(See: D Eden and M Lea; The Powerhouse Museum Flute Collection - Carte's 1851 System Flute in Flute Focus, issue 11, July 2007, pp.20-21)

This flute features the 1851 system created by Richard Carte [1808-1891]. A successful flautist and teacher, Carte was one of the first to take up the Boehm system in England. In 1850, he became a partner in the firm Rudall and Rose and the same year patented his combination of the Boehm system with the old fingering (GB no 12966) which became known as the 1851 system.

The mark of this flute refers to Boehm's parabola which was the shape of the flute as opposed to the previous conical bore instruments. Carte's Mechanism refers to the new keywork he designed. The open hole note was a D instead of C#. The forked fingering required for F on the Boehm system, which caused difficulties for some players, was reverted to the simple system fingering (ie retaining both the long and the short F keys). Another advantage nominated by Carte in preference to Boehm system was the large reduction in cross fingerings in the third register.

At the 1851 London Exhibition, Carte was awarded a medal for this system.

Danielle Eden, 1996

The 1851 System

A - Open D hole
B - C# hole
C - C hole
Cc - Duplicate C hole
D - B hole
E - Bb hole
F - A hole
G - G# hole
H - G hole
I - Lever to close F# hole
J - closed F hole
Jj - Duplicate F Hole
K - E hole

Flute, Carte system 1851 and Boehm's parabola, metal, made by Rudall Rose Carte & Co, London, England, 1851-1900.

Silver flute in three sections, the head section has a barrel mouth piece, with a wider diameter to the rest of the body, the barrel is engraved either side of the oval mouth hole with foliate and lines. The middle joint has the tuning barrel incorporated, it has 14 keyed holes, and markings engraved around the top. The foot joint has three keyed holes and decorative edging top and bottom.

Made: Rudall, Rose, Carte & Co; England; 1851 - 1900

Middle joint - engraved with the maker's mark and patent details. "COUNCIL & PRIZE MEDAL/ Rudall, Rose, Carte & Co./ Patentees/ 20 Charing Cross/ London/ Boehm's Parabola / Carte's Mechanism" .

93/117/11

1851 - 1900