This is mostly directed to Meme, but if anyone else can answer, please have at it!

I found an old Pan American flute at a resale shop and purchased it mostly because it`s quite curious. The body and foot joint are one piece, the Eb key has a metal stopper under it instead of cork, the springs appear to be gold, the Bb trill isn`t a Bb trill but actually engages the thumb key mechanism, and the pads appear to be some sort of rubber. Of course, it leaks like a sieve, but since I didn`t really buy it to play, I`m not too concerned about that. It`s a closed hole, C foot flute and appears to be made of nickel silver because it`s more grey rather than tarnished.

Have you ever come across a flute like this or maybe have some idea of it`s history?

bumpety bump

When I started out as a technician I bought specialised pivot screws for Pan American flutes for stock, but then never encountered one of the flutes.

The `gold` springs are probably phosphor-bronze, which has a gold colour. Or possibly gold plated.

A metal `stopper` instead of cork would be silly and noisy. Often flutes have a larger piece of metal with a thin piece of cork under it.

The B-C trill you describe is not uncommon.

I know nothing of its history, but you will get thousands of hits through a google search.

Thanks for the info. The metal stopper under the Eb key almost looks like one of the posts and is soldered directly to the flute body. There is a thin layer of cork glued to the underside of the key so they don`t actually clack together.

Curious!

Thanks again

Actually quite common, in one form or another.