Hi Everyone,

I got an old Armstrong piccolo off of ebay. I haven't actually been able to see it with my own eyes, but my husband discribed the condition to me over the phone. It is going to need a little TLC. He said that the headjoint says silver but there are no markings on the body. He also said that the body was in really good condition. If it is plated, the plating is great on it no wear that he can see. It has the really old Armstrong company writing on it. It came in one of the really old piccolo cases with the aluminum frames. He said that the case is a disaster. No dents very few dings that are almost microsopic. Anyway, I am trying to figure out how old it might be. I am also wondering if it might be solid silver because of the condition of the plating= no wear.

The serial number is: N9865

Any ideas. I can't find anywhere on the web where the old Armstrong pic serial numbers are posted. I have tried in the past to contact Armstrong about other flute issues and I can't get a response. Go figure.

The Yamaha reps are awsome. They always call back, but Armstrong customer service is horrible. I doubt that I will get an answer from them.

Any and all help and suggestions are very much appreciated.

Lana

Armstrong flute serial numbers are at the following link. I don't know if piccolo serial numbers use the same numbering/date system.

http://www.dancipsax.com/iserialarmstrongflute.html

<Added>

I just checked the Armstrong list again. There is no prefix "N" among the flute serial numbers.

It's definitely old piccolo. Right now it is in a million pieces. I took it apart after I got it when I saw how bad it was.

I guess someone was doing a bad job of an overhaul on the thing. It was never cleaned. All the new pads were replaced badly. They are not level in the cups.

I got it off ebay. I am slightly disappointed. I was expecting to have to do some work to it, but this is a little much. I am going to have to take out all the pads and buy new ones. They are a bad fit anyway.

The corks look as though a 6 year old cut them and tried to put them on. There is glue everywhere. Looks terrible!

The springs are usable they need some trimming and bending. The pins are okay I will have to trim them once I take them out and clean the piccolo and put them back in.

The piccolo cleaning rod is missing. I am going to have to get one so that I can place the head cork. I am sure it needs a new head cork too.

The headjoint has a ding on the lipplate, but it plays.

Good thing it wasn't too expensive and that I can probably fix the sucker.

Thank God it doesn't need swedging.

This is going to be an interesting project.

Got any cheap good piccolo headjoints anyone?