F. Goldthwait

Mark on fife: F.(B?E?) Goldthwait/Hartford*

Place of business: Hartford

Dates of business: Circa 1815 (?)

Addresses of business:

Hartford

*Nothing is known about Goldthwait. It might be that Goldthwait was an employee of one of the Hartford Ct makers, George Catlin 1799-1815, Meacham 1806-1810 or Uzal Miner 1807-1815. There is an Ebenezer Goldthwait that shows up in the census of 1840 & 1850, in Hartford , and listed as a Polisher, but no other information is known about this Goldthwait. If more information comes to light, the date on this instrument might be changed to the 1840-50 period. As of this time, it is dated circa 1815 to reflect a connection with the woodwind making in Harford.

Features:

Length of Instrument -the fife is 14 3/4 inches.

Wood -the instrument is made of, what seems to be, what was called, Pearwood?

Key of instrument -C.

Finger Holes -seem to be the same size, and are not drilled straight.

The spacing on the holes is as follows:

1-2=.635
2-3=.671
3-4=.644
4-5=.726
5-6=.593

This shows that the hole pattern is not even.

Swell -the swell on this instrument comes right before the embouchure hole.

Ferrules - Ferrules are made of brass, scored with the following: Top ferrule has

1+2+1. Bottom ferrule has the same. Both are seamed tubing
Top ferrule is .996 inch in length; bottom is .872 inch, and both are tapered,
and have punch marks