Christensen flute and piccolo set

For sale is a Christensen flute and piccolo set, flute serial #743 and piccolo serial #1454. Both are solid silver construction, silver headjoints, silver body, silver footjoint, and silver keywork.

The flute is in the key of C, has plateau keywork with soldered toneholes, offset G, closed G#, B trill, with a C foot, and has a sounding length of 23 and 13/16ths of an inch. The flute headjoint has several small dings and the lip plate has one small ding on the left center edge of the lip plate. It is not near the embouchure hole. The body and footjoint have small scratches but no apparent dings. Some of the pads have been replaced while others are a bit on the older side. Flute is playable but needs minor adjustments. I'm guessing the flute was made around 1917 for the military.

The piccolo is cylindrical bore, drawn toneholes, in the key of C, closed G#, with a sounding length of 10 and 11/16ths of an inch. The piccolo headjoint is in very good condition, no dings and very few scratches. The body has a couple of very small dings. Pads appear to be near new condition. Piccolo is playable but needs minor adjustments. I'm guessing the piccolo was made around 1920. According to catalogs, the mechanism was drop-forged and springs were 14kt gold. The headjoint was patented on April 26, 1921.

Christensen & Company, Inc. was formed in 1916 by Nils Christensen, the former foreman of Wm S Haynes. Nils company continued in business until about 1934 and was a maker of top grade flutes. I used to own a silver Wm S Haynes flute made in 1918 and I would have to say the silver Christensen flute was superior to that Haynes flute.

The flute comes with a case but it is not original. The piccolo comes with a case and it is original.

It's hard to find a Christensen flute and piccolo set. This is a collectors opportunity to own a part of history.