English double flageolet. African blackwood (grenadilla). Block mounted silver keys, most with octagonal flaps and leather pads. Eleven key system, six on right hand pipe and five on left hand pipe, although three of these are missing. Also two wind cutter keys on stock and one key on head. Six ivory ferrules (a seventh is missing) and nine ivory studs. Mouthpiece missing. Left hand and right hand pipes of different lengths. Right hand pipe in two joints, the lower of which is probably not original as the keys do not have octagonal flaps. Sponge chamber is stamped: SIMPSON/IMPROVED/PATENT; Stock is stamped: SIMPSON/IMPROVED/PATENT/266 REGENT STREET/OXFORD STREET LONDON; The letter C is also stamped on the stock. The left hand pipe is stamped: SIMPSON; and also has the note names D, F-natural, D-sharp, C-sharp stamped next to the corresponding keys. The note names B and F-natural appear next to the keys on the upper joint of the right hand pipe, and the note names C and B are stamped next to the keys on the lower joint. The lower joint is also stamped: SIMPSON/IMPROVED/PATENT
overall: 515 x 65 x 65 mm
overall: 20.2756 x 2.5591 x 2.5591 in.
The double flageolet, with its paired duct flutes, is classified according to the system of Hornbostel and Sachs as a 'set of open flutes with internal ducts, with fingerholes and keys'.
