Constitution Wood Fifes.
Back around 1989/90, as a member of the historical ceremonial unit for the USS Constitution and museum – The US Marine Detachment, 1797 – it was resolved to take some of the material associated with the ship and manufacture items as a fundraiser. As it was explained to us by the director of the museum at that time, all materials taken off of the USS Constitution during repairs and refits belong to the museum; the oldest is held in the basement while later examples were held on the grounds in old railway boxcars. So in company with Bill Moss – the commander of the unit at that time – we went down into the basement of the museum and selected material we thought was sufficiently sound to make into fifes for presentation models. I brought the project to Cooperman Fife and Drum Co where I worked under Pat Cooperman, and he agreed that we could take on the project. I made some 3 dozen fifes out of the oak that was pulled out of the basement and had in former years been part of the ship (the director thought from a refit in the late 1800s), and many were presented to dignitaries with museum documents of authenticity. When Bill Moss passed away, it was clear that he had owned some of the fifes and he made his own certificates printed up and notarized. I specifically recognize these fifes, having made them, and here they are offered for sale, each with one of Bill’s certificates. Meant to be sold individually, if you wish to purchase the lot, please reach out and inquire with me. Priced based on the source of the material and an example of my earlier work.
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Specialty Fifes
I don’t often make instruments from European Boxwood… Not cheap, takes time to season properly, and even then it can fail along the process, AND has the almost impossible to stop the tendency to bow or warp with time. But I made one of my MCM fifes of EuroBox – typically requested for historical reproductions – and decided to place it here. Trad. Bb, 10-hole chromatic. This is of an early design and I have discontinued it, so if you contact me and make an offer, I will be pleased to consider it. Take note that the body has indeed slightly bowed since it was made a couple of years ago. Please note that the price listed is 200$ less than the original retail price.
