Tonettes, Song Flutes & Flutophones…Part 2

Rivals of the Tonette in the "pre-band" instrument world were Song Flutes by Fitchhorn (later Conn) and Flutophones.  I'll also include an ocarina by Waterbury in this section.

The Song Flute is very similar to the Tonette.  There always seems to be some debate if the Song Flute is an ocarina or not.  I say it is an ocarina.  Unlike the Tonette, the Song Flute has a small opening in the "bell".  But if you were to close that hole while playing, you still get a tone.  So in essence, that hole acts like a tuning hole found on some clay ocarinas.  If it were an open pipe, like a Flutophone, when you close off the end, you would get no sound.  

Song Flutes were first produced (and developed) by Fitchhorn.  At a later point in time, Conn bought out Fitchhorn.  So you will find both examples with both names on them.  Like Tonettes, the Song Flute came primarily in black.  They were also made in much smaller numbers in white and red.  Song Flutes from Conn can still be purchased, but the quality isn't very good.

Another popular pre-band instrument used in school systems was the Flutephone by Trophy.  Again, similar looking to the Tonette (and Song Flute) but with an open end like a recorder.  I would categorize this as an actual flute.  When the end is closed, there is no sound.  Unlike the Tonette and Song Flute, black was the scarcer color.  The primary color scheme for the Flutophone was white with red accents.  Flutophones are still being produced, but again, the quality is not very good.

I'm including a ocarina by Waterbury because it's the same vintage and would have been marketed to the same person.  It's a heavy plastic ocarina of varying quality.  They came in two styles, and you could choose the key of C or the ever popular key of E.  

More tonette, song flute, flutophone posts to come......