Harry Pedler Oboe...oh, bois!

[Windsong]

I have just purchased a curious old Oboe.

It is neither an English Thumbplate system, nor a Conservatoire system. It appears to be a primitive or simple system oboe, but there are very few like it, to compare it to.  I found a Couesnon, as well as an E. Gaudet and an A. C. Fischer from the 1870-1925 timeframe that are very similar, but nothing else.


EDIT" This is a Triebert System 4 Oboe, invented in 1843 and used until about 1925.  Mine is a near exact copy of a Couesnon, and I think there can be little doubt that it is.(https://sites.duke.edu/dumic/instruments/woodwinds/west-europe/triebert-system-4-oboe/)


I see absolutely no indication that this is Harry Pedler's work, but it is certainly his brand. It is a beautiful instrument, circa 1925, and I am looking forward to hearing it sing. 

The flush bands you see on the top joint do not appear to be holding a crack, but may have been preemptively placed to prevent them. This oboe was sold as a "military oboe", which I see no overt evidence of, save for these additional fortifications:

[Windsong]

More:

[Windsong]

A few more:
(Check out that odd "rocker" LH5 key, that actuates different notes, depending upon how it is depressed.  Cool!)

[Windsong]

Okay--so apparently I am not a Bagpip...I mean Oboe player.  I bought an Emerald medium soft reed (it tastes like formaldehyde, BTW) and it's like trying to blow up balloon animals.  Wow!  I REALLY love sax and clarinet, now.

At least this old Harry Pedler plays.  I looked at the pads and could tell it would play.  The pads are tiny (I mean TINY 6mm and 7mm), and most are cork, which last forever, as long as they don't disintegrate.

 

[LarryS]

Very nice! Always fancied trying one of these hauty bois

[Windsong]

Very nice! Always fancied trying one of these hauty bois

It is REALLY hard to play.  It may be the reed strength, but medium soft seemed right.  I cannot imagine what a hard oboe reed would be like. 

I studied embouchures on YouTube and on-line tutorials, and it still took me several minutes to produce sound.  I kept blowing until I was about to hyperventilate, and finally sound came out. 

At this rate, (unless a soft reed is that much easier) I can honestly say that whilst I love the sound of an Oboe, I don't believe I am willing to put myself through whatever is needed to acclimate to the increased wind needed to play it.

[LarryS]

They certainly look challenging Windsong