What’s the difference between a collector and a hoarder? Probably very little, except that I believe that most collectors believe they are a little more discerning.

My collecting came about partly by opportunity, partly by the necessary study of old instruments, and here, of course I’m talking about my collection of flutes, for I’ve allowed my fascination for old, well made things to extend into several of my other areas of interest.

Thus I also have collections of antique fishing tackle, books, and the dusty remains of my childhood fascinations with natural history, encompassing butterflies, skulls, birds eggs, lichens, and several more long forgotten.

With recalling those latter, I now realise that my passion for collecting was always there, which reinforces my belief that collectors are born, not made.

I’ll focus here on my flute collection.

In recent years, I’ve been refocussing my interest on Irish made flutes, and have been quite successful in acquiring some of these rare but neglected instruments, and am always on the lookout for more.

I enter a caveat here about the term “Irish made flutes”. It’s clear that some proportion of the instruments which carry an Irish (almost entirely Dublin) stamp were in all probability made in London. I’m trying to find out which ones…those interested can follow what I’ve been doing in RESEARCH.

I hope at some point to have my collection completely documented and presented here, but for the moment you’ll find some reference and commentary over on the FLUTEMAKER BLOG.