L. L. Lebret
Serial # 4242; Paris; 1923(?); silver plated body and mechanism, soldered tone holes; sl 602mm; 400g; .014"h .013"b

Keywork is wonderfully peculiar to L. L. Lebret. Except for the quite normal pointed key arm for the G# at left, Lebret adopts a "raised nipple" pad cup design which he attaches to the mechanism by a longish ball and pillar key arm. Even the tiny F# adjustment lug is similarly sculpted.  The spherical key post heads are exaggerated as well, as is the odd base of the thumb key mechanism at the lower left.

The ball motive is emphasized throughout with club shaped kickers (oddly reminiscent of ball and claw furniture feet). Even the outer edge of the soldered tone hole facings are convex, giving a more rounded impression than the more common angle bevel or concave chamfering.

This flute is in good overall condition and plays sweetly at A-440 with a slightly hollow sound more evocative of a silver flute.  The action is comfortable and quiet, the scale is good.  The overall integrity of the plating is excellent despite some surface pitting (which actually adds a bit of extra sparkle if, like milady, you are attracted to shiny objects!).

This flute was purchased from Tony Bingham of London. He acquired it in exchange for another flute from an amateur player from Jersey of the Channel Islands.  (Hmm, perhaps this climate explains the surface pitting?)  Tony is the publisher of such essential musical instrument tomes as Tula Giannini's Great Flute Makers of France: The Lot and Godfroy Families, 1650-1900 and William Waterhouse' The New Langwill Index: A Dictionary of Wind Instrument Makers and Inventors.