Double Flageolet, boxwood, silver keys, ivory mounts and studs, by W. Bainbridge, London, English, 1829.

"Stamped: Bainbridge Inventor 35 Holborn Hill London New Patent. On silver keys the London hallmark from 1829 and the maker's mark W.B. Two boxwood pipes, the right-hand pipe longer than the other, held in a wide head joint with two shut-off keys and ivory mouthpiece. Ivory mounts, silver keys. The holes in the left pipe are marked from the highest B, A, G, F, E, D. A key located high up on the pipe is marked D key , and the three keys near the bottom are marked F [natural], D# and C# , the last being an open key pivoted at its lowest end. The right pipe holes are marked G, F, E, D, and the keys B (near the top). C, Low B key (open key at the back of the pipe), and Low key C (closed key in front). Below the last of these keys is a vent hole. Below the shut-off key on the left side NEW C KEY and NEW D KEY . It is to these that 'NEW PATENT presumably refers." - Anthony Baines: Catalogue of Musical Instruments in the Victoria and Albert Museum - Part II: Non-keyboard instruments. (London, 1998), pp. 89-90.

Given to the Museum by Cecil F. Armstrong, Esq.

This instrument was given to the museum by Cecil F.Armstrong, Esq, in 1925.

The flageolet is a wind instrument with a whistle-like mouth piece. William Bainbridge (d. 1831), a wood-turner and professional musician, introduced a version with an extra pipe, holes and keys in 1806. This instrument was made in 1829: the silver keys bear the hall-mark for that date. It is described as 'New Patent', and has an additional 'new C key' and 'new D key'. Bainbridge seems to have followed the widespread practice of referring to patents that he was never actually granted, possibly to deter others from copying his instruments. In spite of various modifications, Bainbridge never succeded in making the flageolet as popular with musicians as the flute, and it fell into disuse by the 1850s.

W.23-1925