Veriam Music Trust
Historic Bassoons
The Trust’s holdings are held within the premises of Double Reed Ltd., and the Trust warmly welcomes visitors by appointment to view and study the items in the collections and, where practicable, to play the instruments.
English Bassoons
Milhouse, England
Double Reed Collection (D001)
Instrument: Bassoon
Maker: William/Richard Milhouse
Region: Newark, England
Era: Baroque style, classical era*
Manufacture date(s): 1780s
Keys: 5
Stamp: Milhouse / Newark
The Milhouse family made musical instruments from C1763-1840. Richard Millhouse (senior) began in 1763, and his two sons Richard (junior) and William continued after he died in 1775. Richard senior spelled his surname 'Millhouse', whereas his sons spelled it 'Milhouse' with only one 'l'. The 'Milhouse / Newark' stamp indicates that this instrument was made in the Newark workshop, which was the earlier location for the makers, subsequently closing and/or moving to London around the late 1780s/early 1790s. Which of the brothers ran the Newark workshop before it closed is unknown, but many of the subsequent London workshop instruments were stamped with William’s initials. Polling data continued to list Richard as a musical instrument maker at various points up until 1837. As the Newark workshop was inactive C1790, Richard may well have worked with William at the London workshops until he retired (1).
*The Milhouse brothers, who learned their craft from their father Richard, continued to make some bassoons in the baroque style well into the classical period. This bassoon, although made in the early classical era, is baroque in style. It either pre-dates the maker’s transition to making classical style instruments, or was built in keeping with the baroque style intentionally.
Ref: (1) William Waterhouse, 'The New Langwill Index' (1993), p. 264
John Hale, England
Millyard Collection (M002) - newly listed, 09/05/24
Instrument: Bassoon
Maker: John Hale
Region: London, England (Covent Garden)
Era: Classical
Manufacture date(s): 1785 - 1804
Keys: 8
Stamp: I. Hale / London / I /(Fleur de lis icon)
John Hale, based in Covent Garden, London, worked for musical instrument maker Thomas Collier, and by 1785 had succeeded Collier in making instruments. Langwill states that Hale flourished in this endeavour between 1785 and 1804. His keys are stamped underneath with his initials, and examples of them are found on many other maker’s instruments from the period (55). Like John Green, the initial for Hale’s first name, John, is designated with an ‘I’.
This instrument has an historical crook with it.
Donated by Tony Millyard, historical musical instrument collector and maker.
Ref: (55) William Waterhouse, 'The New Langwill Index' (1993), p. 157
Preston, England
Boston Collection (B002)
Instrument: Bassoon
Maker: John (Johannes) Preston
Region: London, England
Era: Classical
Manufacture date(s): 1774-1798
Keys: 8
Stamp: Preston / London
John (Johannes) Preston started his London musical instrument making workshop in 1774(4). He made wind instruments, but was also a highly regarded luthier and maker of baroque and classical guitars and pianos (and other musical instruments)(5). He was, in addition, a well-known printer, seller and publisher of music (6).
His son, Thomas Preston, took over the business after his death in 1798 (7), and the business continued until 1834. The ‘Preston / London’ stamp indicates an earlier date for this bassoon, being made before John Preston’s death (8).
Ref: (4, 6) William Waterhouse, 'The New Langwill Index' (1993), p. 311
Ref: (5) Wikipedia contributors, 'Wikipedia' (2023), p. name John Preston (luthier)
Ref: (7) 'The Monthly Magazine and British Register, Part I' (1798), p. 69
Ref: (8) William Waterhouse, 'The New Langwill Index' (1993), p. 311
John Preston, England
Double Reed Collection (D011)
Instrument: Bassoon
Maker: John (Johannes) Preston
Region: London, England
Era: Classical
Manufacture date(s): 1774-1798
Keys: 9
Stamp: Preston / London
See duplicate description for B002.
Astor & Co, England
Boston Collection (B003)
Instrument: Bassoon
Maker: Astor & Co
Region: London, England
Era: Classical
Manufacture date(s): 1799-1826
Keys: 6
Stamp: Astor & Co / London / 79 / Cornhill / London
Brothers George and John Astor founded their woodwind instrument workshop in London in C1778, which traded until 1831. George’s wife continued the business after his death in 1813. Astor & Co partnered with 'C. Gerock' between 1824 and 27 (see our C. Gerock bassoon M003). The inclusion of Cornhill on the stamp indicates this instrument was made between 1799 and 1826, when they were at the 79 Cornhill address (11).
John Astor moved to America in 1783(12), where, through various business ventures, he became one of the richest people to have lived in modern history. His great grandson famously died as the wealthiest person aboard the Titanic when it sank in 1912.
Ref: (11 & 12) William Waterhouse, 'The New Langwill Index' (1993), p. 12
Thomas Key, England
Double Reed Collection (D005)
Instrument: Bassoon
Maker: Thomas Key
Region: London, England (Charing Cross)
Era: Classical
Manufacture date(s): 1812-1853
Keys: 8
Stamp: I / Key / London / Charing Cross / (unicorn head icon)
Thomas Key established his wind instrument workshop in C1800, and had three London addresses prior to his death in 1853 – High Holborn, Pall Mall and Charing Cross. He was partnered with John Cramer for some years, and examples of their instruments are stamped 'Cramer & Key / London (unicorn head icon)'. Key's son, Frederick, took ownership of the business after 1853 (9).
Interestingly, Thomas Key and William Milhouse also collaborated on at least one bassoon, an example of which is currently housed in The National Museum of Wales, Cardiff, and is stamped with both their names (10). (The Bassoon vol. I, Will Jansen).
Ref: (9) William Waterhouse, 'The New Langwill Index' (1993), p. 204
Ref: (10) Will Jansen, 'The Bassoon Vol. I' (1978), p. 411
John Green, England
Millyard Collection (M001) - newly listed, 09/05/24
Instrument: Bassoon
Maker: John Green
Region: London, England (Soho Square)
Era: Classical/romantic
Manufacture date(s): 1815-1851
Keys: 8
Stamp: I. Green / London
John Green was a musical instrument dealer and maker, based in Soho Square C1815 (51), who is most well-known for inventing the Royal Seraphine (reed organ) (52). Green was a former employee of Clementi & Co, and likely made this bassoon between 1815 and 1851 when he died (53). The stamp’s inclusion of the letter ‘I’ for John, instead of ‘J’ doesn’t seem to appear in the stamps used on Green’s other instruments, or that of his premises in 1838 (54).
This instrument is missing the keys for F#, C, D, F. We are not aware of another John Green bassoon in existence.
Donated by Tony Millyard, historical musical instrument collector and maker.
Ref: (51) David Lasocki, ‘New Light on the Early History of the Keyed Bugle Part I: The Astor Advertisement and Collins v. Green’ Historic Brass Society Journal 21 (2009-10), p. 27
Ref: (52) J. Green, ‘The Royal Seraphine, a New Musical Instrument…’ (1840), p. 1
Ref: (53) Margaret Debenham, ‘List of wills of pianoforte and musical instrument makers (not exclusive), identified by the author from the Index of Wills registered in The Prerogative 1 Court of Canterbury: 1384 –12 January 1858 (series PROB 11), held at The National Archives, UK.’ (2013), p. 4
Ref: (54) David Lasocki, ‘New Light on the Early History of the Keyed Bugle Part I: The Astor Advertisement and Collins v. Green’ Historic Brass Society Journal 21 (2009-10), p. 24
W. Milhouse, England
Double Reed Collection (D002)
Instrument: Bassoon
Maker: William Milhouse
Region: London, England (337 Oxford Street)
Era: Classical
Manufacture date(s): 1822-1835
Keys: 9
Stamp: W Milhouse / London / 337 / Oxford Street
William Milhouse is the son of woodwind instrument maker Richard Millhouse (senior), and the brother of Richard Milhouse (junior) (2). See also description for D001.
Both brothers were musicians and musical instrument makers, learning their trade from their father, and establishing workshops in Newark, Soho and Oxford Street, London. The Oxford Street workshop was the later of the three, and bassoons stamped ‘W. Milhouse / London / 337 Oxford St’ date from 1822-1835 (3).
Ref: (2 & 3) William Waterhouse, 'The New Langwill Index' (1993), p. 264
W. Milhouse, England
Double Reed Collection (D003)
Instrument: Bassoon
Maker: William Milhouse
Region: London, England (337 Oxford Street)
Era: Classical
Manufacture date(s): 1822-1835
Keys: 6
Stamp: W Milhouse / London / 337 / Oxford Street
See duplicate description for D002.
C. Gerock, England
Millyard Collection (M003) - newly listed, 09/05/24
Instrument: Bassoon
Maker: Christopher Gerock
Region: London, England (79 Cornhill)
Era: Classical/Early romantic
Manufacture date(s): 1827-1831
Keys: 6
Stamp: (Unicorn head icon) / C. Gerock / 79 / Cornhill / London
Christopher Gerock started his woodwind instrument making workshop in London in 1805. The company traded until 1837, and from 1824-1827 was partnered with ‘Astor & Co’ (see our Astor & Co bassoon B003). Gerock then partnered with Wolf between 1831 and 1837 and became ‘Gerock & Wolf’. Gerock’s address was at 79 Cornhill from 1827-1837 (56), and so the stamp on this instrument indicates it was likely made in the short 1827-31 interval between the Astor and Wolf partnerships.
This instrument is missing most of its keywork.
Donated by Tony Millyard, historical musical instrument collector and maker.
Ref: (56) William Waterhouse, 'The New Langwill Index' (1993), p. 133
Unknown, England
Millyard Collection (M004) - newly listed, 09/05/24
Instrument: Bassoon
Maker: Unknown
Region: England
Era: Classical (?)
Manufacture date(s): Unknown
Keys: 9
Stamp: None
This bassoon has no stamp, and so its maker and exact date of manufacture is unknown. It is likely an English classical bassoon based on its design. The stamp is likely to have been sanded away at some point in its history, which sometimes happens during re-finishing. It has also had modifications done to shorten some of the joints.
A. Morton, England
Double Reed Collection (D007)
Instrument: Bassoon
Maker: Alfred Morton
Region: London, England
Era: Romantic
Manufacture date(s): 1874-1898
Keys: 18
Stamp: A. Morton / London
Alfred Morton, in his early life, apprenticed with Austrian woodwind instrument makers, the Uhlmann family. He also worked under the well-known maker Savary, and was seen by some as Savary’s successor (13).
He established his own workshop in London C1874. He died in 1898 (14).
He is credited by Langwill and Jansen as being the first to line the bassoon’s wing joint and boot joint bores, having done so from as far back as 1875 (15, 16).
Ref: (13, 14, 15) William Waterhouse, 'The New Langwill Index' (1993), p. 273
Ref: (16) Will Jansen, 'The Bassoon Vol. I' (1978), p. 445-46
French Bassoons
Prudent Thierriot, France
Double Reed Collection (D008)
Instrument: Bassoon
Maker: Prudent Thierriot
Region: Paris, France
Era: Classical
Manufacture date(s): 1765-1785
Keys: 6
Stamp: Prudent / A Paris / (fleur de lis)
Workshop established in rue Dauphine, Paris, in 1765. As was customary at the time, Prudent's stamp includes his forename, as opposed to his surname. Prudent Thierriot died in 1830 (17, 18).
Ref: (17) William Waterhouse, 'The New Langwill Index' (1993), p. 312-13
Ref: (18) Will Jansen, 'The Bassoon Vol. I' (1978), p. 504
Charles Rust, France
Double Reed Collection (D009)
Instrument: Bassoon
Maker: Rust
Region: Lyon, France
Era: Classical
Manufacture date(s): 1805-1821
Keys: 7
Stamp: Rust / A Lyon / (two star icons)
Little information is known about Charles Rust and his instrument making career. After his death his wife continued the business, in partnership with Dubois (19, 20)
Ref: (19) William Waterhouse, 'The New Langwill Index' (1993), p. 340
Ref: (20) Will Jansen, 'The Bassoon Vol. I' (1978), p. 469.
Savary, France
Boston Collection (B001)
Instrument: Bassoon
Maker: Jean Nicholas Savary
Region: Paris, France
Era: Classical/romantic
Manufacture date(s): 1816-1853
Keys: 16
Stamp: Savary / Jeune / A Paris / (sun icon)
Jean Nicholas Savary was active as a woodwind musical instrument maker and bassoonist between 1816 and 1853, when he died (21). He was regarded as one of the best bassoon makers of his time (22). He has been called the Stradavari of the bassoon (first in 1891 by Charles Day), and his bassoons were highly sought after during his life and long afterwards (23).
Jansen writes that the examples of his bassoons which still exist testify to his astonishing skill and outstanding workmanship, and that, technologically, he was decades ahead of other makers (24).
His bassoons are normally dated, but a date stamp isn’t visible on this instrument.
Ref: (21, 23) William Waterhouse, 'The New Langwill Index' (1993), p. 347
Ref: (22) 'The Horniman Museum, London' URL: Agent 5354
Ref: (24) Will Jansen, 'The Bassoon Vol. I' (1978), p. 470-71
German Bassoons
Winckler, Germany
Temporary loan (K005) - newly listed, 09/05/24
Instrument: Bassoon
Maker: Johann Christian Winckler
Region: Leipzig, Germany
Era: Classical
Manufacture date(s): 1789-1796
Keys: 5
Stamp: (Unidentified symbol) / Winckler / (Star symbol)
Four generations of the Winckler family made woodwind instruments in Leipzig, Germany, from 1789 to 1847. This bassoon was likely to have been made by Johann Christian Winckler, the first instrument maker of the family, between 1789 and 1796, when he died (63, 64).
Ref: (63) William Waterhouse, 'The New Langwill Index' (1993), p. 431-432
Ref: (64) David Rachor, ‘Winckler, Johann Christian Bassoons' (2024)
Dölling, Germany
Double Reed Collection (D006)
Instrument: Bassoon
Maker: Dölling
Region: Potsdam, Germany
Era: Classical
Manufacture date(s): 1820s
Keys: 12
Stamp: Dölling / Potsdam / (Prussian eagle with crown)
The Dölling family were German musical instrument makers. Little information is known about the maker who's mark matches the stamp of this bassoon, other than they were active in the 1820s (25).
Ref: (25) William Waterhouse, 'The New Langwill Index' (1993), p. 91-92
Czech Bassoons
Ignaz Huittl, Graslitz (Kraslice)
Temporary loan (K003) - newly listed, 09/05/24
Instrument: Bassoon
Maker: Ignaz Huittl
Region: Graslitz (Kraslice), Czech Republic
Era: Classical
Manufacture date(s): 1750 - 1800
Keys: 9
Stamp: .I. Huittl.
Ignaz Huittl was also a musical instrument maker in the historic town of Graslitz (modern day Kraslice, Czech Republic). The town is renowned for musical instrument making, being well known for this for several centuries at least. Huittl was active as a bassoon maker between 1750 and 1800 (60, 61). Langwill states he specialised in the bassoon (62).
Ref: (60) David Rachor, ‘Huittl, Ignaz Bassoons' (2024)
Ref: (61) Will Jansen, 'The Bassoon Vol. I' (1978), p. 405
Ref: (62) William Waterhouse, 'The New Langwill Index' (1993), p. 187
Attributed to Ignaz Huittl, Graslitz
Temporary loan (K006) - newly listed, 09/05/24
Instrument: Bassoon
Maker: Attributed to Ignaz Huittl
Region: Graslitz (Kraslice), Czech Republic
Era: Classical
Manufacture date(s): 1750 - 1800
Keys: 6
Stamp: None
This bassoon has no stamp, likely to have been sanded away at some point in its history, which sometimes happens during re-finishing. The body and keywork design, though, indicates that it was made by Ignaz Huittl between 1750-1800. Comparisons with other Huittl bassoons show close similarities, for example this Huittl stamped bassoon on David Rachor’s database. The wooden keywork mounts share a close resemblance to this instrument, as well as the shape of the bell joint and the flared collar on the top of the long joint.
See duplicate description for K003.
Ignatz Riedel, Graslitz (Kraslice)
Temporary loan (K002) - newly listed, 09/05/24
Instrument: Bassoon
Maker: Ignatz Riedel
Region: Graslitz (Kraslice), Czech Republic
Era: Classical
Manufacture date(s): 1790 - 1821
Keys: 8
Stamp: (double eagle) / Ignatz Riedel / Graslitz (star icon)
Josef Ignatz Riedel was a musical instrument maker in the historic town of Graslitz (modern day Kraslice, Czech Republic). The town is renowned for musical instrument making, being well known for this for several centuries at least. Josef Ignatz Riedel was active as a clarinet and bassoon maker between 1790 and 1821 (59).
Ref: (59) William Waterhouse, 'The New Langwill Index' (1993), p. 327
Johann Michl & Sohn, Graslitz
Temporary loan (K008) - newly listed, 09/05/24
Instrument: Bassoon
Maker: Johann Michl & Sohn
Region: Graslitz (Kraslice), Czech Republic
Era: Romantic
Manufacture date(s): 1870-1937
Keys: 16
Stamp: Joh. Michl & Sohn / Graslitz
Johann Michl & Sohn were woodwind instrument makers in the historic town of Graslitz (Kraslice) from 1870 – 1937 (65).
Ref: (65) William Waterhouse, 'The New Langwill Index' (1993), p. 263
Austrian Bassoons
Johann Ziegler / Wolfgang Küss / other, Wien (Vienna)
Temporary loan (K007) - newly listed, 09/05/24
Instrument: Bassoon
Maker: Johann Ziegler/Wolfgang Küss/other
Region: Wien (Vienna)
Era: Classical
Manufacture date(s): Early-mid 19th century
Keys: 8
Stamp: (Hapsburg eagle(?)) / (Two star/asterisk icons)
This bassoon has a stamp which is difficult to make out, and so a definitive listing of its maker and date of manufacture isn’t possible. It has some characteristics which indicate it is by a Viennese maker – possibly Johann Ziegler, or Wolfgang Küss (both active in Wien in the early-mid 1800s). The bassoon’s keywork is distinctively similar to existing examples of both of these makers, being sunken into the wood of the instrument, which is a relatively rare practice in bassoon making. The keywork shapes also share some striking similarities.
The stamp on this bassoon features two star or asterisk shapes, with a faint outline of a symbol above them – this outline matches fairly closely to Ziegler’s Hapsburg eagle stamp, but his name, which normally accompanies the eagle, is not visible. The star/asterisk shapes are also not present on the existing examples of his instruments. The precise maker and date of manufacture therefore remains a mystery.
Here are examples of Ziegler and Küss bassoons on David Rachor’s database:
Belgian Bassoons
Mahillon, Belgium
Double Reed Collection (D004)
Instrument: French system bassoon
Maker: Mahillon & Co
Region: London, England
Era: Romantic
Manufacture date(s): 1844-1922
Keys: 19
Stamp: C. Mahillon & Co / London / (two star icons)
The Mahillon workshop was founded in 1813 in Brussels. In 1844 a London workshop was opened, where this instrument was made. The company stopped trading in 1922 (26), and it is difficult to pinpoint when in the timeline this particular bassoon was manufactured.
Ref: (26) William Waterhouse, 'The New Langwill Index' (1993), p. 249-50
American Bassoons
N. Curtiss, USA
Temporary loan (K001) - newly listed, 09/05/24
Instrument: Bassoon
Maker: N. Curtiss
Region: New England, USA
Era: Classical
Manufacture date(s): C1800
Keys: 4
Stamp: (Stars) / N. Curtiss
Little is known about the American instrument maker N. Curtiss. Langwill states he was active in the early 1800s (57). Sigal Music Museum corroborates this with their description of a clarinet stamped with the same name: “the clarinet is attributed to craftsman Nathan Curtiss, who moved between Woodbury and New Haven in Connecticut” (58).
Ref: (57) William Waterhouse, 'The New Langwill Index' (1993), p. 77
Ref: (58) Sigal Music Museum, ‘5-key Clarinet C, N. Curtiss, Connecticut, 1800’
Unknown Bassoons
Unknown
Temporary loan (K004) - newly listed, 09/05/24
Instrument: Bassoon
Maker: Unknown
Region: Unknown
Era: Unknown
Manufacture date(s): Unknown
Keys: 12
Stamp: None
This bassoon has no stamp, and so its maker and exact date of manufacture is unknown. The stamp is likely to have been sanded away at some point in its history, which sometimes happens during re-finishing.
