Steel hand reamer without handle

1 flute tool

James Watt eventually employed 16 people to run a shop in Glasgow making numerous items. In spite of saying that music was ‘the source of idleness’, he built instruments for sale, including flutes, an organ and a guitar for the wife of one of his early business partners, John Roebuck. This tool forms part of the suite of flute-making tools which survives in Watt's workshop. It is a steel hand reamer, inscribed with a capital 'A', by James Watt, Glasgow, Scotland, 1758-1769. Without handle. Used for reaming out flute bodies.