthpiece missing. Sponge chamber stamped: BAINBRIDGE/INVENTOR/HOLBORN/HILL; Stock has four keys, two octagonal keys and two windcutters. Stock is stamped with lion and unicorn emblem and inscription: BAINBRIDGE/INVENTOR/35/HOLBORN/HILL/LONDON/NEW/PATENT; Stamped inscriptions above octagonal keys read: NEW D KEY; and: NEW C KEY; Left hand pipe has seven keys, three studs and four tone holes, one partially plugged. Note names B,A,G are stamped to the right of the tone holes. Stamped inscriptions next to four of the keys read: Eb Key, D Key, F natural, D# ; Right hand pipe in two joints. Upper joint has five keys, three studs and four tone holes. Note names G,F,E,D are stamped to the right of the tone holes and the numbers 1,2,3,4 are stamped to the left. Stamped inscriptions next to keys read: B, F natural, LOW C key, C, LOW B Key; Lower joint is stamped: BAINBRIDGE/INVENTOR/NEW/PATENT; Third pipe in three joints. Upper joint has one windcutter key (only shank remaining) and is stamped: BAINBRIDGE/INVENTOR/LONDON; Lower joint has four keys and an ebony thumb rest. Stamped: BAINBRIDGE/INVENTOR/35/HOLBORN/HILL/LONDON; Stamped inscriptions next to keys read: A Key, B Key, C Key, D Key; Solid foot with screw fitting, cross hatched end and two holes half way down its length.
overall: 20.8661 x 5.1181 x 5.1181 in.; 530 x 130 x 130 mm;
The flageolet is a duct flute with mediaeval origins. The English flageolet differs from the earlier French designs in the arrangement of the finger-holes. William Bainbridge was the most innovative maker of English flageolets and marketed the instrument to amateur performers. This flageolet had an ivory mouthpiece, a sponge chamber to capture moisture from the player's breath and ivory studs to guide the fingers to the holes. Bainbridge later developed the double flageolet, upon which the two pipes are played simultaneously, sounding a third apart. So called 'wind-cutter' keys on the stock section allow the player to close off one or other of the pipes, with the left hand pipe designed to be used either on its own or in combination. The triple flageolet was also a Bainbridge invention, and the third pipe he added to this instrument provided a drone beneath the other two. The triple flageolet is classified according to the system of Hornbostel and Sachs as a 'set of open flutes with internal ducts, with fingerholes and keys'.
