Introducing the

Wind Instrument Makers Database (WIMdb)

The new database will appear at this web address. It is being developed as an updateable online index of musical instrument makers throughout many countries of the world from fifteenth to the beginning of the twenty-first century. It extends and updates content from An Index of Wind-Instrument Makers previously published in six print editions (1959-1980) by Lyndesay G. Langwill and The New Langwill Index of Musical Wind-Instrument Makers and Inventors (1993) by William Waterhouse. 

The database includes the most recent biographical information known for each makers, including the dates of activity, type of  instruments made or sold, and in many cases, comprehensive lists of surviving instruments in public museum and selected private collections. 

WIM's general editor is Albert (Al) R. Rice (email) based in Claremont, California, USA. He is eager to correspond with individuals who want to share details of the winds instruments that they own or know of in both museum and private collections. All details of the instruments are important to include, such as: the most complete maker’s mark, number of keys for woodwinds and number and type of valves for brasses; type of wood or material used in construction; unusual key system or mechanism, nominal pitches for transposing instruments, and museum number if known. Any details about the instrument maker that has been discovered would also be appreciated.

The WIM database is a project of the Musical Instrument Research Catalog (https://mircat.org). Work on the system is nearing completion, and has a target opening date around the end of 2024.