This blog is dedicated to the sublime instruments called nose flutes and which produce the most divine sound ever. We have chosen to discard all the native models from S. Pacific and Asia, for they need fingering to be played. We'll concentrate on "buccal cavity driven" nose flutes : the well patented and trademarked metal or plastic ones, plus, by a condemnable indulgence, some wooden craft or home-made productions.

Nov 20, 2012

User manuals - Part 1: Europe

Here is a series of nose flute user manuals, published either by the manufacturers/craftsmen, or by resellers. Just to have them gathered altogether. For sure, the collection is far from being complete.


Belgium

The Vociphone (François Vandervaeren) - 1912:

Enjoy the threatening Nota Bene: « Any person that would not conform to the user manual will get no sound of it. »


Switzerland

Die Schweizer Nasenflöte (Karl Wigert) - 2011:

Note that the text has been totally copied from the Handler's user manual. Even the name SchWeizer, with a capital W inside, is a reference to the Weizer Nasenflöte... (see below)


Austria

Die Weizer Nasenflöte (Heinrich Handler) - 2000:




France

Le Nasiphone/Mellibrou (René Mellier) - 2000:



La Flûte à nez (jean-Philippe Minchin) - 2000:




Germany

Nasenflöte (Max Zycha) - 1995:



Nasenflöte (Rainer Schwarze) - 2004:

Schwan Nasenflöte - From german resellers:

Bocarina - Branded by Corvus:




>>To be continued!

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3 comments:

  1. A great collection in its own right!!!

    Good to see the Schwan manual, as I had never seen one and didn't know it existed! Funny that they nicknamed it "Ruesselfloete": an instant Dutch translation of that would be "Snuitfluit". This name not only rhymes, but sounds funny and great at the same time. It actually sounds as if it the name has some history to it as "snuit" is a rather old-fashioned Dutch word.

    A "snout" is another word for "nose". Originally though, it was used to indicate someone's face or in any case the projecting parts of the face that make it possible to identify somebody from looking at his face. "Snuiten" however means "to blow your nose"... Anyway, I do believe that these are two wonderful new additions to the overview of names for "our beloved crawling machines".

    What strikes me is that so many manuals don't actually have a clue about what makes the instrument play: most seem to assume that since it's called a "nose flute" the air flow comes solely from the nose. In fact, I have noticed that as I play, half actually comes from the mouth and the other half or possibly only one-third comes from the nose.

    I wonder if you haven't got the old(-looking) cardboard Gretsch manual, in which a tin Humanatone is inserted? Also, isn't there any picture of the Vociphone manual?

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  2. Thanks Maikel!

    Regarding the Schwan, Iprecised it was published by a reseller (I don't know which one, however).

    Yes, the Americans also use Snout-flute or Snoot-flute.
    (the Australians used also "tin-handkerchief" for the old ones:)

    Regarding the Humanatone, wait for the Part 2 !
    (Part 1 is only for Europe)

    The Vociphone? Yes, the manual is in this post... I don't understand your comment...

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  3. Aha, I see! I was reading way too fast.. Please forget about both questions from the last paragraph;-). Looking forward to see the manuals from outside of Europe!

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