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 maker’s stamp with his own.
Moore’s premises moved in the early 20th Century to Leicester centre, and are now known as Moore’s & 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.
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Key work and finger holes |
Finger hole diameter (av.) |
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Left hand, first finger: |
T; 2.5mm |
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Left hand, second finger: |
T; 2.5mm |
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Left hand, third finger: |
T; 2.5mm |
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Right hand, first finger: |
T; 5mm |
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Right hand, second finger: |
T; 5.2mm |
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Right hand, third finger: |
T; 4.3mm |
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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 here
Illustration references: See below
Previous owner: William Bentley.
Previous collection numbers: A and B: Add. 4
Gallery of Images
