Handmade woodwind instruments crafted by Scotland’s last flute maker
These pictures show the beautiful handmade woodwind instruments - crafted by Scotland's last flute maker.George Ormiston has been making flutes and piccolos for 42 years and is one of less than ten remaining manufacturers in the UK who make the instruments from wood.Geroge, 68, who played the flute as a teenager, has two workshops - one in Bo'ness, Falkirk and another in Stirling - where he meticulously crafts his instruments by hand.The trade has been classified as endangered on the Heritage Crafts Association's list of endangered crafts.George studied engineering at college in Edinburgh and Coventry and began making woodwinds after he realised there was a demand for new flutes.He discovered most flutes in the late 1970s had been made in the 19th century and were in disrepair.After graduating from college, aged 22, he moved to Ireland and then Bavaria, Germany where he learned the ropes of woodwind making working at a recorder manufacturer.George, a dad-of-two, said: "I played the flute and at 16 I started working and going to college studying engineering and put the two together."There was a lack of good quality wooden flutes."Most were made in the 19th century so there was a bit of an opening for remaking."Following the technical specifications of pioneering Edinburgh flute maker John Mitchell Rose, George began crafting his own instruments in 1978.Over the last 42 years, he has made more than 1,000 flutes. Unlike other instruments, such as guitars which are made by hand, George uses machinery to make his flutes.He uses air-dried African Blackwood and Sterling Silver for the keys.From Belgium and Spain's Basque Country to Manchester and Missouri, George has sent his handcrafted instruments all over the world, selling some for more than £4,000.He has even made flutes for British rock band Jethro Tull's guitarist, Ian Anderson, and jazz saxophonist Tommy Smith.It can take George up to four weeks to make a flute, but the preparation of the wood can take several years.The elegant silverwork and headjoints can take weeks to craft.George said: "We leave the wood for a year to dry then we rough train and bore the wood, putting a hole all the way through it."Then we second train it, finish train it, then use it to make a flute."If somebody wants keys then they can be put on - that can take much longer than the actual woodwork."It can take two to three weeks to do the silverwork."We also make wooden headjoints which are very sought after by classical players."George is now one of less than ten wooden flute makers left in the UK, and the only one in Scotland.He said: "I think I'm the only flute maker left in Scotland."There are plastic ones and they're just not that good."In terms of wooden flutes there's less than ten left in the UK."George hopes someone will take over the business from him when he eventually decides to hang up his tools.He said: "I hope it continues because there's an immense tradition of flute making in Scotland, going back to the 17th century."Who knows what the future holds."
These pictures show the beautiful handmade woodwind instruments - crafted by Scotland's last flute maker.George Ormiston has been making flutes and piccolos for 42 years and is one of less than ten remaining manufacturers in the UK who make the instruments from wood.Geroge, 68, who played the flute as a teenager, has two workshops - one in Bo'ness, Falkirk and another in Stirling - where he meticulously crafts his instruments by hand.The trade has been classified as endangered on the Heritage Crafts Association's list of endangered crafts.George studied engineering at college in Edinburgh and Coventry and began making woodwinds after he realised there was a demand for new flutes.He discovered most flutes in the late 1970s had been made in the 19th century and were in disrepair.After graduating from college, aged 22, he moved to Ireland and then Bavaria, Germany where he learned the ropes of woodwind making working at a recorder manufacturer.George, a dad-of-two, said: "I played the flute and at 16 I started working and going to college studying engineering and put the two together."There was a lack of good quality wooden flutes."Most were made in the 19th century so there was a bit of an opening for remaking."Following the technical specifications of pioneering Edinburgh flute maker John Mitchell Rose, George began crafting his own instruments in 1978.Over the last 42 years, he has made more than 1,000 flutes.
Unlike other instruments, such as guitars which are made by hand, George uses machinery to make his flutes.He uses air-dried African Blackwood and Sterling Silver for the keys.From Belgium and Spain's Basque Country to Manchester and Missouri, George has sent his handcrafted instruments all over the world, selling some for more than £4,000.He has even made flutes for British rock band Jethro Tull's guitarist, Ian Anderson, and jazz saxophonist Tommy Smith.It can take George up to four weeks to make a flute, but the preparation of the wood can take several years.The elegant silverwork and headjoints can take weeks to craft.George said: "We leave the wood for a year to dry then we rough train and bore the wood, putting a hole all the way through it."Then we second train it, finish train it, then use it to make a flute."If somebody wants keys then they can be put on - that can take much longer than the actual woodwork."It can take two to three weeks to do the silverwork."We also make wooden headjoints which are very sought after by classical players."George is now one of less than ten wooden flute makers left in the UK, and the only one in Scotland.He said: "I think I'm the only flute maker left in Scotland."There are plastic ones and they're just not that good."In terms of wooden flutes there's less than ten left in the UK."George hopes someone will take over the business from him when he eventually decides to hang up his tools.He said: "I hope it continues because there's an immense tradition of flute making in Scotland, going back to the 17th century."Who knows what the future holds."
