Haynes D-Flat Piccolo: Museum Object and Cultural History

The object in the museum catalogue

This piccolo was made by William S. Haynes in Boston, Massachusetts. in 1919. It is a D-flat piccolo made of grenadilla with silver keys, serial #4120. The piccolo is stamped:

This piccolo was used by the donor's father, Mr. William F. Maxfield (1913-1995) as a member of the North High School Band in Columbus, Ohio from which he graduated in 1930. The instrument has been in the family until it was donated to the museum in 2018.

In the early half of the last century Marine Field Bands received their musical instruments from a variety of sources that were purchased through the Army Quartermaster Corps. These instruments were marked "U.S.M.Q.C." Though dated 1919, this instrument is a type that was used by Marine Corps Field Bands, but only briefly for a period of about one year. The change in international/concert pitch in 1920 resulted in Marine Bands to get rid of lower pitched instruments that they were playing, including to this piccolo.

Materials, dates and provenance

• date made: 1919
• maker: Haynes, William S.
• Object Name: piccolo
• Physical Description: grenadilla (overall material)
• Physical Description: silver (overall material)
• Measurements: overall: 12 in x 1 in x 1 in; 30.48 cm x 2.54 cm x 2.54 cm
• place made: United States: Massachusetts, Boston
• ID Number: 2018.0005.01
• accession number: 2018.0005
• catalog number: 2018.0005.01
• serial number: 4120
• Credit Line: Gift of Alice Maxfield
• Data Source: National Museum of American History

Sources and reuse

Catalogue descriptions and facts adapted from National Museum of American History through the Smithsonian's official Open Access dataset. This record explicitly marks its metadata CC0 1.0; formatting and selection have been changed.