I noticed that the design of the right hand B-flat key on my Gemeinhardt 4W piccolo is different than all other piccolos (and flutes) I have seen. On the underside (where it lifts when the key is pressed), instead of being flat and overlapping RH1, it is cylindrical and has a clear plastic sheath covering it. I'm assuming this sheath is for padding and to prevent rubbing.

I never noticed it was different until the other day when my B-flat hole stopped closing all the way. I found the plastic sheath on my lap (luckily!) and didn't know where it came from. After examining the piccolo, I was able to figure out where it went and put it back on. That's what brought my attention to the strange design.

Has anyone ever seen this design before? Do all 4W piccolos have this design?

I have seen pictures of other Gemeinhardt piccolos on eBay that do not have this design. Do any other Gemeinhardt piccolos (4P, 4S, KG Limited, Roy Seaman) have this design?

Most likely you actually are referring to the F key. The Bb key is in the left hand (it's the key activated by the thumb Bb), but the F key is used to finger 1+1 Bb (RH1). Could you please clarify what you mean by this whole "cylindrical" and "sheath" business? Pictures may also help, if that's do-able.

Flutist06 -

I am referring to the right hand B-flat "trill" key (though I use it more often as an alternate fingering for B-flat).

Sorry, I don't have the capability to take photos and post them. I've been searching the Web for a picture showing this, but haven't come up with anything yet.

Micron has it right, the plastic sleeve is on the Bb/F linkage.

I have a Zentner (wood) piccolo serial 4xxx that has this same plastic sleeve linkage on the Bb trill.

My older Gemeinhardt 4SS piccolo (her name is 'Fleur', for the flowers I engraved on the thumb saddle) has a 'normal' back-connector style linkage for the Bb trill. This linkage has given me trouble, and I need to have it disassembled, and filed so it doesn't stick/catch anymore.

My local repair tech remarked on the plastic sleeve linkage when he first saw it, having not seen another like it.

Zentner piccolos were made in the Seaman factory. This factory no longer exists (at least to manufacture wood piccolos) but the design of the Seaman was the same as the Zentner. The initial difference was plated keys on the Zentner, sterling on the Seaman, although Zentners after serial (I think) 3500 have sterling keywork as well.

Anyway, Zentner piccs are no longer made, and the Seaman design was sold to Gemeinhardt. Does your Gemeinhardt 4W have a bulb-style headjoint tenon? If it does, I think you have a 'mislabeled' piccolo that is actually a Gemeinhardt Roy Seaman model. Otherwise, it is possible that Gemeinhardt used the Seaman keywork design and modified it for their 4W piccolos.

I'll have to take a look at my friend's 4W when I have a chance, to see if it has the plastic sleeve on it, but it will be a while before I see her.