窪蹋勛圖厙

Oboe in C

Catalogue number: 3.4

Original name: Oboe in C.

Type or system: Two keys

Maker: Unknown.

Place of origin: Probably French, mid 18th Century. There is no record of an instrument maker Moore living in Syston (Leicestershire) but there was an instrument dealer of that name, active in the 19th and 20th Centuries.

The instrument is either French or English, modelled on a French Baroque instrument. It is probable that Moore imported the instrument and replaced the makers stamp with his own.

Moores premises moved in the early 20th Century to Leicester centre, and are now known as Moores & Stanworth.

The carefully smoothed bore indicates a high degree of craftsmanship (possibly Huguenot, French) in its manufacture.

Overall size: 600mm.

Bore: at narrowest point: 5.6mm.

Diameter of reed receiver: 7.5mm (at widest point).

Technical description: Boxwood in three sections (217mm, 211mm, 172mm); two vent holes in the bell; one brass key, swallowtail style, mounted on raised ring; only one hole halved.

Key work and finger holes

Finger hole diameter (av.)

Left hand, first finger:

T; 2.5mm

Left hand, second finger:

T; 2.5mm

Left hand, third finger:

T; 2.5mm

Right hand, first finger:

T; 5mm

Right hand, second finger:

T; 5.2mm

Right hand, third finger:

T; 4.3mm

Right hand, fourth finger:

Low C, D sharp / E flat

Inscription: Stamped on top joint: MOORE / SYSTON.

Faults: Small crack in the bell running about 25mm from the base. Slightly warped.

Repair history: Cleaned, April 2000. New string on tenons.

Usable pitch: Plays at a = 415 Hz.

Specific literature references: Listed in the New Langwill Index as an instrument by Moore.

Recording references: Click

Illustration references: See below

Previous owner: William Bentley.

Previous collection numbers: A and B: Add. 4

Gallery of Images