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Julius Heinrich Zimmermann (born September 22, 1851, in Sternberg, died April 25, 1922, in Berlin) was a renown German musical instrument manufacturer and music publisher of Mecklenburg origin who worked for a long time in pre-revolutionary Russia.
After completing his apprenticeship in Berlin, Zimmermann was transferred to St. Petersburg in 1876, opened a factory for musical instruments there in 1880 and registered the "JHZ" trademark. He brought Markneukirchen instrument makers, including brass instrument maker Josef Schimmer (father of violinist Roman Schimmer), to his special workshops for string, brass, woodwind and tongue instruments, first to St. Petersburg, then to Moscow and later also to London and Riga. From 1901 Zimmermann was a court supplier for wind instruments of his own production for the Tsar House and exclusively for the Russian army. He dominated the music trade there until the outbreak of the First World War.
In 1886 he went back to Germany and founded the new headquarters of his company in Leipzig, which also included the Zimmermann music publisher. From 1893, the company went regularly to the world exhibitions and won numerous gold medals for its instruments. For his services, Julius Heinrich Zimmermann received the Imperial-Royal Russian Order of St. Stanislaus from Tsar Nicholas II in 1901.
Jul. Heinr. Zimmermann flutes are highly sought-after instruments, famous for their superior sound and high quality craftsmanship. This flute is very rare and collectible, a true piece of history!
Specifications:
• Handmade grenadilla (African blackwood) concert flute by Jul. Heinr. Zimmermann
• Wood is in excellent condition for a 100+ year old flute! There are few small indentations on the flute body and on the headjoint (these are purely cosmetic and do not affect flute's functionality), the brand logo is faded but can still be partially discerned (see photos)
• Pads look old, may need to be replaced
• The ring on the end of the foot joint is loose (see photos), this can be easily fixed by super glue
• This flute features German system mechanism (open G# and reverse Bb/B)
• Reform (wave/wing style) grenadilla wood lip plate and riser feature embouchure hole with undercutting, which helps focus an edgy full sound that is responsive and clear
• Closed holes
• Y-style key arms
• C foot
• Pitched at A440 Hz --- very rare for European flutes produced in the late 19th - early 20th century! Can also easily play at A441 Hz (and even A442 Hz, though with some embouchure tweaking)
• Handmade in Leipzig, Germany
This unique, antique flute may need to be overhauled in order to be in playable condition. Comes in original wooden hard case with velvet lining, nothing else included. The case locks work if you first pull them away, then close the lid, and then pull the locks together (otherwise they are loose, this can be fixed by a flute technician).