A William Hall & Son eight-key flute in cocus and silver, rebuilt by Patrick Olwell in 2025. It is stamped William Hall & Son, New York on the head joint, and William Hall & Son, 239 Broadway, New York on the left-hand section, right-hand section and foot.
The tone holes are small, with hole 4 measuring 7.8 mm, yet the flute delivers incredible power for its size. Intonation is superb. The low D has a strong, hard bottom, the foot keys work excellently, and the low C is almost as strong as the D. A silver band on the head joint adds to its cutting power. It plays at A=440 with the tuning slide extended about 10 mm.
The pads are fresh, and the flute is in excellent condition. Patrick Olwell sealed a hairline crack in the barrel during the rebuild, and the repair is not visible.
About the Maker
William Hall was born in 1796 and apprenticed to an instrument maker in Albany before moving to New York, where he worked for Edward Riley and married his daughter. He set up on his own in 1820, joined John Firth in 1821 as Firth & Hall, and became part of Firth, Hall & Pond when Sylvanus Pond joined in 1831. In 1847 he left to found William Hall & Son with his son James. The 239 Broadway address stamped on this flute is one the firm used from about 1848 into the late 1850s. The firm made English-style flutes, and its edition of Nicholson's School for the Flute noted that it manufactured flutes after Nicholson's pattern. By 1850 the business had also moved into piano manufacture.
Condition: Used - Excellent
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