Hello to the group. I am so pleased to find a place that has so many people
interested in the study and use of vintage oboes. I was lucky enough to find
two piccolo oboes at a local estate sale (Kerrville, Texas). At the time,
neither the person having the sale nor I knew what they were, though I
recognized them to be woodwinds and professional constructed. You wouldn't
believe how hard it is to get a note out of one without a reed! It wasn't until
looking at a book on the history of musical instruments that I found pictures of
similar examples, though no 4 or 6 key musettes. I believe they are late to
middle 19th century and are perhaps French or German made. Neither have maker's
marks nor the country of origin, which suggests either pre-1900 or not made for
export. The 6 key is 13 and ¾ inches long and the 4 key is 14 inches long. I'm
not sure if the keys, ferrules and pins are nickel or a type of brass alloy as
there is just the smallest amount of verdigris on the edge of a couple of the
cups. As seen in the close up pictures, the keys and cups are slightly
different. The 6 key still retains some of the leather pads, but they have
hardened and two are attached to the wood as opposed to the cups while they are
all missing on the 4 key. The 4 key is also missing the thread gasket for the
tenon. The wood appears to be rosewood or something very similar. The finger
holes on the 4 key all appear to be slightly larger in diameter than those on
the 6 key. Do any of you have any idea of their age and country of origin or
perhaps even the maker? Any thoughts or ideas would be greatly appreciated.
I'd sure like to know what they are before I try to find a home for them. Thank
you ever so kindly, Paul Belcher.

Links:
www.freepicturehosting.com/is.php?i=685752&img=musettes1.jpg
www.freepicturehosting.com/is.php?i=685753&img=musettes2.jpg
www.freepicturehosting.com/is.php?i=685754&img=cu4key.jpg
www.freepicturehosting.com/is.php?i=685755&img=cu6key.jpg
www.freepicturehosting.com/is.php?i=685756&img=cuboth.jpg