{"id":223,"date":"2017-06-23T10:10:43","date_gmt":"2017-06-23T09:10:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wpmanager.buffet-group.com\/powellflutes\/?page_id=223\/"},"modified":"2025-04-07T11:01:48","modified_gmt":"2025-04-07T10:01:48","slug":"our-story","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.powellflutes.com\/en\/our-story\/","title":{"rendered":"Our story"},"content":{"rendered":"

Our history is very much tied to our namesake, Verne Q. Powell. A jeweler by trade, Powell fashioned himself a flute in 1910 from whatever Silver he could get his hands on, including Silver Dollars, watch casings, and spoons. This incredible feat of metal working landed him a job at another flute company in Boston. He worked there until 1926, leaving to create his own company. His goal was to be able to produce the world\u2019s finest French flutes. Creating his own company gave him the freedom to devote himself to detail and artistry.<\/p>\n

The instruments were immediately recognized as the very best a flutist could play and endorsements flowed in from flutists around the globe. In 1928, he completed his first all 14K Gold flute; soon piccolos and alto flutes were added. By 1930 the brand had representation in the Boston, Detroit, Philadelphia, Cleveland, Baltimore, and New York Orchestras. There were flutes which had a life of their own; #365 the \u201cWorld\u2019s Fair\u201d Platinum flute of William Kincaid, #900 the only flute ever made entirely of 14K White Gold, #1142 the \u201cSignature\u201d Flute.<\/p>\n

Over the decades, innovation became a hallmark of the Powell company. The first company to commercially make the Cooper Scale, the first company to mix Silver and Gold with the Aurumite Flute, the first to make 19.5K Rose Gold.<\/p>\n

The 2100 and 3100 series flutes were developed in the early 90\u2019s, ultimately leading to the debut to today\u2019s Conservatory flutes. The first Conservatory flute was unveiled in 2002 to celebrate the company\u2019s 75th Anniversary, alongside another new instrument, the Powell Sonar\u00e9 flute. A year later the Signature Flute was launched. 2005 and 2006 saw brand new headjoint styles: the Soloist and the Venti. In 2007 Powell patented a new method for extruding tone holes which is still being used today. The only handmade flute to be played in Space, NASA Astronaut Cady Coleman brought her Powell flute on the International Space Station in 2011.<\/p>\n

In 2016 Verne Q. Powell Flutes, Inc. was purchased by Buffet Crampon, joining nine other brands of wind instruments to complete the largest group of wind instrument manufacturers in the world.<\/p>\n

2017 marks the 90th Anniversary of this characteristically American flute making company. Started in 1927 by Verne Q. Powell himself, the past 90 years have been marked by innovation, modernization, and a dedication to artistry.<\/p>\n

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1927<\/a><\/div>\n

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\"1927\"<\/a><\/div>\n

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Verne Q. Powell Flutes is incorporated and opens for business on Huntington Avenue in downtown Boston.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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1928<\/a><\/div>\n

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\"1928\"<\/a><\/div>\n

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Powell completes his first all 14K Gold flute; soon piccolos and alto flutes are added to the catalog.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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1930<\/a><\/div>\n

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The instruments are immediately recognized as the very best a flutist could play and endorsements flow in from flutists around the globe. By 1930 the brand has representation in the Boston, Detroit, Philadelphia, Cleveland, Baltimore, and New York Orchestras.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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1937<\/a><\/div>\n

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The first Powell Platinum flute is produced, #301. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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1939<\/a><\/div>\n

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Powell is asked to create a Platinum flute for the 1939 World\u2019s Fair Metallurgy Competition. The flute wins 1st prize and is immediately purchased by William Kincaid, principal flute of the Philadelphia Orchestra. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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1942<\/a><\/div>\n

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75 Silver Piccolo are produced to date for the war efforts of the US Military. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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1950<\/a><\/div>\n

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The first and only entire 14K White Gold flute is made, #900. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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1961<\/a><\/div>\n

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Powell sells his company to four managers, Ed Almeida, Elmer Waterhouse, Ed Machon, Richard Jerome.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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1974<\/a><\/div>\n

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Powell Flutes is the first company to commercially produce Cooper Scale flutes. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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1982<\/a><\/div>\n

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Powell Flutes is sold to two managers, Robert J. Viola and James Phelan.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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1986<\/a><\/div>\n

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Steven Wasser becomes sole owner and President of Powell Flutes. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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1987<\/a><\/div>\n

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The first Aurumite flute is made, a combination of gold and silver layers into one tube. The first flute of its kind to bridge the gap between the two traditional flute materials. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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1993<\/a><\/div>\n

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The 2100 Flute is launched. In celebration of the upcoming Millennium, an art deco key cup design is created. The 3100 Aurumite 9K flute is launched two years later. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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1997<\/a><\/div>\n

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Powell introduces the first Grenadilla Wood Flute. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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2002<\/a><\/div>\n

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75th Anniversary is celebrated with the new Conservatory Flute, replacing the 2100 and 3100 series, and the first Sonar\u00e9 Flutes. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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2003<\/a><\/div>\n

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The Signature Flute is launched as well as the first 19.5K Rose Gold Flute. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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2005<\/a><\/div>\n

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The Soloist headjoint style is created.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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2006<\/a><\/div>\n

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The Venti headjoint style is created. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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2007<\/a><\/div>\n

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Powell patents a revolutionary new technology for drawing tone holes from Sterling Silver, Aurumite and Gold.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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2009<\/a><\/div>\n

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Pinless mechanism is added to the Conservatory line.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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2011<\/a><\/div>\n

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NASA Astronaut Col. Cady Coleman takes her Powell flute on a mission on board the International Space Station. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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2014<\/a><\/div>\n

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The first Ruby Aurumite flute is made. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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2016<\/a><\/div>\n

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Verne Q. Powell Flutes, Inc. was purchased by Buffet Crampon, joining nine other brands of wind instruments to complete the largest group of wind instrument manufacturers in the world. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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2017<\/a><\/div>\n

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2017 marks the 90th Anniversary of this characteristically American flute company. Started in 1927 by Verne Q. Powell himself, the past 90 years have been marked by innovation, modernization, and a dedication to artistry.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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2018<\/a><\/div>\n

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Launch of the 18K Rose Gold Flute.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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2019<\/a><\/div>\n

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Launch of the Sonar\u00e9 905 Flute.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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2021<\/a><\/div>\n

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Launch of the Sonar\u00e9 101 Flute.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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2022<\/a><\/div>\n

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The Mopane “L\u00e9gende Wood Flute, Vintage Flute, and 1927 headjoint style are created.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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2023<\/a><\/div>\n

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The newest addition to Powell’s Handmade Custom line, Aurumite 9K with Silver Soldered Tone Holes is introduced.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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2024<\/a><\/div>\n

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A new technology for tracking your flute serial and repair history, Powell’s Digital Passport app for mobile phones is launched.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n

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