One of the curiousities I have had was a 'Cabart' English horn that was in fact made by Malerne! I suspect this instrument was made in 1974 just as Loree was negotiating to purchase the Cabart firm. I have had exactly the same experience with a 'LaFleur' (Malerne) English horn, and new Thibaud oboe and new Thibaud English horn. Voicing completed, the oboe played beautifully. Tom said that he created a huge pile of wood shavings on his bench from all the reaming. Tom worked on this 'LaFleur' oboe for about an hour or so, employing a myriad of reamers. It did not play at all! I sent this oboe to Tom Hiniker for voicing. It was gorgeous to behold, with gleaming 'Buck Rogers model' ( Mack's pet phrase for oboes overwrought) keywork, and beautifully figured Rosewood. Sometimes, the final voicing was not completed, and the instruments simply shipped out 'as is.' I recently had a 'LaFleur' Rosewood professional oboe that was in fact made by Hans Kreul. That the firm marketing and branding the instrument would have their own artisans complete the voicing. Some 'stencil' instruments were sold to various companies 'unfinished' or 'semi-finished,' with the intent I surmise that many, perhaps most, of the French stencil marks in the 'Ds' such as DuPre, Duvall, Dumont, Deschamps, Durand, etcetera were in fact made by either Cabart or Malerne. To the realm of 'stencil' brands - many mysteries, many surprises. I intend that the list be viewed as a 'rough guide' The list of 'stencil' instruments I have compiled includes instruments that were fettled by the company or artisan whose trademark appears on the instruments. Over the course of decades of collecting and trading oboes, oboes d'amore, and English horns, I have come across many 'stencil' instruments stamped with a 'trademark' other than the stamp of the actual maker. USPS WILL NOT DELIVER TO OUR PHYSICAL ADDRESS

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Serial number on F Loree oboe